Big Pop Band, Sataman Kombo and Big Band

Big Pop Band is a student orchestra that plays rhythmic music. It has been operating continuously since autumn 2004. The orchestra has performed in many events from jazz festivals to school concerts and, for example, the opening ceremony of Logomo in January 2011. The orchestra’s selection of instruments differs somewhat from the usual. There are three keyboard players and, in addition to saxophones and brass instruments, there is a group of flutes. Most of the arrangements contain singing parts, and several vocalists perform with the orchestra. Its programme is mainly arranged by D’l Puerto and consists of Finnish and foreign rhythmic music, from pop to jazz.

In the school year 2024–2025, Big Pop Band practises on Fridays from 17.45 to 19.45 at the Seili Hall at Linnankatu. Level: 3. Big Pop Band is led by Carlos D’l Puerto.

Sataman Kombo is a group of students playing pop/rock music and jazz. Kombo has singers, a keyboard, a saxophone, a guitar, a bass, drums and percussion instruments, but all instruments are welcome. This group has performed in concerts both as a soloist and with other bands. Students interested in participating can choose whether they want to play only the Pop and Rock part (45 min), only the Jazz part (45 min) or the entire programme (90 min).

In the school year 2024–2025, Sataman Kombo trains on Thursdays from 15.45 to 17.30 at the Seili Hall at Linnankatu. Level: 2. Sataman Kombo is led by Carlos D’l Puerto.

The Turku Conservatory Big Band began its activities in the autumn of 2024 and the orchestra consists of both vocational and basic education students. The enthusiasm for Big Band music came from students who wanted to play jazz music in a larger ensemble. Big Band performed for the first time at the Skaalat Solmuun Festival in the spring of 2025. The program included, among others, big band classics from great masters such as Count Basie and Sammy Nestico. In addition, the program included songs by Art Blakey’s The Jazz Messengers. The Turku Conservatory Big Band provides good conditions for studying big band playing and trains future generations to be experts in big band music. The conductor is saxophone teacher Ari Jokelainen. The big band practices in the Seili Hall on Thursdays from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM.