Vocal Jazz I is the premiere jazz vocal ensemble at CWU consisting of 13-16 singers, rhythm section, and a sound technician. Students are selected through a rigorous audition process judged on their technical skills, musicality, sight reading/ear training abilities, stylistic diversity, jazz sophistication, improvisation, and performance abilities.
Vocal jazz 1 has a strong tradition of exceptional performances and emphasis on music education, and many of the alumns of VJ1 hold top teaching positions in the region. The CWU jazz program has a history of producing exceptional jazz educators and emphasizes pedagogy, performance, composition, and arranging.
Vocal Jazz 1 has performed at prestigeous conventions of IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators 2002 Long Beach, CA and 2007 New York, NY), ACDA (American Choral Directors Association 2004 Boise, ID), MENC (Music Educators National Conference 2003 Nashville, TN, 2005 Bellevue, WA) and continues to gain accolades as one of the finest jazz vocal ensembles in the country. Recent performances have included sharing the stage with guest artists Nancy King, Bobby McFerrin, Gary Hobbs, Carol Welsman, Don Shelton, and Dave Pietro.
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