by Kelly Rogge
The Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Vocal Jazz 1 and 2 ensembles will be featured in a New York Voices Masterclass later this month.
The event is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the KCKCC Performing Arts Center, 7250 State Ave., Kansas City, Kan. The event is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the KCKCC Music Club.
The New York Voices is a professional, Grammy-Award winning vocal jazz ensemble that will be in Kansas City to perform with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra. The concert is at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Kauffman Center for The Performing Arts, Kansas City, Mo.
Prior to the performance, the ensemble will give a vocal jazz Masterclass with KCKCC students. KCKCC Vocal Jazz 1 and 2 ensembles will perform for New York Voices, which will provide brief clinics for each ensemble.
In addition, New York Voices will conduct a question-and-answer session for the second half of the masterclass about jazz singing, the music business and their beginnings to become an internationally-recognized vocal ensemble.
“The event will be great to attend,” said John Stafford, director of choirs at KCKCC. “It will give the students and other audience members insight into the music business and jazz singing technique. The New York Voices will also discuss the development history of their ensemble. It is rare to have musicians of this caliber on our campus, and it would be great experience for all who attend.”
In 2013, New York Voices celebrated its 25th anniversary. Known for its close-knit voicings, inspired arrangements and unparalleled vocal blend, their interests are deeply rooted in jazz, Brazilian, rhythm and blues, classical and pop.
Formed by Darmon Meader, Peter Eldridge, Kim Nazarian, Caprice Fox, and Sara Krieger, New York Voices had its first performances in 1988. In 1989, it signed its first record deal with GRP Records and released a self-titled debut album.
Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at Kansas City Kansas Community College.