The Cerritos College Music Department and The Associated Students presented A Jazz Exchange on Thursday.

The concert which featured the Vanguard University Jazz Ensemble & Cerritos College Jazz Ensemble. This special presentation took place at the Cerritos College Student Center.

Dr. Kenneth R. Foerch is the Director of the Vanguard University Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, and Saxophone Quartet.

The Vanguard University Jazz Ensemble provided a positive and quality instrumental experience for music students and others from the student body that have an interest in jazz music and performance, as well as helping to develop an appreciation for jazz repertoire.

Attendees benefited from seeing the significance of jazz music as an American art form.

The 17 members of the Jazz band are representative of the over 30 academic majors offered at Vanguard University. Each person played their own instruments: alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, trumpet, trombone, guitar, piano, bass, and drums.

“We have a lot of different majors represented here: Music, psychology, business, biology, English and liberal studies major. I think we are fortunate to have those kinds of representation at the university. And we really support music programs,” Foerch said.

Foerch knew how to effectively conduct the musicians so that each piece was harmonious.

“To get the group ready, we rehearse, and we pick up the isolated troubled areas to make the sound better. We really know how to blend all the different sounds,” said Foerch.

International business major and trombone player Sara Gonzalez said, “Actually I’ve just tried to learn here, and it’s pretty good. I have to practice a lot.”

This is the 14th year for Dr. David Betancourt as the director of bands and orchestra at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif. He is the conductor for the Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, Community Band, Orchestra, Community Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble.

The instrumental ensemble at Cerritos College draws from a vast array of musicians, ranging in age from 10 to 80.

Music major Daniel Mooney, who also plays the trombone, said, “We can really focus on our passion for music.”

Unlike the Vanguard performance, Cerritos College ensemble included singing. Autumn Van Der Linden, a vocalist, sang a solo with the Cerritos College Jazz Ensemble. Whenever the Cerritos College Jazz ensemble performed, the audience reacted favorably.

Like the Vanguard Ensemble, the students in the Cerritos College Jazz ensemble, played some instrumental solos.

Foerch also performed together with the Cerritos College Jazz Ensemble. He was a really good performer.

“We always invite somebody else to come to our school. So we invited Vanguard University, a four-year school. It’s a win-win situation. Students have a good opportunity to learn about performing. These kinds of concert are really good,” Betancourt said.

Business administration major Viridiana Nevarez said,“It had nice crowd. Everybody appreciated the music. Vanguard and Cerritos sound good. It was a really nice night for music.”

The Halloween Concert will be at the Cerritos College Student Center on Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. Admission is free. Parking is $2.

Students can enjoy the orchestra, band music, fun tunnel, tons of candy, costume party, prizes and picture drawing.