(PHOTO/Joshua Thurston)
The Troy University John M. Long School of Music will be hosting two internationally known jazz musicians who will conduct a workshop for students in the vocal jazz ensemble, Frequency.
Vocal jazz composer and arranger Kerry Marsh and vocalist Julia Dollison will be on the Troy campus Oct. 20-22 and will host workshops sponsored by the Jazz Education Network, the Herb Alpert Foundation and the Troy University Office of Sponsored Programs.
Dr. Diane Orlofsky, choral conductor and director of Frequency, said she looks forward to this opportunity for the group to meet with these two well-known musicians.
“We actually got to meet them last year at the Jazz Educator’s Network conference,” Orlofsky said.
Orlofsky said one night during the conference she was speaking with Marsh and Dollison, and they told her they would love to hear Frequency perform even though they were not scheduled to perform at the conference.
“So we went around and got all the members in the vicinity, including waking up those who were asleep, and they performed and had a mini-workshop with Marsh right there around midnight,” Orlofsky said.
Orlofsky said having these renowned musicians come give workshops to the students will be a great way to put Frequency on the map as well as give them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from internationally known musicians.
She said the group will be performing pieces composed by Marsh himself to “pay homage to the composer.”
“I think it’s wonderful that we could get them down here to give them workshops,” Orlofsky said. “A lot of schools try to bring in the best of the best for their students, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Melanie Sims, a senior print journalism major from Troy, said she looks forward to the workshops with Marsh and Dollison.
“It’s always great to be able to learn from the composer or arranger of a piece you’re working on,” Sims said. “I’m so thankful to the music department for arranging this special opportunity for Frequency.”
Sims said that working with the two musicians will give Frequency a new and fresh look into the music they’ve been working on for the past couple of months.
“Marsh will be able to tell us why he wrote something a certain way and how he was feeling at a specific point in the music,” she said. “It’s a really cool thing to be a part of.”
Blake Eubanks, a senior music education major from Ashford, also looks forward to meeting with these well-known musicians.
“I’m looking forward to being able to work with great musicians who I aspire to be like on day,” Eubanks said. “It’s great to have proof that people can actually have a successful career in the music field.”
Eubanks said the best part of being involved with Frequency is being able to make great music with people who share the same passion for music that he does.
Frequency is a vocal jazz ensemble that students must audition to join. The group, founded in 2009, is devoted to contemporary a cappella and small-combo-accompanied vocal jazz. It provides a quality performing experience for Troy students, regardless of major.
Additional information about the workshop and Frequency can be found at www.music.troy.edu/vocalchoral or by calling 334-670-3322.
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