Students will join renowned jazz artists for interactive master classes during the festival. These talented artists will provide educationally meaningful master classes and will also be featured at some of the exciting evening performances.
The accomplishments of drummer Butch Miles continue to attract worldwide attention. Playing with such luminaries as Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dave Brubeck, Mel Torme, Lena Horne, Joe Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Woody Herman, Clark Terry, Gerry Mulligan, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Benny Goodman, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Zubin Mehta, Itzak Pearlman, Dick Hyman and others, Butch displays the maturity of his experience with youthful imagination and unending energy.
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One of the country's foremost woodwind artists, Chris Vadala is in demand as a jazz/classical performer and educator. He has appeared on more than 100 recordings to date, as well as innumerable jingle sessions, film and TV scores, performing on all the saxophones, flutes, and clarinets.
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Jazz trumpeter Derrick Gardner, inspired by the finest hard-blowing funky bop bands of the 1960s, is working to extend that great tradition as a performer, composer and arranger, and as a full-time college educator.
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Vocal Clinician
Jennifer Barnes is a highly sought-after vocalist, educator, clinician and arranger throughout the U.S. and Canada.
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Vocal Clinician
Steve Zegree is the Bobby McFerrin Professor of Jazz at Western Michigan University where he teaches classical and jazz piano; directs Gold Company, an internationally recognized jazz vocal ensemble; and performs as pianist with the Western Jazz Quartet, a resident faculty ensemble in the School of Music.
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Vocal Clinician
Connaitre Miller is currently Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Jazz Vocal Studies at Howard University in Washington, DC where she directs the award winning vocal jazz ensemble "Afro Blue," teaches vocal jazz improvisation, vocal jazz arranging, and gives individual voice lessons.
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