music.unt.edu
WORLD
LIFE IN PREMIERE
POETRY & MUSIC FEATURING KURT ELLING
COMPOSED & CONDUCTED BY PROFESSOR
RICHARD DEROSA
MURCHISON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER • WINSPEAR PERFORMANCE HALL • 03.11.22 • 7:30 PM
THEMPAC.UNIVERSITYTICKETS.COM
Presents the 28th annual Artist-in-Residency concert
LIFE IN POETRY & MUSIC A musical fantasy based on selected public domain poetry
FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022 7:30 P.M. MURCHISON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Winspear Performance Hall
COLLEGE OF MUSIC music.unt.edu 2
Life in Poetry & Music
FEATURING
Kurt Elling JAZZ VOCALIST
GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING
See full biography, page 12
DEDICATED TO YOU: KURT ELLING SINGS THE MUSIC OF COLTRANE AND HARTMAN GRAMMY Award: Best Jazz Vocal Album
SECRETS ARE THE BEST STORIES, featuring Danilo Pérez GRAMMY Award: Best Jazz Vocal Album
SECRETS ARE THE BEST STORIES, featuring Danilo Pérez THE QUESTIONS UPWARD SPIRAL, The Branford Marsalis Quartet with special guest Kurt Elling 1619 BROADWAY – THE BRILL BUILDING PROJECT THE GATE DEDICATED TO YOU NIGHTMOVES
THIS TIME IT’S LOVE THE MESSENGER CLOSE YOUR EYES
GRAMMY Nominations: Best Jazz Vocal Performance
“EASY LIVING” from Flirting With Twilight
(Arr. Kurt Elling & Laurence Hobgood)
GRAMMY Nomination: Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR 2000-2013, 2018-2021 DOWNBEAT: Critics Poll
TALENT DESERVING WIDER RECOGNITION 1997-2000 DOWNBEAT: Critics Poll
RECORD OF THE YEAR THE GATE – 2011 JazzWeek
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ ARTIST OF THE YEAR – 2013
MAN IN THE AIR
Jazz FM Awards
FLIRTING WITH TWILIGHT
MALE SINGER OF THE YEAR 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006-2007, 2009-2012, 2018-2020
LIVE IN CHICAGO
GRAMMY Nominations: Best Jazz Vocal Album
Jazz Journalists Association
UNT College of Music
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Glenn E. Gomez and Neil Slater
ABOUT THE EVENT
02 03 04 06
Performance Featured Artist Table of Contents History of Gomez Series Message from the Dean
PART 1: MUSIC 07
Musical Performances
PART 2: MOVEMENTS
09 10 11
M1: Life M2: Birth M3: Childhood M4: Adolescence M5: Young Adulthood M6: Middle Age M7: Retirement M8: Death
WHO’S WHO 12 14 16 17 18
Feature Artist Kurt Elling Richard DeRosa Jazz Singers Life Orchestra Faculty Performers
ADMINISTRATION 19
UNT Administration
Funding for Life in Poetry & Music provided by the University of North Texas Institute for the Advancement of the Arts faculty fellowship (IAA). The Faculty Fellows program allows faculty members a semester of leave to pursue creative research in the arts. The IAA serves to promote artistic and creative expression at UNT.
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Life in Poetry & Music
HISTORY OF THE GLENN E. GOMEZ INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS ENDOWMENT FOR JAZZ STUDIES
The Glenn E. Gomez International Artists Endowment for Jazz Studies allows UNT’s College of Music to bring internationally known jazz artists to the university for residencies enabling the creation of relationships with UNT students. Announced in 1994, performances have historically been scheduled for Spring academic sessions. Maria Schneider
Brecker Brothers
Jon Hendricks and Neil Slater
“Jazz is an art form handed down from mentor to student with the accomplished former student becoming the mentor of yet another student. This is the legacy of jazz,” said Neil Slater, former chair of the Division of Jazz Studies at UNT. “Preparing students for careers in the competitive and ever-changing world of jazz music is about more than just teaching basic techniques and skills. It’s also about inspiring students’ creativity and exposing them to what a career as a jazz musician may hold for them.” The late Glenn Gomez, a 1985 graduate of UNT’s College of Business and long-time fan of jazz, said, “We’re bringing worldrenowned jazz artists to UNT so that students can experience first-hand how the master performers think, create and view life.” Neil Slater and Slide Hampton
PREVIOUS GUEST ARTISTS 2022: Kurt Elling, jazz voice 2021: Michael Abene, composer/arranger, virtual 2020: Regina Carter, jazz violin 2019: Kenny Werner, piano 2018: *Jimmy Heath, saxophone 2017: Stefon Harris, vibraphone 2016: Danilo Pérez, piano 2015: Bobby McFerrin, jazz voice 2014: The Cookers (Billy Harper, tenor saxophone; Cecil McBee, bass; George Cables, piano; Eddie Henderson, trumpet; Billy Hart, drumset) 2013: Peter Erskine, drumset 2012: John Clayton, bass 2011: Kurt Rosenwinkel, guitar, composer with his trio 2010: *Lyle Mays, piano, composition 2009: Russell Gloyd, conductor 2009: Dave Brubeck Quartet (*Dave Brubeck, Bobby Militello, Michael Moore, Randy Jones) 2008: *John Abercrombie, guitar, composition 2007: Rufus Reid, bass, composition 2006: Pete Christlieb, saxophone 2006: Bill Holman, composition, arranging 2005: *Phil Woods, alto saxophone 2004: Dave Douglas, trumpet, composition 2003: Maria Schneider, composition, arranging 2002: *Bob Brookmeyer, trombone, piano, composition, arranging 2001: Randy Brecker, trumpet 2001: *Michael Brecker, saxophone 2000: *Kenny Wheeler, trumpet, arranging, improvisation 1999: Jim McNeely, piano, arranging, improvisation 1998: David Liebman, saxophone, improvisation 1997: *Slide Hampton, trombone, improvisation 1996: *Jon Hendricks, jazz voice, jazz history 1995: *Gerry Mulligan, saxophone, arranging *Deceased UNT College of Music
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MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
GREETINGS, EVERYONE! Dean John W. Richmond
IT IS MY PLEASURE and honor to welcome you to this wonderful evening of new music from the mind and heart of Professor Richard “Rich” DeRosa, award-winning Professor of Jazz Composition and Arranging in the Division of Jazz Studies, College of Music, University of North Texas. We will share together Professor DeRosa’s insights into life experience through the hermeneutic of America’s artform – Jazz. We are profoundly grateful for the transformational impact of the Glenn E. Gomez International Artists Endowment for Jazz Studies, which makes possible this world premiere performance featuring multi-Grammy Award winning jazz vocalist Kurt Elling – an artist the New York Times has called, “the standout male vocalist of our time.”
Tonight’s performance would not be possible without the generous support of the Gomez family. It likewise would not be possible without the generous, collaborative spirit of our College of Music faculty and staff, including colleagues in Jazz Studies, Instrumental 6
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Studies, Composition Studies, Conducting & Ensembles and Recording Services. This world-class “ensemble cast” has made possible for us what would be possible at very few other universities and conservatories in the world. I am humbled to work alongside these gifted collaborators, learning from them every day how to “serve our diverse musical culture with excellence, integrity and imagination.” I know you will join me in celebrating this evening and remember it forever. Thank you! We are thrilled to have you here.
Most sincerely,
JOHN W. RICHMOND, PH.D.
Professor and Dean of the College of Music, University of North Texas
PART 1: MUSICAL PERFORMANCES SPEAK NO EVIL WAYNE SHORTER Brad Leali (alto saxophone), Scott Tixier (violin), Fred Sanders (piano), Lynn Seaton (bass), José Aponte (drumset)
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT FEATURING THE
UNT JAZZ SINGERS
GEORGE DAVID WEISS, LAWRENCE HOLOFCENER AND JERRY BOCK Jennifer Barnes (voice), Rosana Eckert (voice), Fred Sanders (piano), Lynn Seaton (bass), Jose Aponté (drumset)
DIRECTOR OF VOCAL JAZZ Jennifer Barnes SOPRANO Lindsay Day -------------------------------------------- Denver, CO Savannah Koenig*------------------------------------- Fargo, ND Katelyn Robinson ----------------------------- Los Angeles, CA ALTO Olivia Briley ------------------------------------- San Antonio, TX Tori Gilchrist --------------------------------------------- Dallas, TX Daniëlla Hart ------------------ Johannesburg, South Africa TENOR Dakota Andersen+ -----------------------------------Fairfield, IA Michael Martin ----------------------------------------Kerrville, TX BASS Jasper Fearon------------------------------------------- Ithaca, NY Tyler Thomas ----------------------------------------- Dundee, NY RHYTHM Jake Nalangan (Piano) --------------------- Sacramento, CA Josh Newburry (Bass)*---------------------------St. Louis, MO Will O’Rourke (Drum Set) ------------------ San Antonio, TX Mario Wellmann (Guitar) ------------------------Chillán, Chile *Section Leaders +Graduate Assistant
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNT JAZZ SINGERS ON PAGE 16
HAROLD’S HOUSE OF JAZZ MUSIC BY RICHIE COLE/DAVID LAHM Additional lyrics by Kelly Kunz/ Amanda Taylor Kunz Arr. Kelly Kunz and Nick Moore
MANIC PANIC EPIPHANIC KURT ELLING/COREY FONVILLE/ DJ HARRISON/CHARLIE HUNTER Lyrics by Kurt Elling Vocal adaptation by Jennifer Barnes
ENDLESS LAWNS CARLA BLEY Lyrics by Kurt Elling Vocal adaptation by Jennifer Barnes
THE RETURN (UPWARD SPIRAL) JOEY CALDERAZZO/KURT ELLING Vocal adaptation by Jennifer Barnes UNT College of Music
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PART 2: MOVEMENTS PRESENTED IN EIGHT MOVEMENTS FEATURING JAZZ VOCALIST KURT ELLING WITH JAZZ QUARTET, ORCHESTRA AND TREBLE CHOIR. COMPOSED & CONDUCTED BY RICHARD DEROSA Funding for Life in Poetry & Music provided by the University of North Texas Institute for the Advancement of the Arts faculty fellowship (IAA). The Faculty Fellows program allows faculty members a semester of leave to pursue creative research in the arts. The IAA serves to promote artistic and creative expression at UNT.
1. LIFE: OVERVIEW LIFE – EDITH WHARTON Life, like a marble block, is given to all, A blank, inchoate mass of years and days, Whence one with ardent chisel swift essays Some shape of strength or symmetry to call; One shatters it in bits to mend a wall; One in a craftier hand the chisel lays, And one, to wake the mirth in Lesbia’s gaze, Carves it apace in toys fantastical. But least is he who, with enchanted eyes, Filled with high visions of fair shapes to be, Muses which god he shall immortalize In the proud Parian’s perpetuity, Till twilight warns him from the punctual skies That the night cometh wherein none shall see.
2. BIRTH: INTIMACY, FASCINATION SOUL’S BIRTH – SARA TEASDALE When you were born, beloved, was your soul New made by God to match your body’s flower, And were they both at one same precious hour Sent forth from heaven as a perfect whole? Or had your soul since dim creation burned, A star in some still region of the sky, That leaping earthward, left its place on high And to your little new-born body yearned? No words can tell in what celestial hour God made your soul and gave it mortal birth, Nor in the disarray of all the stars Is any place so sweet that such a flower Might linger there until thro’ heaven’s bars, It heard God’s voice that bade it down to earth. UNT College of Music
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MOVEMENTS 3. CHILDHOOD: INNOCENCE, MISCHIEF
THE CHILDREN’S HOUR - HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW Between the dark and the daylight, When the night is beginning to lower, Comes a pause in the day’s occupations, That is known as the Children’s Hour. I hear in the chamber above me The patter of little feet, The sound of a door that is opened, And voices soft and sweet. From my study I see in the lamplight, Descending the broad hall stair, Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra, And Edith with golden hair. A whisper, and then a silence: Yet I know by their merry eyes They are plotting and planning together To take me by surprise. A sudden rush from the stairway, A sudden raid from the hall! By three doors left unguarded They enter my castle wall! They climb up into my turret O’er the arms and back of my chair; If I try to escape, they surround me; They seem to be everywhere. They almost devour me with kisses, Their arms about me entwine, Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine! Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti, Because you have scaled the wall, Such an old mustache as I am Is not a match for you all! I have you fast in my fortress, And will not let you depart, But put you down into the dungeon In the round-tower of my heart. And there will I keep you forever, Yes, forever and a day, Till the walls shall crumble to ruin, And moulder in dust away. 10
Life in Poetry & Music
4. ADOLESCENCE:
IDENTITY, GREATER AWARENESS, YOUNG LOVE, PASSION
FIRST LOVE – JOHN CLARE I ne’er was struck before that hour With love so sudden and so sweet, Her face it bloomed like a sweet flower And stole my heart away complete. My face turned pale as deadly pale. My legs refused to walk away, And when she looked, what could I ail? My life and all seemed turned to clay. And then my blood rushed to my face And took my eyesight quite away, The trees and bushes round the place Seemed midnight at noonday. I could not see a single thing, Words from my eyes did start -They spoke as chords do from the string, And blood burnt round my heart. Are flowers the winter’s choice? Is love’s bed always snow? She seemed to hear my silent voice, Not love’s appeals to know. I never saw so sweet a face As that I stood before. My heart has left its dwelling-place And can return no more. WILD NIGHTS – EMILY DICKINSON Wild Nights - Wild Nights! Were I with thee Wild Nights should be Our luxury! Futile - the Winds To a Heart in port – Done with the Compass Done with the Chart! Rowing in Eden Ah, the Sea! Might I but moor Tonight - With Thee!
MOVEMENTS 5. YOUNG ADULTHOOD:
ACQUIRING MATURITY; CONFLICT BETWEEN RATIONALE & EMOTION BOND AND FREE - ROBERT FROST Love has earth to which she clings With hills and circling arms aboutWall within wall to shut fear out. But Thought has need of no such things, For Thought has a pair of dauntless wings. On snow and sand and turf, I see Where Love has left a printed trace With straining in the world’s embrace. And such is Love and glad to be. But Thought has shaken his ankles free. Thought cleaves the interstellar gloom And sits in Sirius’ disc all night, Till day makes him retrace his flight, With smell of burning on every plume, Back past the sun to an earthly room. His gains in Heaven are what they are. Yet some say Love by being thrall And, simply staying, possesses all In sev‘ral beauty that Thought fares far To find fused in another star.
6. MIDDLE AGE:
SEEKING GREATER PURPOSE; RESOLUTION, WISDOM THE ROAD NOT TAKEN - ROBERT FROST Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
7. RETIREMENT: CONTENTMENT, REFLECTION, RESIGNATION
NATURE – HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW As a fond mother, when the day is o’er, Leads by the hand her little child to bed, Half willing, half reluctant to be led, And leave his broken playthings on the floor, Still gazing at them through the open door, Nor wholly reassured and comforted By promises of others in their stead, Which, though more splendid, may not please him more; So Nature deals with us, and takes away Our playthings one by one, and by the hand Leads us to rest so gently, that we go Scarce knowing if we wish to go or stay, Being too full of sleep to understand How far the unknown transcends the what we know.
8. DEATH: RETURN TO THE SPIRIT WORLD
REQUIEM FOR A LOVED ONE (music only) This movement features the orchestra and choir. UNT College of Music
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MEET OUR FEATURE VOCALIST
Kurt Elling Renowned for his singular combination of robust swing and poetic insight, two-time GRAMMY winner Kurt Elling has secured his place among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists. The New York Times proclaimed Elling, “the standout male vocalist of our time.” Over a twenty-five year career of touring and recording, Elling has won three Prix du Jazz Vocal (France), two German Echo Awards, two Dutch Edison Awards, and has been nominated for a GRAMMY award fifteen times. He has had a 14-year run atop the DownBeat Critics and Readers polls, and has won twelve Jazz Journalists Awards for “Male Vocalist of the Year.” Kurt Elling’s voice is instantly recognizable, embracing listeners with his warm, rich baritone and navigating the full span of his four-octave range as a virtuoso improvisor and a compelling storyteller. The Guardian (UK) has named Kurt Elling, “a kind of Sinatra with superpowers,” and, “one of jazz’s all-time great vocalists.”
Elling’s dynamism is enhanced exponentially by the fact that he consistently generates new vocal material by writing and recording signature and definitive lyrics to the compositions of foundational jazz composers like John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Wayne Shorter, and Joe Zawinul. Additionally, Kurt Elling has co-created multi-disciplinary performances for Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater and The City of Chicago. Jazz at Lincoln Center saw the GRAMMY AWARDS FOR world premiere of The Big Blind, an entirely new jazz musical-in-progress Elling is co-writing with collaborator Phil Galdston (“Save The “Dedicated To You: Kurt Best For Last”). National Elling Sings the Music of Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky Coltrane and Hartman” declared that, “In Kurt Elling’s art, the voice of jazz gives new spiritual presence “Secrets Are to the ancient, sweet and the Best Stories,” powerful bond between featuring Danilo Pérez poetry and music.”
BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM
Elling has recorded and toured with Branford Marsalis, Danilo Pérez, Stefon Harris, Fred Hersch, James Morrison and Charlie Hunter. He has performed extensively with larger ensembles like the Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra (led by Sean Jones), Bob Mintzer Big Band, BBC Concert Symphony (led by Guy Barker), Metropole Orchestra (Holland), Irish Radio and Television Orchestra (led by Brian Byrne), Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and WDR Orchestra and Big Band (Germany). The Wall Street Journal said, “Elling combines authenticity with stunning originality.” The 12
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Washington Post declared that, “since the mid1990s, no singer in jazz has been as daring, dynamic or interesting as Kurt Elling.”
Elling has toured the world in a variety of contexts, including UNESCO-sponsored “International Jazz Day” performances in Havana, Cuba, in St. Petersburg, Russia, in Melbourne, Australia and in Washington. DC. He has twice performed at the White House, including a performance in collaboration with the late Marvin Hamlisch and the National Symphony Orchestra for President Obama’s first State Dinner. He has served as Artist-In-Residence at the Monterey and Singapore Jazz Festivals. As a music industry leader, Elling spent six years serving as a Trustee and two years as Vice Chairman of The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
KURTELLING.COM UNT College of Music
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Richard DeRosa MUSIC COMPOSED & CONDUCTED BY
DIRECTOR OF JAZZ COMPOSITION & ARRANGING, UNT
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RICHARD DEROSA received a Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Composition in 2015 for his big band composition “Neil” which is dedicated to Neil Slater, the director of the One O’Clock Lab Band at the University of North Texas from 1981-2008. In 2012, the WDR Big Band in Cologne, Germany, invited Mr. DeRosa to conduct and present his music in concert. After several other engagements with the prestigious band he served as their chief conductor and musical arranger from 2014-2016. He arranged and conducted the CD/DVD recording My Personal Songbook with the band (2015) which features the music of legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter who is featured with the band. A second CD titled Rediscovered Ellington (2017) features his longtime music partners Garry Dial and Dick Oatts. Together they created unique and modern arrangements of Duke’s rare and unheard tunes. DeRosa’s newest CD with the band is Crossing Borders (2019) which features iconic jazz pianist Richie Beirach and his long-time duo partner and violinist Gregor Huebner. Other WDR projects with guest artists include Joshua Redman, Stefon Harris, Kurt Elling, Patti Austin, the New York Voices, Richie Beirach & Gregor Huebner, Ola Onabulé, Ute Lemper, Bill Mays & Marvin Stamm, and Warren Vaché. Since 2001 Mr. DeRosa has arranged and conducted music for Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra to feature Toots Thielemans, Annie Ross, Willie Nelson, Norah Jones, Cassandra Wilson, Roberta Gambarini, and Renée Fleming among several other notable artists. He was a prime arranger for a theater project (A Bed and a Chair) featuring the music of Stephen Sondheim as well as an arrangement of The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea for the swing jazz Broadway show After Midnight. DeRosa was also a featured arranger for the Wynton with Strings concert celebration in 2005. His most recent project as a featured conductor and arranger for the LCJO was Bernstein at 100 which premiered in November 2017. Jazz at Lincoln Center commissioned DeRosa to arrange and conduct selected pieces for Joey Alexander and Strings which premiered in October 2018. Other commissioned arrangements have been recorded by the Mel Lewis, Gerry Mulligan, and Glenn Miller big bands, vocalist Susannah McCorkle, rising trumpet star Dominick Farinacci on his CD Lovers, Tales, and Dances, and acclaimed solo violinist Anne Akiko Meyers on her CD Seasons….Dreams. Mr. DeRosa has also served as co-arranger, orchestrator, and conductor for the critically acclaimed recording projects When Winter Comes featuring guitarist Fred Fried, Dial & Oatts: Brassworks, and a double CD project That Music Always Round Me which DownBeat magazine selected as one of the top recordings in 2015. Dial & Oatts composed music to fifteen poems by Walt Whitman and brought in DeRosa to create the arrangements for choir to be featured with a jazz chamber group that included Dial on piano, Oatts on saxophones and flute, and guest trumpeter Terell Stafford.
Mr. DeRosa’s arrangements for orchestra have been performed by the Kansas City Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, New York Pops, Portland (Maine) Pops, UNT One O’Clock Lab Band® with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, Metropole Orchestra in Holland, Czech National Symphony, and Swedish Television and Radio Orchestra in Stockholm. Other European jazz bands, including the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra, have commissioned his compositions and arrangements. Mr. DeRosa’s compositions for television, film, and theater include background music cues for “Another World,” “As the World Turns,” “The Guiding Light,” commercials for Telex, BristolMeyers, and Kodak, various documentaries broadcast on PBS, orchestrations for independent films Gray Matters, Falling For Grace, and Standard Time, and more than twenty original music scores for the national touring U.S. theater company ArtsPower as well as orchestrations for Frankenstein, the Musical. He has also composed scores for videos and hundreds of audiobooks for publishing companies including Bantam Doubleday Dell, Random House, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, and Prentice-Hall. Earlier in his career as a performer, DeRosa toured and recorded with Gerry Mulligan, Bob Brookmeyer, Susannah McCorkle, Jackie Cain & Roy Kral, Chuck Wayne, and Marlene VerPlanck. Other employers include Marian McPartland, Gene Bertoncini, Warren Vaché, Larry Elgart, Peter Nero, and vocalist Chris Connor. Mr. DeRosa is a full professor at the University of North Texas, where he is the director of jazz composition and arranging. His former teaching positions were at William Paterson University, Manhattan School of Music, and The Juilliard School where he taught advanced jazz arranging for studio orchestra. He is the author of Concepts for Improvisation: A Comprehensive Guide for Performing and Teaching (Hal Leonard Publications) and Acoustic and MIDI Orchestration for the Contemporary Composer (Focal Press) co-authored with Dr. Andrea Pejrolo. The latter book has experienced worldwide success having been translated into Chinese in a subsequent edition. An expanded 2nd edition was published in November 2016. Mr. DeRosa’s publications for public school jazz ensembles are available through Alfred Music (Belwin Jazz), Smart Chart Music, J.W. Pepper, Barnhouse Music, while several of his works for professional bands are available through Sierra Music. All of this music is available through e-Jazz Lines. Mr. DeRosa remains active as an adjudicator and clinician for music festivals and is the artistic director for AJV (American Jazz Venues), an organization created by his late father, noted jazz education pioneer, Clem DeRosa.
RICHDEROSA.COM UNT College of Music
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JAZZ SINGERS & LIFE ORCHESTRA
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 vocalists and a rhythm section who perform a challenging and varied repertoire of jazz and jazz-influenced music, emphasizing close vocal harmonies, cutting-edge repertoire and improvisation. The ensemble has performed at national music conferences and festivals including the Jazz Education Network, International Association for Jazz Education, American Choral Directors Association and Texas Music Educators Association. They have performed by special invitation at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. as part of the “Sing, Sing, Sing” event featuring Jon Hendricks and The Manhattan Transfer. The UNT Vocal Jazz Department has been a thriving part of the jazz division within the College of Music for over 35 years, comprised of 23 students pursuing bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in jazz voice. Serving on the UNT jazz voice faculty are highly acclaimed vocal jazz educators Jennifer Barnes and Rosana Eckert, as well as four graduate teaching assistants. Jazz Studies voice majors experience both traditional and modern practices of solo jazz singing, songwriting, vocal pedagogy, improvisation, jazz aural and keyboard skills, jazz theory, arranging and jazz history. In addition, they sing in small combos, eight lab bands, the Latin Jazz Lab Band and Brazilian and Afro-Cuban ensembles. Over the years, UNT vocal jazz students have received numerous DownBeat magazine Student Music Awards in categories of solo singing, ensemble performance, arranging and composition. Alumni of 16
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the program have gone on to win or receive nominations for Grammy, Independent and CASA awards, and are enjoying successful careers as recording artists, studio musicians, college professors, composers, producers, arrangers, independent artists and worship leaders. Continuing the trajectory of founding director Paris Rutherford, the UNT Vocal Jazz area continues to be a leader in vocal jazz education. 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 17 states, and her vocal arrangements are published by Sheet Music Plus, Anchor Music, and UNC Jazz Press. 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, as well as singing 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.
PERFORMERS WOODWINDS
Flute 1-------------------------------------------------Collin Stavinoha Flute 2------------------------------------------------- Sara Denlinger Flute 3/Piccolo---------------------------------------- Natalie Zeles Oboe 1--------------------------------------------- Maxwell Wiethorn English Horn-----------------------------------------------Ha Eun An Clarinet 1------------------------------------------------- David Kriete Clarinet 2---------------------------------------------- Kasey Merriott Clarinet 3---------------------------------------------- Josh Partridge Bass Clarinet------------------------------------------Jack Lanhardt Contra Alto Clarinet------------------------------Rylan Villarreal Bassoon---------------------------------------------------Colin Hilliard
BRASS
Horn in F -----------------------------------------------Claire Bradley ------------------------------------------------ Trenton Carr ----------------------------------------------------Elijah Kee ------------------------------------------ Charity Morrison
PERCUSSION
Vibraphone, Marimba, Xylophone------- Destin Wernicke ------------------------------- Thomas Reilly
LATIN PERCUSSION
Güiro-------------------------------------------------- Jeffery Chaidez Triangle------------------------------------------------- Isaac LaVigne Agogo Bells-------------------------------------Aramís Fernandez
JAZZ QUARTET
Soprano Saxophone------------------------------ Ian Weidmann Piano------------------------------------------------------------June Lee Bass-------------------------------------------------- Guillermó Lopez Drumset-------------------------------------------------Colman Burks
CHOIR
Soprano 1--------------------------------------------- Marianna Baird ------------------------------------------------ Lindsay Day -----------------------------------------Savannah Koenig --------------------------------------------------- Nan Wang Soprano 2----------------------------------------------- Daniëlla Hart ---------------------------------------------- Abigail Litjens ----------------------------------------- Katelyn Robinson ----------------------------------------------- Lauren Smith Alto 1-------------------------------------------------------- Olivia Briley -------------------------------------------------- Kira Goidel ---------------------------------------------- Bianca Lopez ------------------------------------------ Donye Robinson Alto 2------------------------------------------------------ Tori Gilchrist -------------------------------------------- Whitney James -------------------------------------------------- Ipshita Roy ---------------------------------------- Christiana Schiller
KEYBOARD
Celesta-------------------------------------------------------Yeeun Kim
HARP
Raquel Coleman
STRING ORCHESTRA Violin 1 Olivia Dinardis Ciana Grace Eugen Kim Charlie Latimer Marijn Meijer Joseph Reding Erika Soveranes Clarissa Tamara Violin 2 Zane Acord Jacob Cortez Anya Hollingsworth Alexa Torres Skillicorn Sydney Young Viola Patrick Hayes Haley Kruse Alex Moreno Lauren Nelson Nicolas Valencia Cello Maria Baylock Nico Clark Sarah Hart Ben Katzen Noah Leiva Bass August Bish Anthony Casolari Eric Hitt UNT College of Music
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FACULTY & STAFF PERFORMERS
JOSÉ APONTE
JENNIFER BARNES Professor of Vocal Jazz Director of Vocal Jazz Studies Voice
Senior Administrative Coordinator to the Dean of the College of Music Cello
ROSANA ECKERT
BRAD LEALI
FRED SANDERS
Principal Lecturer of Drumset and Latin Percussion Drums
Principal Lecturer of Vocal Jazz Voice
Professor of Jazz Saxophone Alto Saxophone
LYNN SEATON
Regents Professor of Jazz Bass Bass
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MARIA BAYLOCK
Adjunct Instructor of Jazz Piano Piano
SCOTT TIXIER
Assistant Professor of Jazz Strings Director of Jazz Strings Lab Violin
ADMINISTRATION UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS SYSTEM MICHAEL R. WILLIAMS Chancellor
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS NEAL SMATRESK President
MICHAEL McPHERSON
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
COLLEGE OF MUSIC JOHN W. RICHMOND Professor and Dean
WARREN HENRY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Senior Associate Dean, Academic Affairs FELIX OLSCHOFKA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associate Dean, Operations EMILITA MARIN ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assistant Dean, Business and Finance RAYMOND ROWELL -------------------------------------------------------- Assistant Dean, Enrollment Management and External Affairs MARK MONTEMAYOR ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interim Director, Undergraduate Studies JAYMEE HAEFNER ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Director, Graduate Studies BENJAMIN BRAND --------------------------------------------------------- Chair, Division of Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology MOLLY FILLMORE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chair, Division of Vocal Studies STEVEN HARLOS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chair, Division of Keyboard Studies JOSEPH KLEIN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chair, Division of Composition Studies KIMBERLY COLE LUEVANO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chair, Division of Instrumental Studies ROB PARTON -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chair, Division of Jazz Studies SEAN POWELL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chair, Division of Music Education ANDREW TRACHSEL ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chair, Division of Conducting and Ensembles MATT HARDMAN ---------------------------------------------------------------- Director, Communications, Marketing and Public Relations AUSTIN MARTINEZ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Acting Director, Recording Services CAROL POLLARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Director, Undergraduate Advising JOEL WILEY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Director, Admissions CRAIG MARSHALL ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lab Band Manager, Division of Jazz Studies MADISON RUSSELL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Administrative Coordinator, Division of Jazz Studies MATT HELLMAN --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Program Design, Graphic Design Specialist UNT College of Music
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