Jazz Ensembles

With several Jazz ensemble opportunities available to students, you can audition for the one that best fits your goals and style as a music major. Auditions for these 3 groups are at the start of term each year. Find out more information at Orientation and Convocation (which takes place the first Monday of fall term).

PSU Vocal Collective

Composed primarily of Jazz majors this exciting 16-student group focuses on vocal jazz and pop music. If you are a vocalist or a member of the rhythm section, this can be a great group to perform with. The ensemble performs several times a quarter for different events, concerts, and festivals.

Sherry Alves - Vocal Jazz Area Coordinator

Sherry Alves is the Instructor of Jazz Voice at Portland State University where she teaches applied jazz voice, improvisation, jazz pedagogy, jazz vocal ensembles and combos, and special topics in music history.

Contact Sherry

Salsa Band & Big Band

Specializing in salsa music, this large Jazz ensemble practices weekly and performs at least once per quarter. The Big Band (Also known as the Jazz Lab Band) performs traditional jazz literature in a Big Band setting.

Combos

As a music major, you can form your own group in addition to your large ensemble participation. As Area Director George Colligan remarks, “If you aren’t performing in a small group, you are missing an essential piece of jazz. It makes you a part of the community, and more importantly, it’s fun.”

George Colligan - Instrumental Jazz Area Coordinator

George Colligan is not only one of the great jazz pianists of his generation, but he has earned an international reputation as a multi-instrumentalist, composer, accompanist, teacher, and bandleader.

Contact George