In this session, Gaw Vang–Williams and Andreas Preponis will present new and notable repertoire for vocal jazz ensembles written by the most prolific arrangers and composers of this art form. Attendees will get the opportunity to read and sing along arrangements for a variety of voicings and difficulty levels.
Target Audience
Vocal Jazz Ensemble in Middle School, High School, College, and Community Choirs
Additional Notes
Clinician Info
Andreas Preponis
California Alliance for Jazz
Andreas Preponis is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist and the director of Choral and Vocal Studies at Las Positas College in Livermore, CA. He serves on the boards of the California Choral Directors Association and the California Alliance for Jazz.
Born and raised in Germany, Andreas studied at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Trossingen earning a bachelor and master’s degree in music education with emphases on percussion, voice, and vocal jazz performance. He holds a second master’s degree in choral conducting from Cal State University Los Angeles.
Andreas looks back at a diverse career as a singer, drummer, percussionist, pianist, guitarist, arranger, composer, actor, and voice over talent. He composed music for several short movies, starred in numerous musical theater productions, and played in countless bands from a cappella and instrumental jazz, pop, funk, and soul to progressive rock. As a studio musician, he has contributed to over 20 album releases and has worked on projects for CBS, HBO, Disney and DreamWorks, most recently as a featured vocalist on Harmonious Live (Disney+).
Gaw Vang Williams
California Alliance for Jazz
FULL BIO
Gaw Vang Williams is a music educator and performer native to Sacramento, California.
She became the director of the vocal jazz program at Sacramento State in 2014, where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and Master of Music Performance. Williams is also the new band director at Folsom High School in Folsom, California.
She began teaching in 2004, serving as a music instructor at various high schools and music organizations. Williams is an active private music instructor and she is sought after as a clinician and adjudicator for festivals and workshops throughout the United States. She currently serves as a board member of the California Alliance for Jazz (CAJ) and works as a vocal jazz educator for the Monterey Jazz Festival.
Williams was a member of the Mandarins Drum and Bugle from 2004-2006 and she was a member of the 2007 world champion Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. She performs at numerous venues throughout Northern California.
Under Williams’ direction, the Sac State Vocal Jazz program has won over 15 Downbeat Magazine Student Awards. In addition, the Sac State vocal jazz ensembles took first multiple times at the Next Generation Monterey Jazz Festival in the collegiate vocal jazz ensemble category. The ensembles were invited to perform at the world-renowned Monterey Jazz Festival. The vocal jazz ensembles performed at the JEN (Jazz Education Network) National Conference, ACDA National Conference, CCDA Conference, and CASMEC.
Williams is the co-founder of Live Performing Arts Academy (LPAA), a non-profit music organization whose mission is to provide live performing arts education, opportunities, and experiences for all students.