The Oregon Jazz Ensemble (OJE) is the premier large jazz ensemble at the University of Oregon.   Under the direction of Steve Owen, the Oregon Jazz Ensemble and its students have garnered 15 Downbeat Magazine awards including a 2016 Graduate College Ensemble Outstanding Performance Award.  Additionally, the OJE has been selected the Reno Jazz Festival College Jazz Ensemble Winner each year that they have participated over the past sixteen years (including 22 festival-wide individual performance awards).   As of late, OJE students have competed in six national/international jazz competitions taking 1st prize in: the 2013 Women’s Jazz Orchestra Composition Competition, 2014 National Trumpet Competition, the 2015 International Trombone Association Carl Fontana Competition, and the 2017 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Solo Competition. Featured with the Oregon Jazz Ensemble have been a host of established dignitaries and rising stars in jazz including: Ben Wendel, Jaleel Shaw, Marshall Gilkes, Julian Lage, Seamus Blake, Dave Douglas, Ingrid Jensen, John Hollenbeck, Theo Bleckman, Nate Wood, Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, Dick Oatts, Jon Faddis, Rufus Reid, Billy Pierce, Conrad Herwig, Maria Schneider, David Pietro, Bobby Shew, and Luis Bonilla.