About Us
The Jazz Combo provides a positive and quality instrumental experience for music students and others from the student body that have an interest in jazz music and its performance, as well as helping to develop an appreciation for jazz repertoire and the significance of jazz music as an American art form. In the Jazz Ensemble, an importance is placed on teaching the members scriptural and biblical truths through some of the selected repertoire, presenting ministry concerts as ambassadors of Christ and His kingdom, and blending the highest academic and musical excellence possible with genuine worship and personal ministry.
Members of the Jazz Combo are selected from the over 2200-member student body from the university and are representative of the over 30 academic majors offered at Vanguard University and hail from many states in the U.S. as well as several international countries.
Through a generous donation given by James A. Curtis (Class of 1977), who has been a vibrant and active supporter of our school, Dr. Kenneth Foerch and the VU Jazz Ensemble and Combo released their first CD project, “Sea Changes”, in Spring of 2006. The release was punctuated by a professional “CD release party” at Steamers Jazz Club in Fullerton. We would like to honor not only Mr. Curtis in the presentation of this CD, but the past instrumental alumni who have served in building the program that VUSC enjoys today, most notably Ralph Carmichael (’47), Mark Davidson (’55), and Darrel Gardner (’69).
The Director
The Vanguard University Jazz Combo is under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Foerch. Dr. Foerch is a free-lance performer and serves as an adjunct faculty at both Pomona College in Claremont and Mt. San Antonio College. He also was the applied music instructor of saxophone, clarinet and flute at Cerritos College, where he taught a class in music fundamentals. He has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Rochester Philharmonic orchestras and has appeared with some of today's leading jazz artists, including Shelly Berg, Carmen Bradford, Ndugu Chancler, and Bill Watrous. <MORE – Link to Faculty Page>
The Tours
The Vanguard University Jazz Combo tours yearly with the Jaxx Ensemble, outside of local, monthly bookings. In the spring of 2006, the group toured together with the University Concert Orchestra, visiting many churches and schools in the Northern California area.
Booking
The Vanguard University Jazz Ensemble is available for booking October through April, often taking longer regional tours in March and/or May. Please contact the Music Events Booking office at concerts@vanguard.edu or 714-662-5272 to request the group for your specific event, church, or school.