The UNL Big Band, formerly the Jazz Ensemble II before 2012, has been performing along-side the Jazz Orchestra for over 40 years. The Big Band works as a vital element of the jazz program to motivate and inform prospective music educators and teachers _{(Sch. of Music)}. The repertoire of the Big Band is filled with student-composed pieces and published works, from early jazz to modern contemporary jazz _(Richards). The Big Band is generally filled with around 20 students, music majors as well as non-music majors, who audition every semester for a position _(Richards). Along with the Jazz Orchestra, the Big Band tours both regionally in the Midwest and nationally for jazz festivals and competitions. These tours are also used to recruit talented players to the university _(Richards).