05/06/2026
SRU Jazz Ensemble:
The Slippery Rock University Jazz Ensemble continues a tradition over 50 years in the making. Through their history the ensemble has performed at concert venues around the United States as well as in Canada, Europe, and Asia. In their most recent European Tour of 2023, the SRU Jazz Ensemble was featured in at festivals in Italy and France. The group has also appeared at multiple Jazz Education Network (JEN), National Associate for Music Education (NAfME), and Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) conferences. The SRU Jazz Ensemble has hosted and performed concerts with world-class jazz legends through their annual jazz festival. They have recorded seven albums since 2000, as well as several studio-recorded videos - available on YouTube - which have nearly 100,000 views.
Dr. Jason Kush, a 2000 graduate of Richland High School, has directed the SRU Jazz Ensemble since 2011. Kush is a graduate of Slippery Rock University (undergraduate) and the University of Miami (master’s and doctorate). He performs regularly with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, and with his jazz quartet, whose recent album Finally Friday has achieved critical acclaim and international radio play.
SRU Chamber Singers
Slippery Rock University's choral program centers equity, access, and culturally responsive music-making. Our ensembles welcome students of all majors, backgrounds, and experience levels, emphasizing process, collaboration, and meaningful artistic engagement. Chamber Singers is a select ensemble of 16–20 advanced vocalists performing primarily a ca****la and contemporary repertoire. The group is known for its expressive artistry, musical independence, and commitment to amplifying diverse voices through works by living composers. Chamber Singers regularly performs at campus ceremonies and invited events, with appearances at PMEA conferences and Carnegie Hall. The ensemble has also engaged in international touring, most recently traveling to Italy and France.
Dr. Timothy Little Trần is Director of Choral Studies and Associate Professor of Music at Slippery Rock University, where he conducts Chamber Singers and Concert Choir and teaches courses in music education and musicianship. A conductor, educator, and arts leader, his work centers on inclusive pedagogy, community engagement, and innovative program development. Prior to SRU, Dr. Little Trần held leadership roles at the University of Washington, Oberlin Conservatory, and Notre Dame College, where he led artistic initiatives and developed interdisciplinary arts programming. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington, a Master of Music from Louisiana State University, and a Bachelor of Music from Shenandoah Conservatory.
