Cassio Vianna

Conducts University Jazz Ensemble, teaches jazz classes.

“After all is portrayed and performed, it is clear that Vianna is a master of his craft, a worthy successor to such venerated gurus as Neal Hefti, Sammy Nestico, Shorty Rogers, Bill Holman, Hank Levy, Johnny Mandel, Pete Rugolo, Billy May, Marty Paich, Gerry Mulligan and many others,” (Jack Bowers, All About Jazz).

Cassio Vianna is a pianist, producer, music educator, and a Latin Grammy® nominated composer whose works reflect a broad range of musical and cultural influences.

Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Vianna began developing his skills as a composer and interpreter of Brazilian popular music in his teenage years. Between 1993 and 1995, Vianna studied under Hungarian-Brazilian teacher Ian Guest, who had a great impact on his decision to pursue a career as a composer and arranger. Between 1996 to 2009, Vianna engaged in recording and performing projects in the vibrant Rio de Janeiro music scene, until moving to the U.S. in 2009 to further his music studies.

Cassio Vianna holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Uni-Rio), a Master of Music degree from Western Oregon University, and a Doctor of Arts degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Northern Colorado, where he studied with David Caffey.

Vianna’s arrangements have been performed by artists such as Eric Marienthal, Wayne Bergeron, Chris Potter, Ernie Watts, Martha Reeves (Martha & the Vandellas), Tony Kadleck, Greg Gisbert, the United States Army Field Band (Jazz Ambassadors), the UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival All-Star Big Band, and the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra, among others. Vianna’s recent albums include Letters to Grace: A Song Cycle (2011), Infância (2017), and Vida (2025).

Over the past 15 years, Vianna has been featured as an adjudicator, performer, and clinician at jazz festivals and conferences in Latin America and across the U.S. He has presented clinics and lectures at several Jazz Education Network (JEN) Annual Conferences, the Midwest Clinic, International Composers’ Symposium, NAfME Northwest Conference, and the Washington Music Educators Association Conference. Cassio is also a very active clinician with high school and college bands. In 2015, he traveled to China to perform and to teach a two-week program at the Guangxi Arts Institute (Nanning Provence).

Cassio Vianna is the Director of Jazz Studies, Associate Professor of Music at Pacific Lutheran University. Before his appointment at PLU, he was on the music faculties at Western Oregon University (Monmouth, OR) and Umpqua Community College (Roseburg, OR), and he also taught at the University of Northern Colorado. Cassio lives in Tacoma, WA, with his wife and their three sons.

Recordings

CD No Caminho, by Dialeto Brasileiro trio (Teal Creek Music, 2009)

CD Letters to Grace: A Song Cycle, by Cassio Vianna (Teal Creek Music, 2011)

CD Infância, by Cassio Vianna Jazz Orchestra (Teal Creek Music, 2017)

CD Vida, by Cassio Vianna Jazz Orchestra (Teal Creek Music, 2025)