Jazz members come together

Dressed in black, the University Jazz Singers and the Braves Jazz Ensemble took the stage to show off what they have been working on.

There was no certain theme for the night but to get the crowd “moving and grooving” according to Jazz singer Kirsten Hansen.

“We wanted the crowd to have just as much as fun as we were having up on the stage,” Hansen said.

The University Jazz Singers preformed first and received a standing ovation. The Jazz Singers are a new choral ensemble at Ottawa University. Members of the group were required to go through an audition process.

“The singers put on a show that got the crowd involved,” Lauren Mena junior said. “You could tell how much they were enjoying themselves on stage and it made for a great performance.”

The singers meet in the classroom three days a week to perfect the songs they sing during concerts. Solos get passed from singer to singer and are decided on as a class on who gets to sing what. Hansen was one of the singers to perform her solo that night.

“I feel honored that I got to be highlighted in the concert, especially since it is my fourth and final year” Hansen said. “I don’t claim to have a solo voice but I’m privileged to be a part of a group that works together as a family.”

The Braves Jazz Ensemble preformed six songs and was applauded into two encores following the show. The Braves Jazz Ensemble performs regularly on campus and often performs for special University events, high school clinics and on notable collegiate jazz festivals throughout the region.

Rachel Pierce who normally plays the saxophone, was given the opportunity to highlight her talent on the clarinet.

“Primarily playing clarinet again was really exciting because this year I switched to alto saxophone,” Pierce said. “You don’t really see a lot of modern jazz bands having a clarinet player so I’m happy I got the chance to show off my talent and play my instrument again.”

Becoming a member of the Braves Jazz Ensemble is an audition process and is open to all University students.

The University Jazz Singers and the Braves Jazz Ensemble next performances will be at their Fall Jazz Invitational December 4, 2013 and at Christmas Vespers, December 8, 2013.