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
Elementary, MS, HS, College, Community Ensembles
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, Netflix, and DreamWorks, most recently as a featured vocalist on Harmonious Live (Disney+).
Gaw Vang-Williams
California Alliance for Jazz
Gaw Vang Williams is a vocalist and educator native to Sacramento, California. She is the new band director at Folsom High School and teaches marching band, jazz band A and Jazz Band B, Jazz choir, and orchestra.
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. 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 was the president of CAJ (California Alliance for Jazz) and is the vocal jazz clinician for the Monterey Jazz Festival.
Williams was a member of the Sacramento Mandarins 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. Professional appearances as an assisting artist include live performances with Nancy King, New York Voices, Ben Folds, and the San Francisco Symphony.
Ensembles under Gaw have won over 13 Downbeat Magazine Student Awards. In addition, her ensembles took first multiple times at the Next Generation Monterey Jazz Festival and were invited to perform at the world-renowned Monterey Jazz Festival, JEN (Jazz Education Network) National Conference, ACDA National Conference, CCDA Conference, and CASMEC.
Williams co-founded Live Performing Arts Academy, a non-profit music organization providing music education and experiences for students in need.