Paris Rutherford

Paris Rutherford, now in retirement from the University of North Texas, is Regents Professor Emeritus in Jazz Studies. During his tenure, he organized and developed the degree programs in Vocal Jazz Studies and in Jazz Arranging. For over thirty years, Rutherford directed the award-winning UNT Jazz Singers both in performance and in the recording studios. He also directed the premiere North Texas Vocal Jazz Summer Workshop from its inception.

Over the years, his jazz arranging students have been heard on recordings by the One, Two and Three O'Clock Lab Bands, the UNT Jazz Singers, and too many personal CD projects to name. Many have continued their writing at a professional level, both in the recording studios and for stage and show productions.

A sought-after clinician in vocal jazz, Rutherford has over one hundred vocal jazz arrangements in publication by Hal Leonard, Sound Music Publishing, UNC Jazz Press, and recently through Artist Share by Maria Schneider. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the newly formed Jazz Education Network.

In June 2008, Hal Leonard Music released Rutherford's new book The Vocal Jazz Ensemble, in which he details the entire list of issues connected to organizing and directing a jazz choir. This publication has been received with enthusiasm from educators in every area of the jazz world.

His instrumental compositions and arrangements have been played and recorded by the One O'Clock Band, the Dallas Jazz Orchestra, the Air Force Reserve Jazz Ensemble, the North Texas Clarinet Consort and the Adkins String Ensemble, as well as by the Dallas and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestras. In earlier years, Rutherford composed and produced advertising music for the Stephen Arnold Group, TM Productions, PAMS, the William B Tanner Corporation, as well as for his own production company in London, England. He is a former member of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

A native of Dallas, Rutherford earned the degrees Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Composition at Southern Methodist University.