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Allen Cordingley

Allen Cordingley

Assistant Professor & Director of Jazz Studies

817-257-5576 Ed Landreth Hall 331A (map link)

Program Affiliations

Education

Youngstown State University, MM in Saxophone Performance
Lawrence University, BM in Saxophone Performance
Lawrence University, BME

Courses Taught

MUSI 10190 - Jazz Ensemble
MUSI 60090 - Woodwind Ensemble
MUSI 60190 - Jazz Ensemble
MUSP 20440 - Saxophone
MUSP 30991 - Recital I
MUSP 40440 - Saxophone
MUSP 40460 -Jazz Saxophone
MUSP 40991 - Recital II
MUSP 70440 - Doctoral Saxophone

About

Allen Cordingley comes to us most recently from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where he currently serves as a Distinguished Lecturer in Saxophone and directs their Jazz Orchestra, among other duties.

Allen enjoys an eclectic career as a musician performing in a variety of styles on all the saxophones.  He is currently a Distinguished Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where he teaches saxophone and directs the Pioneer Saxophone Ensemble, the Pioneer Jazz Orchestra, and the Pioneer Pep Band. As interim director of the UW-Platteville Jazz Festival from 2013-2018, Allen brought in guest artists like Marvin Stamm, Wycliffe Gordon, and Maria Schneider.  He also created the Festival Big Band, which included distinguished alumni and local musicians to back up the guest artists.

Before joining the music faculty at University of Wisconsin-Platteville in the fall of 2006, Allen was on tour with the Glenn Miller Orchestra throughout the United States, Canada, and Japan. He currently performs with the Paul Dietrich Jazz Ensemble and The Big Payback.  As a concert saxophonist, he is currently principal saxophonist in the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra and Youngstown Symphony Orchestra. He is a founding member of Ensemble Nouveau, which toured in China in 2020.

Allen studied saxophone with Steven Jordheim and James Umble and holds degrees from Lawrence University and Youngstown State University.

Last Updated: November 30, 2025

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