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San Diego State University boasts one of the nation's top jazz studies programs, consistently drawing exceptional talent from across the U.S. and internationally. Students can pursue undergraduate or graduate degrees in jazz studies under the guidance of three distinguished full-time professors - Bill Yeager, Richard Thompson, and Karl Soukup - supported by the region's most accomplished studio faculty. Dedicated to delivering world-class musical education while enriching cultural life locally and globally, the program emphasizes music's essential role in society. It cultivates skilled, enthusiastic, driven students unafraid to push boundaries. Whether focusing on education, research, performance, or composition, students build distinctive musical identities. Through intensive instruction, free inquiry, and profound exploration, they're inspired to develop innovative works, performances, and concepts. Jazz critic Leonard Feather famously praised SDSU's Jazz Ensemble #1 at the International Association of Jazz Educators Convention, calling their electrifying performance a benchmark for collegiate jazz groups.