Vocal Jazz @ NCCU Jazz Studies Program

About Vocal Jazz @ NCCU Jazz Studies Program:

Dr. Ira Wiggins, Director

Artists-in-Residence, Branford Marsalis (saxophonist) and Joey Calderazzo (pianist)

We are happy to arrange an audition for you or your student for our undergraduate or graduate degree programs in Vocal Jazz, NCCU Jazz Studies.  Call Lenora Helm Hammonds at 919-530-6653 or email LHelm@nccu.edu. If you would like to audition for NCCU Jazz Studies, Vocal Jazz, please indicate that in your email or phone message!

NCCU Vocal Jazz Ensemble, an award winning 16 voice ensemble, performs internationally at festivals & jazz venues. Opportunities to perform with the renowned, award winning NCCU Jazz Ensemble big band & rhythm section

Jazz Combo (Rhythm Section, Horns & Vocalists)

Vocal Jazz Repertory Seminar

Prepare repertoire and construction of gig book. Basic chartwriting and stock arrangements for vocalist and rhythm section; Understanding how to direct a rhythm section to perform with you according to each style in the genre; Choosing keys; Becoming a confident performer. Preparation of electronic press kit; Coaching on booking gigs;

Jazz Vocal Ear Training (vocal and instrumental majors)

Singing jazz harmony and applying to your instrument using sight singing skills with jazz repertoire

About NCCU Vocal Jazz Ensemble

Other distinctions for the NCCU Vocal Jazz Ensemble include being chosen as the first vocal ensemble invited to perform at the Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival.  Additionally, the NCCU Vocal Jazz Ensemble was an on-air guest, performing live on RealJazz on Sirius XM Radio in New York City with host Mark Ruffin.  Members of the NCCU Vocal Jazz Ensemble have performed for the 2015, 2016 and 2017 Aruba International Jazz Day with director Lenora Helm Hammonds.

About Take Note; VJE's 2nd CD release - on the ballot of the 60th GRAMMY Awards in two categories, Best Vocal Jazz Album and Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals.

About NCCU Jazz Studies

n 1979, NCCU became the first university in North Carolina to offer the Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies. The program has since evolved to include a comprehensive vocal jazz component and the Master of Music degree in both Jazz Composition and Arranging and Jazz Performance.

 The Jazz Studies Program at North Carolina Central University is under the leadership of saxophonist/flutist Ira Wiggins. Dr. Wiggins is assisted by the following: Assistant Director, Baron Tymas - guitar, Robert Trowers -trombone, Albert Strong - trumpet, Arnold George - piano, saxophone, Lenora Zenzalai Helm - vocals, Maurice Myers, vocals, Ed Paolantonio - piano, Thomas Taylor - percussion. Aaron Hill - saxophone and Damon Brown - bass.

There are nine ensembles in the program: two big bands, three combos, a guitar ensemble, a percussion ensemble, a brass ensemble and a vocal jazz ensemble. These ensembles have performed with major artists including: Jimmy Heath, James Moody, Kenny Burrell, Branford Marsalis, Joey Calderazzo, Ed Thigpen, Vanessa Rubin, Fred Wesley, Louie Bellson, Alvin Batiste, Clark Terry, Frank Foster, Nnenna Freelon, Nicholas Payton, Steve Wilson, Geri Allen, Slide Hampton, David “Fathead” Newman and others. NCCU’s jazz groups have performed throughout North America, Europe and the Caribbean. Major performances include the Montreux Jazz Festival, Vienne Jazz Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival, New York City Jazz Festival (at Jazz at Lincoln Center), Annual Collegiate Jazz Festival at Notre Dame, the Newport Jazz Festival and the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) festival in Toronto. Ensembles have earned recognition at numerous college festivals, such as the Villanova Jazz Festival, where they garnered ffirst place awards at the Villanova Jazz Festival, as well as winning election in the the Kennedy Center Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program, and Downbeat Student awards. 

The groups were invited to perform at a reception for the White House Staff and Congressional Aides and a week later for a National Press reception hosted by President and Mrs. Clinton, and for a political event on NCCU's campus for the First Lady, Mrs. Michelle Obama. The Jazz Studies Program at North Carolina Central University is dedicated to fostering a quality education, shaping the future of aspiring musicians, and maintaining the integrity of a great art form. 

In January, 2018, the NCCU Jazz Ensemble and NCCU VOCAL Jazz Ensemble will perform at the Jazz Educators Network Conference in Dallas, TX.

http://www.nccu.edu/jazz/index.cfm