Hope College jazz combos will perform on Monday, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Wichers Auditorium of Nykerk Hall of Music.

The public is invited.  Admission is free.

The concert will feature the Blue Note Ensemble, the Vanguard Ensemble, the Verve Ensemble, the Standards Ensemble, the Prestige Ensemble and the Concord Ensemble.

The college’s jazz chamber ensembles afford students the opportunity to perform in the classic small group combo setting.  The ensembles vary in size and instrumentation and place a creative focus on improvisation and group communication, and are open to any student regardless of experience with jazz.  All of the ensembles perform works from the classic jazz repertoire, and the more advanced ensembles also perform repertoire from the contemporary jazz world.  The ensembles also place an emphasis on original student and faculty compositions.

The Blue Note Ensemble is coached by Steve Talaga, adjunct assistant professor of music, and consists of senior Forrest Dodson of Kalamazoo, bass; sophomore Colin Rensch of Kalamazoo, piano; freshman Manna Shintani, of Tokyo, Japan, violin; and sophomore Alex Winter of Saugatuck, drums.

The Vanguard Ensemble is coached by Mike VanLente, instructor of jazz percussion, and consists of sophomores Holly Brinker of Detroit, saxophone; Carsten Forester of Holland, bass; Bob Laning of Holland, piano; and Luke Wisniewski of Gaylord, drums.

The Verve Ensemble is coached by Tom Lockwood, instructor of jazz saxophone, and consists of sophomore Ryan Backman of Oro Valley, Ariz., bass; junior Je Won Jang of Seoul, South Korea, drums; freshman Ben Peecher of Urbana, Ill., piano; and junior Ashley Ritsema of Grand Rapids, alto saxophone.

The Standards Ensemble is coached by Dr. Brian Coyle, professor of music and director of jazz studies, and consists of senior Matt Costello of Holland, bass; senior Annalise Klein of Beaverton, Ore., voice; freshman Max Tustin of Plainwell, drums; and sophomore Alex Winter of Saugatuck, guitar.

The Prestige Ensemble is coached by senior Mike Graverson of Hamilton, and consists of junior Laurie Jellison of Richland, piano; junior Jarred Mackey of Jackson, drums; and freshman Nathan Vance of Holland, bass.

The Concord Ensemble is coached by senior Jared DeMeester of Grand Rapids, and consists of sophomore Tae Hyun Choi of Shanghai, China, bass; senior Guillermo Flores of Holland, alto saxophone; sophomore Micah Gargala of Holland, guitar; and junior Jake Kalmink of Zeeland, drums.

Nykerk Hall of Music is located in the central Hope campus at the former 127 E. 12th Street between College and Columbia avenues.