Top on his list of people to impress is Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), the school's brilliant but terrifying conductor, whose
jazz orchestra has won every award going.
A different description of the story from SlashFilm earlier this year explains that J.K. Simmons plays a «brutal
jazz orchestra teacher», training Miles Teller who is trying desperately not to lose his mind as he tries to become the
top percussionist in one of the most illustrious
jazz orchestras in the country.