Vocé Cuesta College’s premier vocal jazz ensemble

John Knudson is the Performing Arts Division Chair at Cuesta College
Vocal Jazz Ensembles, Jazz Vocal Technique, Jazz Vocal Improvisation
John Knutson is Director of Choral Studies at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, CA. He is also a member of the professional vocal jazz ensemble Vocalogy, formed by Phil Mattson in 1998. John directed the California All-State Vocal Jazz Choir in 2006, and in May 2009 John was named Cuesta College’s Teacher of the Year. Under his direction, Cuesta Voce has performed at the American Choral Directors Association National Convention, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and the International Association for Jazz Education Convention. The Cuesta Chamber Singers havereceived 2nd place in both the California International Choral Competition and the Vokal Total Competition in Graz, Austria.John holds a Masters in Conducting degree from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelors in Piano Performance from the University of Minnesota.

Vocé is Cuesta College’s premier vocal jazz ensemble. Since its inception in 1981, the ensemble has toured extensively through the West Coast and has toured Europe seven times. On their most recent international tour, Vocé performed at the 2000 Montreux International Jazz Festival. Vocé has received numerous awards including an Outstanding Performance Award from Downbeat magazine, a First Place Award at the 1997 Reno Jazz Festival, and Second Place at the 2003 Reno Jazz Festival. Vocé has had the honor of being a featured perfomer at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference in 1998 and 2003, and at the National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association in 2005.

Listen to a performance of Vocé​: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfwIli1eWCI