Featuring Guest Artist Melissa Aldana 

The Jazz Studies Program at University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music is excited to announce that the 2023 Pacific Jazz Festival, featuring Melissa Aldana, will be held on Friday and Saturday, March 3 and 4. 

The Pacific Jazz Festival enables music students in local communities to enrich their knowledge and understanding of jazz through interactions with educators, artists, clinicians and faculty members in the Pacific Jazz Studies program.  Participation in the Pacific Jazz Festival is open to all high-school and junior-college-level instrumental jazz ensembles, combos and vocal jazz ensembles. 

Melissa Aldana
Guest Artist
Melissa Aldana

The guest artist for this year’s festival is saxophonist Melissa Aldana, who will be in residence at Pacific throughout the Spring 2023 semester. 

She will perform twice during the festival. Her first performance will be with the Pacific Jazz Ensemble on Friday evening, and she will close out the festival with her quartet on Saturday evening.

She will also give a masterclass, open to all festival participants, on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

Group Registration

During the Pacific Jazz Festival, each registered group will perform for 20 to 25 minutes.

A group's performance will be immediately followed by a clinic from a member of the Pacific Jazz Faculty. Verbal and written feedback from Pacific Jazz Faculty members and guest clinicians will be provided. 

Participant performances and feedback sessions will be held on Saturday, March 4 only; morning and evening slots are available.

persons playing the guitar and a drum kit
Evening Concerts

Pacific Jazz Ensemble

Featuring Melissa Aldana
Friday, March 3 | 7:30 p.m. | Faye Spanos Concert Hall


Melissa Aldana Quartet

With the Pacific Jazz Ambassadors
Saturday, March 4 | 7:30 p.m. | Faye Spanos Concert Hall

University of the Pacific Jazz Faculty Members