ADM’s Varsity Jazz Choir Amp has been invited to perform at the 2020 Iowa Vocal Jazz Championships, hosted by Valley High School on Tuesday, March 24th. Amp will perform at 4:00pm. Admission is $10. The choir was selected by a panel of adjudicators from a video submission of 2 songs in their set. Amp is one of 8 choirs from across Iowa in the 3A division. It is a huge honor to be selected among the very best of high school vocal jazz programs.
Students have worked hard for the honor and are excited to see what the competition holds for them. The group is made up of seniors Nathaniel Aukes and Holland Zwank in the rhythm section, Olivia Klassen, Katarina Meadowcroft, Mikki VerWoert, Anna Walls, and Max Weesner; juniors Brennan McGee, Megan Olson, Cash Riker, Noah Stewart, and Sean Whitson, and sophomores Averi Brady, Michael Payne, and Maya Shirley-Brown. Amp was previously selected for the Iowa Vocal Jazz Championships in 2014-2017, receiving as high as 3rd place honors in 2016.
The first Vocal Jazz competition was held in 2007 and was titled “The Best Of Iowa Jazz Choir Showcase”. In 2010 the name was changed to the Iowa Vocal Jazz Championships. The event was created to help promote the growth of vocal jazz in Iowa by providing a venue where jazz choirs of all classes could perform representing the best Iowa vocal jazz programs. Over the years, schools considering the addition of vocal jazz grew and many districts added programs for students.The event continues to grow and recognize the outstanding student musicians and directors in the state who devote their time and talents to vocal jazz.
