A Conversation with Jazz Vocalist Sara Jones
With this conversation, we are joined by jazz vocalist Sara Jones. She is the first place winner of the Billie Holiday Vocal Competition and semi-finalist in the American Traditions Competition. She has toured in 49 states, performing in numerous concert halls across the nation. Starting her career as a pianist, she received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at St. Mary's College of Maryland and a Master of Music in Piano, accompanying at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.
With her graduation, she talks about her six years with the Soldiers’ Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band. Now maintaining an active performing schedule, she discusses the venues where she performs. She talks about her debut CD, Daydream A Little, published by Petite Musique Records.
Having also performed as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and Ravinia Festival Orchestra under the batons of Emil de Cou and Erich Kunzel, she spotlights these performances. She also reflects on her soloist perfomances on the Esplanade with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra, also her work in the Baltimore/Washington area as featured vocalist with the Jazz Ambassadors.
A music educator, Sara discusses her professorship at Towson University in Maryland, where she teaches Jazz and Commercial Voice.
She lists her favorite entertainers and those who have influenced her the most, also highlighting the Great American Songbook and Big Band Era in America. In closing, Sara talks about her favorite songs, along with recommendations for aspiring singers and future projects.
A Conversation with World Renowned Vocalist Elin Kathleen Melgarejo
With this conversation, we are joined by world renowned vocalist Elin Kathleen Melgarejo. At an early age, she became enamored with Brazilian music, embarking on a life-long journey to perform Brazilian jazz. Born and raised in Sweden, and the oldest of six children, she grew up in three different cultures and continents: Europe, North and South America. Fluent in five languages, she has lived in New York City, having been an instrumentalist and student of music since the age of seven. She spotlights her performance of the music of the great Brazilian Entertainers, such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gal Costa, João Gilberto, Elis Regina and Leny Andrade.
A key milestone in her career was meeting and working with the voice teacher Miriam Jaskierowicz Arman, author of, The Voice: A Spiritual Approach to Singing, Speaking and Com- municating. Elin shares more about the influence she had on your singing career.
To the Great American Songbook, she lists list Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan as among those singers that have influenced her.
She performs in New York and Washington DC, sharing the venues she prefers and has performed at. She talks about her ongoing close connection to Brazil. She moves on to talk about which is the most challenging - learning, memorizing, or performing songs?
Elin highlights her debut album, Lazy Afternoon, a mix of Brazilian, American classic and original songs, released on September 5th, 2006, also collaborations with Thievery Corporation, with whom she has recorded six songs across three albums since 2014.
In closing, she provides recommendations and advice to aspiring singers, also albums and projects now in progress. What's something exciting your business offers? Say it here.
A Conversation with Mr. Wick Rowland, President Emeritus, Colorado Public TV
With this conversation, we are joined by Mr. Wick Rowland, President & CEO Emeritus of PBS12 (formerly Colorado Public Television and KBDI) in Denver, and Dean and Professor Emeritus of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Mr. Rowland details his time at Stanford University, where he earned an MA in communication from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, also his Ph.D. from the Institute for Communications Research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
He spotlights his Presidency at Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) Channel 12, where he refocused station strategy and management, resulting in increased community partnerships and revenues. He also discusses his oversight of the station from transition to digital, multi-channel, and interactive television.
With his award as a Fulbright Specialist for broadcasting, Mr. Rowland talks about his work in media policy development and communication and journalism education in Ethiopia. He also reflects on his service in the Peace Corps in Jamaica, where he specialized in both instructional broadcasting and adult literacy, which included a more critical and culturally conscious approach to media history and policy issues, particularly with regard to public service questions.
Mr. Rowland compares and contrasts the American media today in 2021 with that of the pre internet age.
In closing, Mr. Rowland highlights his recommendations for aspiring broadcast journalists.
A Conversation with International Recording Artist Mr. Chuck Redd
In this conversation with Chuck, he shares what inspired him to become a vibraphone player. He also talks about his time with the Charlie Byrd Trio and such artists as Mel Torme.
Chuck reviews his favorite perfoming venues, and his inclusion of both the Great American Song Book and Bossa Nova during his shows.
He also discusses some of the more complex songs he plays, and his recommendations for young people aspiring to play the vibraphone.