The Janice Borla Vocal Jazz Camp marks the first time in Birch Creek Music Performance Center’s history that a vocal curriculum has been offered to students – slated for the 9th week of the 2014 schedule that includes Big Band Jazz, Symphony, Percussion and Steel Band sessions.
Janice Borla
Now in its 26th year, the Janice Borla Vocal Jazz Camp provides a unique educational experience for aspiring jazz vocalists in an intensified, one-week course of study and skills development conducted by a faculty of professional performing and recording artists. The camp’s international reputation draws students from all parts of the U.S. and Canada, Europe and Asia.
“The Janice Borla Vocal Jazz Camp is an outstanding session with world-class faculty,” says Birch Creek Executive Director Alan Kopischke. “Their music education goals and philosophy align with ours. This is an ideal partnership, providing a complement to our instrumental programs that allows more students to grow and learn at Birch Creek.”
Camp founder Janice Borla’s recordings and performances have earned consistent high praise for her beautiful sound, adventurous repertoire and imaginative improvisations. Her new CD release Promises to Burn has already received numerous outstanding reviews: “Among the best, boldest and most innovative vocalists around … vocal-based jazz symbiosis rarely reaches such splendor,” says Jazz Times.
Borla’s prior CD From Every Angle was named one of DownBeat magazine’s Best CDs of the Year. A recognized pioneer in vocal jazz education, Borla established the vocal jazz program at Saskatchewan School of the Arts in Canada and is currently director of vocal jazz at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois.
“We are really excited about this opportunity for the camp to be associated with a presenting organization with such a longstanding reputation for excellence,” says Borla. “Birch Creek is rapidly gaining a reputation for being the ‘Tanglewood of the Midwest,’ providing the camp the optimal environment in which to continue its mission of bringing vocal jazz to students and audiences alike.”
In addition to Janice and the vocal faculty artists Madeline Eastman and Kate McGarry, instrumental camp staff includes trumpeter Art Davis, vibraphonist Brad Stirtz, and the Dan Haerle Trio, composed of pianist Dan Haerle, bassist Bob Bowman and drummer Jack Mouse.
Four evening public concerts featuring the camp faculty artists will run Tuesday through Friday, August 12 – 15, with a fifth concert on Saturday, August 16, showcasing all camp participants performing with the faculty rhythm section.
The camp is open to participants age 13 through adult. The fee for tuition, housing and meals is $1,000. For further information regarding Birch Creek Presents the Janice Borla Vocal Jazz Camp, as well as Birch Creek’s Percussion and Steel Band, Symphony, and Big Band Jazz series, visit www.BirchCreek.org.
Birch Creek Music Performance Center is a summer music school in Door County, WI, for advanced young musicians. With a performance emphasis, students are taught by nationally-known performers and educators during the day, and perform alongside them in concerts at night. Five sessions focus on percussion and steel band, symphony, big band jazz, and vocal jazz. Applications are welcome.
2014 Season Concert Schedule:
- Percussion & Steel Band – June 19 – 28
- Symphony – July 3 – 12
- Big Band Jazz – July 16 – August 9
- Janice Borla Vocal Jazz Camp – August 10 – 16
