Discover U: A Look Back and Ahead

Rawlinson Hall was converted into an intimate night club setting, “Club Rawlinson” on Tuesday, November 12 when Discover U presented The Pacific Jazz Ambassadors from the University of the Pacific. Playing to a full house, the lively program closed the 2019 Discover U series featuring speakers with expertise in science, nature and the arts.

The Ambassadors, a five-musician ensemble of piano, bass, percussion, saxophone and trumpet under the direction of Randy Sandoli, jazz studies faculty, played numbers from the Art Blakey book and one from Dave Brubeck. Sandoli is assistant director of the Brubeck Institute. Between musical selections, he outlined the history and purpose of the institute, the curriculum, performance venues, awards, and goodwill contributions. Among the latter was travel to Paraguay where the ensemble performed at night and worked with Habitat for Humanity building houses during the day and a State Department-sponsored trip to Spain. In summer 2020 they are scheduled for the world-famous European jazz festival held on the French Riviera. The Ambassadors have won nine awards as best collegiate jazz group in the country.

In all, Discover U produced eight programs in 2019, four on science, two on nature, and two in the arts. Presenters included four professors, two NASA space scientists, the project manager from Solano Land Trust and a co-founder of Optimus Ride autonomous vehicles. Sources for Discover U programs vary from website research, newspaper articles, and resident referrals which are by far the best sources.

A very special shout-out to our creative, hardworking staff for the many ways they contribute to each event. Who can forget the November 12 transformation of Rawlinson Hall from a standard lecture hall with stage and podium to a colorful nightclub in 90 minutes flat?

Plans are underway for the Discover U 2020 series to begin late January. Thank you everyone for your continued interest and support.