The Glenn Korff School of Music’s University of Nebraska–Lincoln Jazz Singers, with special guests Elkhorn North High School’s vocal jazz choir “ENsync,” will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 in the Westbrook Music Building Performance Hall, Room 130. The concert is free and open to the public.
The Jazz Singers are under the direction of David con Kampen, lecturer in the Glenn Korff School of Music. Elkhorn North High School’s “ENsync” is under the direction of Casey Allen, alumna of the Glenn Korff School of Music and Jazz Singers alumna.
“This will be the fourth time we’ve had Casey’s vocal jazz choir join us on campus, and we’ve been up to perform at their school before, too,” von Kampen said. “A really special connection has developed between Jazz Singers and Elkhorn. They’re one of the very best high school ensembles in the state. Of course, their director, Casey Allen, is a Jazz Singers alum, so we’re thrilled that she continues to help spread vocal jazz to her school and the larger Nebraska community.”
Von Kampen said the Jazz Singers have had a busy, but meaningful, semester.
“It’s been such a busy, special semester — after welcoming Michael Mayo to campus back in September, and then performing with the Jazz Orchestra last month, it’s been nice for the group to be able to turn back inward a little bit now,” von Kampen said. “We love to collaborate, but I always love to let this group loose on music that’s just for them and watch them make it their own.”
The program will begin with “ENsync” performing “Esperanto” by Vince Mendoza and Kurt Elling, arranged by Kerry Marsh; “Moonlight in Vermont” by Blackburn/Suessdorf, arranged by Darmon Meader; and “The Christmas Song” by Mel Torme and Robert Wells, arranged by Russell Robinson.
In the second half of the program, the Jazz Singers will perform “Sleepin’ Bee” by Harold Arlen and Truman Capote, arranged by Vijay Singh; “You/Yours” by Michael League and Bill Laurance, arranged by von Kampen; “How You Loved Me on Mars” by Kathleen Grace and Josh Nelson, arranged by Zach Yoholkovsky; and “Snowbound” by Dave Frishberg, arranged by von Kampen.
Von Kampen said he is excited for the group’s first concert in the new Performance Hall in Westbrook Music Building and noted that this is also the last chance to hear this rendition of the Jazz Singers.
“We’ll have several people leaving the group for graduation or student teaching at the end of this semester, so I hope there’s a great crowd to send them off in style,” von Kampen said.
