The multi-DownBeat award-winning Florida International University Panthonics is the premier vocal jazz ensemble within the Division of Jazz Studies in the Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts. Directed by Dr. Lisanne Lyons, they perform a varied and challenging repertoire of jazz-influenced music, contemporary, Latin, and a capella styles.
The group emphasizes close harmonies, improvisation, cutting-edge repertoire, and new works by renowned contemporary arrangers and well arrangements by FIU faculty. The ensemble and its students have been featured with the Sunrise Pops Big Band, the World Performing Arts Center for the Live at Lynn series, Jazz at Jacksons, and WDNA. They were also the first jazz vocal ensemble to be invited to perform a concert for the FMEA Conference in 2019.
The award-winning FIU Panthonics was also the first student ensemble to perform at the Jazz Educators Network held this past January in Orlando. They also performed for the 2022 Pompano Jazz Festival opening for David Sanborn.