Rayburn Wright

Ray Wright taught arrangers of all levels who attended the Arrangers’ Workshop started by him in the summer of 1959 at the Eastman School of Music. Head of Eastman’s Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media Program for many years, he also served as chief arranger and co-director of music at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Ray also composed film scores for the prize-winning television documentary series “”Saga of Western Man.””

His student writers at Eastman were frequent winners of arranging contests held by Down Beat magazine and the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE). Their writing has often been singled out as a leading factor in creating the distinctive quality for which Wright’s prize-winning Eastman Jazz Ensemble was known.