Steve Fidyk and Dan Monaghan, directors
Since its inception in the late 1980s as a large reading ensemble for Jazz students, the Lab Band has served as a valuable feeder for students moving into the Temple University Jazz Band. Led by Steve Fidyk, previous conductors include founder Larry McKenna, as well as Terell Stafford, who reintroduced the band to accommodate the growing jazz student population.
The educational mission of Jazz Band Number 3 is to provide an environment in which students can improve knowledge and application of rhythmic interpretation, section and ensemble blend, expansion of dynamic range, and ballad concepts. The repertoire covers a wide chronological range, from the Count Basie and Duke Ellington catalogues, to contemporary compositions and arrangements that the band deems worthy.