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R&S: Jazz Choirs

BethMueller

Hello and welcome to the R&S Jazz Choir page.  My name is Beth Mueller and I teach at Maquoketa Valley in Delhi.  This will be my twentieth year in the district where I direct the High School Concert Choir, 7th and 8th Boys Chorus, two vocal jazz ensembles- Smooth Harmony and Jazz X-Press, and am the Music Director for the annual Musical Production.

My Jazz Choir journey began in 1996 when I asked six very talented students of mine if they’d like to go to IHSMA State Contest as a Vocal Jazz Choir.  I told them I really didn’t know anything about it but I’d found a few arrangements that I thought might work and I just thought that they’d make a great group.  Why just six singers….well Phil Mattson had six in his group so I figured that was the right size! 

I have directed anywhere from one to four jazz choirs a year since that initial group shrugged and said “sure, why not!”  Working in this genre has proven to be so rewarding for the students and myself.  The musical skill and confidence gained in preparing and performing jazz repertoire is priceless.

My advice to anyone considering starting a vocal jazz ensemble…Just Do It!!   You won’t regret it.

Any questions…please feel free to contact me.  I’ll do my best to help you find your answers to your “jazzing” questions!!

Beth Mueller
Jazz Choirs R&S Chair
jazz-chair@iowachoral.org
Jazz Choir Festivals 2007-08

Wednesday

January 16, 2008

All-State Jazz Choir Auditions
(DM Hoover, SC West, and Maquoketa Valley)
Tuesday January 22

Iowa Lakes C.C. Show Choir/Jazz Choir Festival
Contact: Brett Fuelberth

Saturday
Monday

 January 26
January 28

IHSMA State Jazz Contest - 1 A, 3A
IHSMA State Jazz Contest - 2A, 4A

Monday February 11

Morningside Vocal Jazz Festival
Sioux City, Contact: Tim Watson watson@morningside.edu

Friday

 February 15

Kirkwood Vocal Jazz Festival
Cedar Rapids, Contact Ray Salucka
Gues clinician: Idea of North

Monday February 18

Kingsley-Pierson Jazz Choir Festival
Contact: Donna Washburn
Saturday February 23

Southwestern Community College Vocal Jazz Festival
Creston, Contact: Jeremy Fox
Guest clinician: New York Voices

Monday February 25

Lewis and Clark Jazz Festival
Sioux City, Contact: Jean Busker
Guest Clinician: Vijay Singh

Friday February 29

Lewis Central Invitational
Council Bluffs , Contact: Shelby Sievers
Saturday March 1

Waukee Invitational
Contact: Amy Hall
Friday March 7

Cedar Rapids Jefferson
Contact: Andrew Eley

Saturday March 8

Cedar Rapids Washington
Contact: Matthew Armstrong

Monday March 10

Best of Iowa Vocal Jazz Showcase
Dallas Center-Grimes, Contact: Tyler Harper

Tuesday March 11

Coyote Jazz Festival
University of South Dakota, Vermillion
 Website: http://www.usd.edu/cfa/Music/festivals.cfm
Saturday March 15

Maquoketa Valley Jazz Choir Workshop and Concert with M-Pact
Contact: Beth Mueller
  March 17-18

NCDA Jazz Choir Festival
Columbus, Nebraska
Website: http://www.ensemble.org/assoc/ncda/rs/jazz.htm
Saturday March 29

Gold Company Invitational Vocal Jazz Festival
Website: http://www.wmich.edu/goldcompany/events.html
  April 3-5

North Texas Jazz Festival (Addison, Texas)
Website: http://www.music.unt.edu/jazz/ntjazzfest/
  April 24-26

UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival (Greeley, Colorado)
E-mail: jazzfest@arts.unco.edu
  April 25-28

New York City Vocal Jazz Festival
Website: www.manhattanconcertproductions.com
Clinicians: Steve Zegree, Darmon Meader, Duane Davis, Janis Siegel, Bruce Rogers
  April 21-24

New York City Vocal Jazz Festival
Website: www.manhattanconcertproductions.com
Clinicians: Steve Zegree, Greg Jasperse, Duane Davis
  June 22-27

Steve Zegree Vocal Jazz Camp (Kalamazoo, Michigan)
Website: http://www.wmich.edu/goldcompany/camps.php

See the ICDA Statewide Calendar for more event information

See this page for information on the Iowa All-State Jazz Choir

Repertoire Lists

Vocal Jazz & Jazz Choir Links

Colleges/Universities:

Music Suppliers — Arrangements & Recordings:

Vocal Jazz Resources:

Professionals:

Other States' Honor Jazz Choirs:

 

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