2008 Kirkwood Vocal Jazz Festival
Friday, February 15th, 2008
featuring Idea of North

The 2008 Kirkwood Vocal Jazz Festival will be moved forward by three weeks this year, from it's usually scheduled date, in order to accommodate for the touring schedule of our guest artists.

The event draws choirs from Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. Participants perform in Kirkwood's Ballantyne Auditorium on a professional sound system designed specifically for vocal jazz. All rhythm section instruments are provided by Kirkwood Community College including a new Steinway concert grand piano.

Participating ensembles are allotted thirty minutes of stage time. The ensembles are evaluated by nationally and internationally recognized jazz educators and clinicians who provide written comments during the performance and an onstage clinic following the performance. Each ensemble receives a CD and videotape of their performance and clinic session. Directors have the opportunity of having their ensembles perform for written comments only or for a confidential rating. Outstanding student performances are acknowledged by an Outstanding Performance Certificate awarded by the clinicians. The festival culminates with a concert featuring performances by Kirkwood's RSVP and Jazz Transit and performances by our guest artists.

Previous Kirkwood Vocal Jazz Festivals have featured artists including Kevin Mahogany, Beachfront Property, M-Pact, Groove Society, Darmon Meader, Michele Weir, Gene Aitken, Kirby Shaw, Paris Rutherford, Kristin Korb, Joe Herbert, Kerry Marsh, Kathy Kosins and Allen Koepke.

Directors if you're interested in having your ensemble(s) participate in the Kirkwood Vocal Jazz Festival please print off and fill out a Registration Form. You can gain more information about the festival by contacting Ray Salucka at (319)398-4959 or by email.

Photo credit to Idea of North