The Brave Jazz Ensemble is the flagship in OU Jazz Studies. It is an 18-piece chamber group featuring rhythm, trumpet, trombone, and saxophone sections, striving to achieve the highest possible standards in performance. The Jazz Ensemble performs campus concerts and attends regional and national jazz festivals. Emphasis is on mastery of the best in standard and contemporary big band music and all performances feature a variety of musical styles. Participation in jazz ensemble gives students tools for better section playing, composition, improvisation, jazz pedagogy, and critical listening skills, and they are encouraged to contribute their own original arrangements and compositions. Although membership is limited to one person per part, jazz ensemble is open to all OU students that play woodwind, brass, and rhythm section instruments. Selection and placement are by audition at the beginning of each semester.