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  • Writer's picturePress Release

First Annual Vocal Jazz Summit Kicks Off The Z’s Spring with a Packed Virtual Schedule


Words and Images courtesy of The Z.


Zeiders American Dream Theater (The Z) in Town Center under the leadership of Artistic Director Bart Kuebler and Executive Director Terry Flint, is pleased to present the Vocal Jazz Summit artistically led by Alexis Cole and produced by Elizabeth Terrell.


The Vocal Jazz Summit is an annual conference designed to bring together vocal jazz enthusiasts, emerging and established artists, industry leaders, and the greater vocal jazz community to connect and engage one another in celebration of the art form, present unique educational experiences, and provide an environment to nurture and grow the vocal jazz community. The weekend will engage festival-goers with live performance, interactive workshops and masterclasses, and networking opportunities.


This year’s festival is comprised of 20 regional and national artists with 15 different events over the course of two days. With 95% of the festival virtual in its first year, there is opportunity for Pass Holders to get the full experience without having to travel. Festival Artistic Director, Alexis Cole adds, “The Vocal Jazz Summit brings the highest level of Vocal Jazz Education to singers, regardless of their level of proficiency, experience, education or age. With classes, performances and an opportunity to participate in a nightly jam session, singers will grow and build community with others who share their passion. We’re excited to get a virtual start this year, and we look forward to meeting in person next Spring” The full schedule is at the end of this press release.

Part of the The Z’s mission is foster emerging artists and with this Vocal Jazz Summit, they are able to create an environment for those artists. “The Vocal Jazz Summit has been three years in the making, and we intend for it to continue to grow and become a staple at The Z, and we hope, a staple within the local, regional, national, and international vocal jazz community.” says festival producer, Elizabeth Terrell. This careful planning has opened the door for artists like René Marie, Kurt Elling, Catherine Russell and Jane Monheit, just to name a few, to offer very personal masterclasses or performances.


Saturday, March 27, 2021

11:30 am Virtual Venues + Jacktrip: Live Virtual Workshop with Bernie Furshpan & Dan Tepfer

1:00 pm Practical Arranging Concepts: Live Virtual Workshop with John Proulx

2:30 pm iRealPro: Fantastic Features: Live Virtual Workshop with Nikolett Pankovits

4:00 pm Vocal Jazz Improvisation: Live Virtual Workshop with Darmon Meader

5:30 pm Live Virtual Masterclass with Cyrille Aimée

7:00 pm In-Person and Live Streamed Performance with René Marie

(Live Stream Access Included in Pass Purchase; In-Person tickets sold separately)

8:30 pm Live Streamed Performance Showcase featuring Cyrille Aimée, John Proulx, Nikolett Pankovits,

Darmon Meader, and Samara Joy

9:45 pm Jam Session with Jocelyn Medina


Sunday, March 28, 2021

11:30 am Booking the Gig: Live Virtual Workshop with Ashley Shabankareh

1:00 pm Singing with Expression: Live Virtual Workshop with Rosana Eckert

2:30 pm Live Virtual Masterclass with Kurt Elling

4:00 pm Tone Tuneup: Live Virtual Workshop with Alexis Cole

5:30 pm Live Virtual Masterclass with Jane Monheit

7:00 pm Live Streamed Performance with Catherine Russell

8:30 pm Live Streamed Performance Showcase featuring Rosana Eckert, Jane Monheit, Roberta

Gambarini, Kate McGarry, and Alexis Cole

9:45 pm Jam Session with Jocelyn Medina


All Access passes are available for $75. $55 passes are available for Senior/Military and $25 passes are available for Students. Individual tickets for the René Marie performance on March 27 at 7pm are available for $20. Limited seating is available for the in-person René Marie performance on March 27. Vocal Jazz Summit runs March 27-28, 2021 and a full list of events, workshops and sessions can be found at https://thez.org/vocaljazzsummit/


New COVID-19 policies can be found at https://thez.org/covid-19-patron-policies/


Zeiders American Dream Theater is located at 4509 Commerce Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Zeiders American Dream Theater is funded in part by the citizens of Virginia Beach through a grant from the City of Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission. Additional contributing sponsors include Towne Bank.


ABOUT ZEIDERS AMERICAN DREAM THEATER

Zeiders American Dream Theater, known as The Z, is a professional, non-profit performing arts company whose mission is to provide a wide range of highly entertaining artistic experiences to the community by fostering and introducing new works and exceptionally gifted artists in all areas of the performing arts. The Z is a community hub for celebrating creative growth and entertainment. With intimate performance spaces and unique programming that generates an exciting connection between the performer and the audience, The Z inspires audiences and performers to tap into their own creative spark, unleash their dreams, and achieve their full potential. TheZ.org


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