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PLU’s Director of Jazz Studies, Cassio Vianna, receives grant from the City of Tacoma to write and perform genre-bending composition Cassio Vianna, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies, has been awarded a grant to write a 4-movement suite entitled Invisible Garden, that blends jazz, chamber music and Brazilian music. Posted by: Liza Conboy / April 18, 2024 Image: Jazz Under the Stars featuring Vianna/Bergeron Brazilian Quintet with Cassio Vianna on piano at PLU, Thursday

. The Cassio Vianna Jazz Orchestra performed in the Professional Ensemble Concert category. The 50-minute set included pieces from the 2017 album Infância (meaning “childhood” in Portuguese) as well as a new piece composed especially for the conference. Performers included a face familiar to PLU Jazz followers – former Director of Jazz Studies, David Deacon-Joyner on piano. Other talented performers included Greg Yasinitsky from Washington State University (tenor sax), José Aponte from University of

piano for people to play. Even though it’s kind of out of tune, it’s still nice to have it to practice on,” she said. Every so often, visitors to the first floor can hear scales, arpeggios, and perhaps even a contemporary tune, as a student takes a break from studying and sits down at their “alternative keyboard.” It’s those little details that make the Tingelstad community so unique. Another feature enjoyed by Tingelstad residents is the house communities, each consisting of two stories. A tightly

respected liberal arts music programs in the nation. He received both his Masters and Doctorate degrees in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music. He also holds degrees from the University of Western Ontario and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada. Bennett has served in a diversified range of academic and artistic institutions, including large public universities, renowned conservatories, national liberal arts institutions, non-profit arts organizations and chamber music

-specific perks you may not have heard about: Music Lessons Have you been itching to learn Blackbird on the guitar? Have you wanted to learn how to play something other than The Office theme song on the piano? Good news: The Music Department offers lessons to Lutes regardless of major! Beginning musicians simply can head to the Music office, on the second floor of the Mary Baker Russell building, and fill out a questionnaire. Students then can choose whether they’d like to take the lessons for one or

(drums) and Vance Holtzinger (bass). instagram.com/deadamyband Gabe Fobes (guitar, piano, vocals) rounds out the bill with everlasting solo music. His original compositions are not to be taken lightly. instagram.com/gabe_creates_music   Thursday, September 22: Kemper Thornberry, J. Martin and Zari Alexandria Kemper Thornberry’s overdriven guitar displays vulnerability on stage. Known mostly as the frontman of Miss January, his solo work highlights his other skills. instagram.com/kemmp Martin of

. Clearly, music has profound meaning to Whatley. “It represents all the things we experience and feel in life,” Whatley said. Whatley chose orchestra over band in middle school and started playing the double bass in sixth grade. Whatley said there was only one other double bass player in the orchestra when he started at PLU. Which is kind of why he chose it in the first place. “As a kid, it was, ‘This looks the most unique, so it is going to make me stand out,’” Whatley said. Whatley also plays piano

plays piano to accompany his compositions. He began composing in high school but didn’t take his first lesson until PLU. “Before it was an impassioned hobby,” Whatley said. “It was important coming here because I knew I could take lessons in the area I was most passionate about.” And now he credits his instructors—specifically Youtz and Clement Reid—with helping him grow into the composer he is today. Youtz has encouraged Whatley since their first lesson. “It was the first time I had lessons with

school, specializing in immigration policy or law; •    Ferraz, who graduated in May with a degree in English Literature and a minor in Music, is teaching for 10 months in Taiwan, where she also will study local and American songs; •    Flanagan is teaching English in Germany and likely will enroll in a master’s program once his Fulbright tour is over; •    Burton is studying piano education and culture in China, a continuation of her senior research project at PLU; and •    Charles is studying in

degree in English Literature and a minor in Music. While in Taiwan, she also will study local and American songs. Thomas Flanagan ’14 will leave Sept. 1 for Germany, where he’ll teach English. His love of languages likely will mean returning to a master’s program once his Fulbright tour is over. Two PLU alumni also received Fulbright Scholarships this year. Natalie Burton ’13 will study piano education and culture in China, a continuation of her senior research project at PLU.  She will conduct her