The Northwest College Music Department is hosting its first ever “Vocal Jazz Academy”, inviting students, teachers, and community members to spend a day learning about the genre. The event takes place on Saturday, October 1, from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. in the Nelson Performing Arts Auditorium on the NWC campus. The first 65 registered participants will have their registration costs covered by a grant from the Wyoming Arts Council.
Interested participants can register at vocaljazzacademy.com/loc/wyoming/ and preregistration will be open through Wednesday, September 28. Preregistration for teachers is $100 and includes lunch, publisher reading packets and mass choir music. The student package is $60 and includes lunch and mass choir music. Walk-up registration is also available, but those attending through this option must bring their own lunch. Group rates are available for six or more students (only $50 each), and larger groups qualify for a deeper discount.
Those seeking more information on the financial support offered by the Wyoming Arts Council grant, or information on large group discounts should contact Eric Hagmann at eric.hagmann@nwc.edu.
Attendees can choose from a teacher track or student track. The day’s schedule includes breakout sessions on topics such as jazz solo singing, vocal technique in choral and jazz settings, songwriting, improvisation, and preparing for college and auditions. Participants will also rehearse throughout the day as part of the Academy Mass Choir, and perform in a concert that night, with selected solo performances by students, and a special appearance by NWC’s two vocal jazz ensembles, Studio Singers and Sixth Street.
The concert begins at 5 p.m. and is a free event open to the public. The concert may also be watched live through Facebook at fb.me/e/2kcrjOhEP.
The Vocal Jazz Academy is the brainchild of Matt Falker, who will be traveling to Powell from Oceanside, California where he teaches at MiraCosta College. Falker brings the academies to locations around the country with the goal of building the vocal jazz community and creating opportunities for more people to experience solo and ensemble singing.
In addition to Falker, NWC’s Eric Hagmann, and Powell High School choir director Rachel Schoessler are serving as faculty offering workshops throughout the day. Two more members of the NWC Music Department, Tristan Eggener and Zach Paris, will be providing musical support on bass and drums, and Associate Professor of Music Rob Rumbolz will lend his expertise in audio engineering.