The vibrant sounds of jazz are set to fill the air today as Southern Nazarene University’s School of Music hosts its annual jazz festival. With special guest Vijay Singh, attendees can look forward to an unforgettable experience filled with smooth melodies and lively performances. In this article, members of U-Singers share their excitement for the festival, detailing what fans can expect from their performances and the overall atmosphere of the event. From incredible musical talent to the community spirit, this festival promises to be a celebration of jazz that you will not want to miss!
Eleven high school jazz choirs from across the state have gathered to collaborate with Jim Graves, D.M.A., Director of Choral Activities, the SNU U-Singers, and Vijay Singh, a nationally recognized vocal jazz musician and composer. These choirs get to partake in recording sessions in SNU’s state-of-the-art studio and collaborate to perform at the Jazz Fest Concert tonight at 7:30 pm in Herrick Auditorium.
Mikey Butenhof, a member of U-Singers, shared that the music they will perform will be vibrant and lively. “We are performing ‘Be Thou My Vision’ which I absolutely love, as well as a spiritual arrangement of ‘Good News’ that has an insanely good low-bass part,” he says. Long-time U-Singers member, Zach Moore, reveals that they will also be performing the tune ‘Route 66,’ which is a popular song from the Cars movie soundtrack. Moore says, “It is my favorite song from the setlist. We have three soloists from U-Singers who are bringing energy to this fantastic piece.” Moore and Butenhof are also looking forward to their collaboration with the high school groups and Vijay Singh. They encourage everyone to come watch and be a part of this fun performance.
With Graves and the University Singers leading the charge, this year’s jazz festival is sure to be a memorable celebration of music and artistry. Attendees can look forward to incredible performances and the chance to connect with fellow music lovers. So, grab your friends, take a break from homework, and let the rhythm of jazz sweep you off your feet this evening at 7:30 pm in Herrick Auditorium!
Photo by: Brisa Lopez