Highland Village, TX
The University of North Texas Jazz Singers is the premier vocal jazz ensemble within the Division of Jazz Studies in the College of Music. Under the direction of Jennifer Barnes, Jazz Singers consists of ten to twelve vocalists and a four-piece rhythm section who perform a challenging and varied repertoire of jazz and jazz-influenced cutting-edge repertoire, notably featuring compositions and arrangements by current students, alumni, and UNT faculty. The ensemble has earned a DownBeat (magazine) Student Music Award for a collegiate Vocal Jazz Ensemble in eight of the last nine years consecutively. Jazz Singers has performed at state, national, and international music conferences including those for the Jazz Education Network, International Association for Jazz Education, and the American Choral Directors Association. Jazz Singers is one of four vocal jazz ensembles that are part of the comprehensive Jazz Studies major at UNT. Jazz voice majors study both modern and historical practices of solo jazz singing, songwriting, vocal pedagogy, improvisation, jazz aural and keyboard skills, jazz theory and arranging, and jazz history. In addition, they sing in Jazz Chamber Ensembles, Latin Jazz Lab Band, Zebras (pop/R&B/soul band), Brazilian Ensemble, and with one of the seven Lab Bands. Over the years, individual UNT vocal jazz students have received Downbeat Magazine Student Music Awards for solo singing, arranging, leading small groups, and composition. Alumni of the program have gone on to win or receive nominations for Grammy Awards, Independent Music Awards and CASA awards, and are enjoying successful careers as recording artists, studio singers, college professors, composers, producers, worship leaders, and arrangers. The Jazz Studies major comprises a global and diverse student population of approximately 225 students who pursue Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degree programs.
Jennifer Barnes is the Director of Vocal Jazz at UNT, in addition to being a highly sought-after vocalist, educator, clinician and arranger throughout the U.S. and Canada. She has directed award-winning Vocal Jazz Ensembles at eight universities, won a 2016 “Jazz Education Achievement Award” from DownBeat magazine, has served as a guest conductor for District and All-State Music Festivals in 16 states, and her vocal arrangements are published by Sheet Music Plus, Anchor Music, UNC Jazz Press, and at her own website (JenniferBarnesMusic.com). In addition to her teaching activities, Jennifer is an active performing and studio vocalist, including her roles as alto vocalist, composer and arranger for the professional vocal ensemble Vertical Voices, solo and group vocals for television shows, video games and films including “World of Warcraft”, “Wall-E”, “Enchanted”, “Ice Age (2, 3 & 4)” and “Glee”. Ms. Barnes is a member of the American Society of Composers, Arrangers and Publishers, Screen Actors Guild, and the Jazz Education Network. She earned the Master of Music degree in Studio Music and Jazz Performance from the University of Miami (FL) and the Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Western Michigan University.
For more information, you may visit: jazz.unt.edu/vocaljazz
Friday, January 6, 2023
4:00 PM – 4:50 PM US EST