Pac Ave Records, University of the Pacific’s student-run record label, has released its latest “Best of Pacific” compilation, an album entirely produced by Pacific students featuring performances by the Conservatory of Music’s various ensembles.

Through Pac Ave Records, students in Pacific’s music industry studies major learn how to curate recordings and manage the mixing, licensing, distribution and marketing of the “Best of Pacific” album.

The hands-on experience not only prepares students for a job in the music industry but empowers them to confidently walk into a job interview having already experienced the process of releasing and marketing an album.

That experience, said Leilani Valencia ’25, is something that has shaped her time at Pac Ave Records.

“Even though we're a small record label, we get to know how every part of it works, whether it's marketing, business, legal, affairs, scouting or networking,” Valencia said. “Pac Ave Records gives us a chance to talk with other students and make connections, sometimes with people outside of Pacific who can help us get more resources to help with an album or with the release of music.”

The Pacific Jazz Ensemble’s performance of Wes Montgomery’s “Four On Six,” featuring Pacific alumnus and renowned jazz pianist Glenn Zaleski is the featured track on the album and marks the first year the jazz ensemble is included on “Best of Pacific.”

The track was recorded and mixed by 7-time Grammy-winning engineer Leslie Ann Jones. Student engineers were able to collaborate with her on the track and learn from her through the process.

“The students who worked on that recording now have an assistant engineering credit with her on that track. That doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed a job, but they got that experience,” said Benom Plumb, program director for music industry studies and music management.

Erick Rivera ’25 worked on mixing multiple songs, earning him a mixing engineer credit on the album.

“It does give you record label experience because you understand the flow process. I would be able to say in an interview I already have experience in the whole recording process and the process of getting an album out,” Rivera said. “I have skills that I can market myself with to go out there and get a job.”

Students involved with Pac Ave Records can build a body of work before they graduate that reflects skills music industry employers are looking for, said Plumb.

“A major record label is not expecting our students to have gone out and conquered the world and know everything. They just don't want to teach them from scratch. They can look at a resume from somebody like Erick and know he has experience. He knows how to work in a studio, he knows how to work on all the various aspects of the flow of an album,” Plumb said.

The “Best of Pacific” album, in its third installment, also includes performances by the Pacific Percussion Ensemble, Pacific Wind Bands and an original composition by Dr. Andrew Mell. Listen to the "Best of Pacific" album.