Musical omnivore Drew Zaremba has built a global career around his charismatic conducting, fiery saxophone and keyboard playing, and a compositional fascination with what happens when musical traditions collide. His compositions and arrangements have been performed by the BBC Orchestra, WDR and NDR Big Bands, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Dallas, Memphis, Charlottesville, and Oakland Symphony Orchestras, Airmen of Note, and leading artists including Wayne Bergeron, Carmen Bradford, Wycliffe Gordon, Veronica Swift, and Larry Braggs.
Drew’s work is marked by his cross-cultural collaborations and love of trans-genre music. His works explore the intersections of jazz with Hindustani music, Brazilian and Caribbean traditions, Western classical music, ballet, and Chinese opera. Drew’s most recent major work, Decadent Desires, is an 80-minute ballet for jazz chamber orchestra that pairs his original music with reimaginings of Gershwin, Chopin, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff. Drew’s music has earned numerous honors, including the Sammy Nestico Award, the Sherman/Barsanti Inspiration Award, and three Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards.
His music is published by Alfred Music, Hal Leonard, and Excelsia Music, and he has independently published more than 80 works through his website, drewzaremba.com. Drew loves writing music for young musicians, is very proud that his music is being played by hundreds of middle and high schools all over the world.
In 2023, Drew released Reunion, his debut big band album, released through Outside In Music. Produced by mentor and friend John Clayton and featuring trumpeter Wayne Bergeron, the album showcases some of the Front Range’s finest musicians in an eclectic large-ensemble setting. Reunion combines Drew’s original compositions with imaginative reimaginings of jazz standards, Chopin, and Pink Floyd.
Drew is the Artistic Director of the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra, Colorado’s most active and adventurous large jazz ensemble. As a conductor and performer, he has appeared with and led ensembles throughout the United States and internationally, including guest conducting engagements with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra.
Drew is equally passionate about teaching and mentorship. As Associate Professor of Music at the University of Northern Colorado, he teaches jazz composition and works with student composers and ensembles. He has presented clinics, masterclasses, and performances throughout the United States and internationally. His students have received numerous DownBeat Student Music Awards, commissions, and appointments to universities and professional programs around the country.