The vibrant sounds of a saxophone, trumpet, clarinet as guitars bounced around the melodic beats of the drums and harmonies of the choir, as the Afro-Cuban Ensemble serenaded the crowd Nov. 15 at SF State’s Knuth Hall.

The entire audience jumped up and danced out of their seats and in the hallways at Knuth Hall, and now that same group of SF State students will be playing a benefit concert at SF State’s Jack Adams Hall.

The first annual clinica Martin-Baro benefit will occur at Jack Adams Hall in SF State located at 1600 Holloway Ave. Dec. 5 at 6pm.

The students learn all of the arrangements and write their own after they audition for the ensemble at the beginning of the semester, according to John Calloway, the director of the Afro-Cuban Ensemble and an SF State professor for the school of music.

The Afro-Cuban Ensemble is composed of more than 25 SF State students. And with their first concert only a few weeks behind them, many students are excited to perform again.

Jonathan Smothers and Jessamyn Pattison, both vocalists for the group agreed that Afro-Cuban music is different than most of what you hear on the radio.

“I mean it’s just more exciting music than your normal typical American Jazz,” said Smothers

Another musician, Joshua David-Roise is a BECA major at SF state and plays bass in the Afro-Cuban Ensemble.

“Afro-Cuban music is related to so many other African based traditions in the Americas (the styles of different music) blend together,” said David-Roise.

David-Roise said he has so many favorite songs that it’s hard for him to pick a favorite.

“The benefit will be setup like a dance party. So people can dance and be social,” said David-Roise.

Brandi Brandes, is a music major at SF State and plays conguera (a type of drum) for the Afro-Cuban Ensemble.

Brandes said she is excited about the performance. She explained that everyone was excited to play a and dance.

“Our usual College of Creative Arts performance space doesn't have a dance floor,” Brandes said. And she said the event was for a good cause “The clinic is a valuable resource to the Mission community,” said Brandes.

The benefit is one of the ways the clinica, located at 1245 Alabama St. in San Francisco, hopes to raise money in order to open their doors to patients by winter. The clinica is a collaboration of both UCSF and SF State students, faculty and community physicians.

The benefit takes place on Monday, Dec. 5 from 6-9pm and has a suggested $10 donation.