The Frost School of Music’s Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra (HMI Orchestra) is a highly-acclaimed ensemble comprised of: Housed at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, the HMI Orchestra is the resident orchestra for the popular JazzRoots concert series formally produced by Larry Rosen at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Frost School Dean Shelly Berg is the Artistic Director for JazzRoots.
HMI is made up of writers, arrangers, and musicians who play a multitude of musical styles, including classical, jazz, Latin, world music and others. They often work with artists and composers on the cutting edge of today’s music to create unique and contemporary blends of these genres.
Mancini Fellows bring their creative openness and sense of exploration to every HMI Orchestra performance. These experiences inform their musical expression upon graduation and help transition them into the music industry. HMI Fellows are a step ahead in the professional world leading them to success in the field of their choosing. HMI has been featured in many other stellar projects such as Ben Folds’ performance at the Frost School’s Festival Miami as well as performing the music of several films including Raiders of the Lost Ark, Spike Lee’s Films as well as music from the hit TV series, House of Cards. HMI has also recorded/performed the music of several powerhouse musicians including Sony/ATV publishing’s president Jorge Mejia, American Pop-Singer Bruce Hornsby, Grammy Award-winning composer James Newton Howard as well as recording Gordon Goodwin’s arrangements for Patti Austin’s jazz album. HMI also participated with the renowned composer and pianist Dave Grusin. He used the orchestra for several events, including An Evening with Grusin, a PBS pledge drive in Miami.