The Contra Costa College choirs and vocal jazz ensembles have been acclaimed for their beautiful and exciting performances. Audiences, reviewers, judges and university faculty have rated them among the finest ensembles both nationally and internationally.

The Contra Costa College vocal jazz program has won eight “Winner” or “Outstanding Performance” awards from the DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards. They have also been five times named National Top Six from the Monterey Jazz Festival Next Generation Competition, and been Category Award Winners at the Reno Jazz Festival.

These programs are under the direction of Dr. Stephanie Austin, who is also the co-chair of the Contra Costa College School of Applied and Commercial Music in San Pablo, California.