Vocal Jazz is a new student-led music organization on campus for the fall semester. The ensemble operates independently from the two pre-existing jazz ensembles, Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Band, and with Professor of Music Tony Guzman as an advisor, the group has access to music and performance opportunities with the official Luther ensembles but remains strictly student-directed.
The focus of the group is to bring jazz standards to life using vocals instead of the traditional jazz instruments. This fulfills a niche for vocal performers on campus that enjoy the genre but don’t have the time or skills to commit to an instrumental ensemble.
The group’s Co-President and Musical Director Linaea Walsh (‘27) described what sets Vocal Jazz apart from not only the other sections of the genre but also from other student-led music groups at Luther.
“It’s like the last piece of a puzzle falling in,” Walsh said. “We can function and perform a cappella, we can function with accompaniment, we can perform with combos or groups like Jazz Band [and can] even possibly go to Impact [Coffee] and open for Driftless Jazz. There’s so many possibilities and opportunities and that’s what makes us unique. A cappella functions [as] a cappella, choir functions as a choir, sometimes they have accompaniment and sometimes they don’t, but we can function as all of those things.”
The group is composed of 12 members — three tenors, three basses, three altos and three sopranos — who range in age. One of the members, Zachary Agustin (‘27), is excited about the opportunity to express his love for jazz in this environment.
“I love jazz,” said Zachary. “Here at Luther I have the ability to sing choral music with Norskkor, [and] with Undeclared, I get to sing more poppy music or a cappella music. I’m missing my favorite genre of jazz or crooning or that style and sound. When I heard that they were doing the Vocal Jazz ensemble, I was super excited because that’s another type of music I get to sing, and it’s one of my favorites.”
The group meets twice a week to rehearse their repertoire. They meet once on Saturday as a large group and once on Thursday with their individual sections. Eva Stadtlander (‘26) pointed to the fun the group has in rehearsal.
“I really have enjoyed rehearsing with this group,” Stadtlander said. “It’s been really fun to see our student leaders and musical directors have rehearsals and lead them. We’re all working together, and we all want to be there and make the music [the] best we can. ”
Vocal Jazz Logistics Coordinator Ashlyn Meyer (‘27) described the group’s goals and hopes for the future.
“My goal, personally, is to make a community of people of all different majors no matter what,” Meyer said. “We have a lot of first-years, [and] a lot of them are not music majors. They’re just immersing themselves in a Luther College community, and I think uplifting that through making a new group that fills a niche is going to help us and them.”
On November 15, Vocal Jazz joined Jazz Band for their first performance of the semester. The group has more performances planned for the future. While not currently accepting new members, Vocal Jazz may look to expand in the future. They will release information about future audition opportunities on their Instagram @lcvocaljazz.
