SSSooolllooonnn CCCooommmmmmuuunnniiitttyyy SSSccchhhoooooolll DDDiiissstttrrriiicccttt 600 W. 5th St., Solon, Iowa 52333

www.solon.k12.ia.us • (319) 624-3401 • fax (319) 624-4091

Dear Friends, Greetings from Solon High School! On Friday, February 16th 2018 we will hold our first annual Solon Vocal Jazz Festival in our brand new Solon Center for the Arts! Our guest clinicians will be Gloria Cooper and Sara Gazarek! Both are outstanding performers and clinicians. I can assure you your time here will be well spent! This will prove to be a unique festival, as it will combine both a competitive and educational experience. Groups will have a 30-minute time slot to perform and receive an on-stage critique from our experienced judges. This will be followed by a private, 30-minute clinic with one of our clinicians. At the end of the evening our awards will feature outstanding soloists, best male and best female soloist, best rhythm section, and the winning jazz choirs from each class. I am very pleased to host this event and I hope you are able to join us. Attached you will find registration materials and general participant information for the festival. I realize how busy the month of February is with other events but am hoping you will take advantage of this unique opportunity. We are aiming to provide a first-class festival at the budget friendly price of $175 per ensemble. Additionally, Sara Gazarek will be in performance on Friday night before awards! Tickets are only $5 per person for performing ensembles and their directors. Remaining tickets can be purchased at the door for only $10 and are open to the general public. If you have questions regarding our festival, or, if I can be of any assistance to you and your program, please do not hesitate to contact me. Best Regards, Joel Foreman Director of Choral Activities Solon High School 319-624-3401 jforeman@solon.k12.ia.us

Championed by some of music’s most celebrated figures, Sara Gazarek has emerged as a strikingly original artist with limitless potential. With four highly acclaimed CD’s under her belt at the young age of 34, Sara has been hailed by the LA Times as “the next important jazz singer,” and “impeccable,” by the Winnipeg Free Press, Sara continues to seamlessly combine the intimacy of singer/songwriter stylings with the musical and improvisational elements of jazz. Blessed with a gorgeous, translucent voice, excellent pitch, and supple sense of time, Gazarek is steeped in the jazz tradition, but is not afraid to embrace the music that moves her generation. Her newest album, Dream in the Blue (2016, Steel Bird Music) was released to rave reviews, as Dan Bilawsky of All About Jazz has noted “…one of the best modern day piano-voice matches in action.” Sara is currently on faculty at the University of Southern California, leading the award-winning vocal jazz ensemble there and teaching privately.

saragazarek.com gloriacooper.net

Gloria Cooper brings her extensive professional experience as a vocalist and pianist to her performances. Her cool voice and her piano playing convey a deep understanding of the music and the ability to express many layers of emotion. Her piano playing swings in the truest sense, and one of her many strengths is her sensitive piano accompaniment for her vocals, which include a wide range of repertoire. Gloria Cooper is an experienced jazz vocalist and pianist. She grew up in Missouri, and completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music at the University of Missouri. Gloria lived in San Francisco, California from 1972-1988 where she played in numerous venues and jazz clubs with many musicians such as Eddie Henderson and Donald Bailey. She also played in the house band at the re-opened Jazz Workshop where she accompanied Eddie Harris, Red Holloway, David “Fathead” Newman, Jimmy Witherspoon, and others. Gloria moved to New York City in 1988 and completed an Ed. D. in Music and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, in 1992. Currently, she is teaching at Long Island University, Brooklyn, New York where she is Associate Professor of Music. She has performed throughout the United States and Japan. Cooper is active as a performer, educator, and clinician, and has accompanied many singers including Meredith d’Ambrosio, Giacomo Gates, and Gloria Lynne. Dr. Cooper has over 25 years of experience as a performer/educator and has taught many clinics, camps, and workshops. She has also served as a consultant in the development of numerous jazz education projects and performances.

Solon Vocal Jazz Festival Registration Form

February 16th, 2018

(Please complete and duplicate for each participating ensemble) School Name: ________________________________________________ IHSMA Classification: 4A 3A 2A 1A Ensemble Name: ______________________________________________ Director’s Name: ______________________________________________ Director’s Email: ______________________________________________ Director’s Phone: ______________________ Cell: ___________________ City/State/Zip: _____________________________________________________________ Ensemble Information: Number of Singers: ____________ Number of Microphones:__________ (Maximum of 20 provided) Our ensemble is an a cappella group ______ Our ensemble uses a rhythm section _______ Number of stands________ Evening concert tickets __________@ $5 per person ____________

TOTAL ENCLOSED_____________

($175 per group. Checks made out to Solon Spotlight)

Send form and registration to: Joel Foreman 600 West 5th St. Solon IA 52333

or jforeman@solon.k12.ia.us