AWARD WINNING A CAPPELLA POWERHOUSE TAKE 6 SETS THE STANDARD FOR JAZZ VOCAL RECORDINGS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010
A cappella powerhouse Take 6, Winners of 10 GRAMMY® Awards, 10 Dove Awards, one Soul Train Award and two NAACP Image Award nominations. The influential sextet – Mark Kibble, Claude V. McKnight III, Dr. Cedric Dent, David Thomas, Alvin Chea and Joey Kibble – headlines the 2010 Kinser Jazz Festival at Casper College.

Their recent album. The Standard, showcases a new jazz-influenced approach for the group. “While we sing lyrics that always exemplify our spiritual and moral convictions, what we really are at the core is a jazz vocal group,” says David Thomas, a member of the Take 6 lineup since 1985. “So we decided to do an album of jazz standards, a record that will stand up as the jazz vocal album for all time.”

Take 6 co-founder Claude McKnight also stands behind the ambitious claim. “We go into every project saying it will be the best,” he says. “At least the best we’ve ever done, and depending on the concept or the genre, it may be the best that’s ever been done by anyone. When we take on a project or step into a new phase of our career, we’re not afraid to say, ‘Hey, let’s move some mountains.’”

Concert Ticket Information: General Admission tickets to the Take 6 concert on Tuesday, February 9, 7:30 p.m., at the John F. Welsh auditorium (Natrona County High School) are $15 each and are available by calling (307) 268-2021.

• Registration Form
• Campus Parking Map
• Tickets for the Tuesday evening concert ($15 each general admission) must be purchased separately. Call (307) 268-2021 to purchase tickets.

High school and junior high/middle school ensembles perform in noncompetitive settings, with the option of receiving an assessment score and rating from adjudicators, who base their assessment on high, professional standards, which may not coincide with the standards of the Wyoming Music Educators Association.

Each ensemble is scheduled for a 30-minute public performance, which includes set up, a brief public clinic with an adjudicator, and a strike. Thereafter, each ensemble receives an additional 30-minute clinic with an adjudicator in a nonpublic setting. The ensemble receives the adjudicators’ written comments, rating scores (if required), and a digital video recording of the performance and clinic.

The Casper College Kinser Jazz Festival is a noncompetitive, educational event. Each group will have the option of receiving either a score with a rating, or performing for comments only. All groups will receive a videotape of their performance, and written and/or taped comments. Each group will be given a 30 minute time slot which includes set up, tear down and on-stage clinic. In addition groups will receive a separate 30 minute off-stage clinic with an adjudicator following their performance.

Info Table
We will have a Registration/Information table set up at each performing site. In the Aley Fine Arts Building, this will be located in the main lobby as you enter the building from the parking lot, and in newly remodeled Krampert Theatre, it will be located in the South Lobby. Please check in with the person at the registration desk no later than a half hour before your performance time . Please turn in the two copies of your Performance Selections/Soloist form and your scores at that time.

Evaluations
Adjudication sheets, scores, audiotapes and videotapes will be available in the Director's Hospitality Room in the Aley Fine Arts Room 302 not more than two hours after your performance. If you are unable to pick up your packet, it will be mailed to your school after the festival. Ratings lists, bibliography lists, and a survey will be mailed to you after the festival.

Hospitality Room
Complimentary coffee and refreshments are available to directors in the Aley Fine Arts Director's Hospitality Room, FA 302.

Lost/Found
Casper College is not responsible for lost or stolen items. However, we will keep any lost or found items turned into us at the registration desk. Printed music, if found, will be returned provided it is stamped with your school's name.

Performance Selection/Soloist Form
We will include two copies (per group) of the performance/selection/Soloist form for you to fill out. Please bring both copies with you when you come to the festival. We depend on you to provide accurate information on these forms so we can award outstanding soloist certificates, release accurate information to the media, ensure accurate stage set up, and to publish a bibliography of all music performed at the festival.

Warm-Up
Approximately thirty minutes prior to your assigned performance time, report to the registration desk. Someone will then take you and your group to your warm up room. This system helps us keep hallways clear and helps insure each group gets their full twenty minute warm up time.

Equipment
We will have the following equipment available for your use at each site:
• Vocal Ensembles Piano, electric bass amp, trap set, risers, PA system, 16 microphones, and a sound technician.
• Instrumental Ensembles Piano, electric bass and guitar amps, trap set, music stands and chairs, risers, vibes, bass amp, conga drums, bongos, timbales, synthesizer and sound technician.
• Please DO NOT plan to bring you own equipment. Our sound technician will place microphones as you indicate on the stage set up form.

Storage
We will NOT be able to provide storage for cases or coats this year. You may either bring those items with you as you move through the rotation, or leave them on the bus while you perform.

Performance Set-Up
The basic stage set up will be in place before you arrive. If you have special needs, you are responsible for those changes.

Performance
Each group will be allotted thirty minutes of stage time. This time MUST include set up, tear down, performance and adjudicator clinic. We recommend that you limit your performance to no more than twenty minutes to allow the adjudicators time to work with your ensemble.

Clinics
Each group will receive a 30 minute clinic offstage with one of the adjudicators.

Hotel
PLATTE RIVER RESORT (formerly Parkway Plaza)
123 West “E” Street
Casper, WY 82601
Host Hotel for CASPER COLLEGE KINSER JAZZ FESTIVAL
School Rate:  $60 per room

Meals
Lunch:
We are pleased to provide a service for purchasing meals with Casper College Food Service. We encourage you to consider a box lunch provision this year that will enable you to feed your students as well as attend a noon/lunch hour clinic. The cost will be $6.30 for a sandwich, chips, cookie or fruit and drink. Please indicate on your lunch ticket order form how many box lunches you will need so they can be prepared for pickup the day of your performance.

Hotel
The Platte River Resort (formerly Parkway Plaza), is the host hotel for the Casper College Kinser Jazz Festival participants. Special rates are available for groups staying for the festival. Contact April Mitchell at 307-235-1777.

Campus Maps & Directions

• Casper College campus map
• Directions to Casper College
• Map of Casper, Wyoming
• Wyoming road map, also shows road conditions

Bus Parking Information

• Campus Parking Map

Procedures. In anticipation of your visit to our campus, I want to take this opportunity to outline some procedures that will contribute to the safe and efficient movement of all the participants.

The parking lot in front of the Fine Arts Building will be blocked off and normal parking procedures will be suspended. Buses will be able to enter the lot, discharge passengers and exit (a diagram will be included in your final packet). Buses should be parked in the dirt parking lot across from Swede Erickson Thunderbird Gym. There will be a security officer stationed at the entrance of the FIne Arts parking lot to answer questions and render assistance.

Buses transporting participants to the Krampert Theatre should enter the south parking lot behind the Theatre, and drop of passengers at the south entrance to the building (a diagram will be included in your final packet). Buses may then proceed up Lisco Drive and park across from the T-Bird Gym in the dirt parking lot.

Special issues such as handicapped parking and judge parking may be brought to the attention of the security officer in the parking lot and he/she will assist with individual concerns.

Please remember to secure all vehicles that are left unattended, always yield to pedestrians and obey posted speed limits.

8 am - 5 pm

8 am - 5 pm

11:30 am - noon

11:30 am - noon

VOCAL ADJUDICATORS

KIM DAWSON
Kim Dawson began studying and performing at a very young age. Growing up in a musical family gave her a background in most musical genres, but it was in high school that she began her love affair with jazz. Kim sang in the top choirs and jazz ensembles while studying at Texas Christian University and at the University of Northern Colorado, where she earned a bachelor's degree in vocal performance. She went on to teach at such institutions as Kent Denver School and the National Theater Conservatory, and is a faculty member at the Rocky Mountain Vocal Jazz Camp. As a member of internationally known jazz a cappella group Groove Society, she has performed, taught clinics, and adjudicated at jazz festivals around the country. Now a freelance musician and voice teacher in Denver, Colorado, Kim continues to teach, write, and perform.
www.kimdawsonmusic.com

FRANK EYCHANER
Eychaner is director or choirs and music education at Colorado Christian University. He completed his B.A. in music education and his M.A. in choral conducting at Central Washington University under the direction of Geoffrey Boers. He was previously director of vocal studies at Treasure Valley Community College. He has published many articles on vocal jazz techniques including “The Jazz Choir Goes Legit: Copyright Law for the Vocal Jazz Educator,” which was recently published in the Choral Journal. He also is a frequent guest conductor, clinician and workshop presenter, speaking on topics as diverse as choral tone, choral leadership and vocal jazz improvisation.

INSTRUMENTAL ADJUDICATORS

STEVE KOVALCHECK
Guitarist/composer Steve Kovalcheck joined the UNC Jazz Studies faculty in the fall of 2009. He holds a B.M. from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a M.M. from the University of Northern Colorado. Kovalcheck teaches the Jazz Improvisation sequence and Jazz History for Non-Majors. He also directs a small jazz ensemble and leads the Jazz Guitar Ensemble. Kovalcheck maintains an active performance schedule in the greater Denver area. His professional experience includes recording and touring with Columbia recording artist Robinella and the C.C. String Band. Kovalcheck has performed with artists including Victor Krauss, the “New York Voices,” the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Nashville Jazz Orchestra, the Colorado Jazz Orchestra, Jeff Coffin, Tommy Sims, Blue Note Recording Artist Carrie Rodriguez, and the Dana Landry Quartet. He is a member of the Be3 Trio featuring Jim White (drums) and Pat Bianchi (organ). His compositions have been played internationally, including performances at the “Jazz En Tete” festival in Clermont, France. Kovalcheck is listed in Downbeat as a notable alum of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Dr. Thomas Kinser
Festival Named in honor of respected instructor & jazz promoter

The Casper College Kinser Jazz Festival is named for the late Dr. Thomas Kinser, who founded the festival and promoted jazz as a standard component of music study in Wyoming. In 1967, the festival hosted three ensembles. Today, the festival has grown to accommodate more than 50 vocal and instrumental ensembles, with regional junior high schools, middle schools, and high schools participating. It appropriately serves Casper College students, regional public schools, and other supporting organizations.

The main goal of the Kinser Jazz Festival is to educate Wyoming music students. This is accomplished in a variety of settings. Renowned jazz adjudicators listen and evaluate each student ensemble. The clinicians provide written critiques, a rating, and a work session where they strive to improve the students' performances. Regularly scheduled seminars, workshops, and performances are offered to expose the students to even more quality jazz. Finally, an evening concert featuring some of the finest artists in the jazz industry culminates the festival activities. In past years, jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie, Betty Carter, the Count Basie Orchestra, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Ellis Marsalis, Clark Terry and others have performed.

The Casper College jazz program has a strong tradition of excellence. The comprehensive program includes courses in jazz improvisation and jazz history, and performing groups such as the Casper College Jazz Ensemble, Casper College Jazz Combos, and the Casper College Contemporary Singers. The core of the curriculum is the jazz improvisation course, which has its roots in traditional music theory, while studying and exploring the styles and practices of modern jazz improvisation. The festival greatly augments the Casper College jazz program, and provides the students listening opportunities rarely found in the area.

• Concert Tickets
• Food Service Form
• Photograph Order Form

• Registration Form
• Stage Set-up Form (Instrument)
• Stage Set-up Form (Vocal)

Registration Information

• Registration Form

Ticket Information

• Tickets are $15 each (general admission).
• Please call Casper College Music Department at (307) 268-2021 to order tickets.