Jazz in Arizona Inc

The Nash Vocal Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Gregory Amerind, is an auditioned group of amateur and professional musicians with the primary purpose of serving as an educational opportunity for singers interested in vocal jazz presented in an ensemble setting. The ensemble is an educational group at Jazz in Arizona Inc., also known as "The Nash." The Nash has served as the premier location for jazz performance and jazz education in the Phoenix Metro region for more than a decade, serving thousands of students across the Valley.

NVE Singers gain experience and polish their skills through rehearsal, performance, and fellowship in this exciting and truly American genre. The focus of rehearsals is to develop concert material as well as work on the various components that are required for a successful professional vocal jazz group – sensitive ensemble rhythmic unity and intonation, authentic interpretation of material, and improvisational skills, as well as a survey of the music, artists, and performance practices of the genre.

After submitting several recordings of past performances to the Jazz Educators Network (JEN), our ensemble has been extended and has accepted an invitation to perform at this organization’s annual national conference in January 2025 to be held in Atlanta, GA. This is a highly prestigious honor wherein our group is one of only a handful of vocal jazz ensembles selected to perform.

Due to the costs that are incurred for the travel and lodging of the eight singers selected to participate, plus paying for a small jazz combo to collaborate and travel with the group (this consists of four musicians – piano, guitar, bass, and drums), we are humbly asking for donations to help offset these costs so that the singers can take advantage of this unique and rare opportunity to perform for a national audience of peers, jazz educators, and jazz professionals. This is also a great opportunity for the Nash Vocal Ensemble to represent The Nash, Jazz in AZ, and our collective mission. Currently, The Nash is under a $2.5 million dollar capital campaign supporting the renovation of the performance venue and the recent creation of the John Dawson Center for Jazz Education at The Nash. However, they were able to support 40% of our costs.

Our goal with this GoFundMe is to raise $7,000 to account for the remaining expenses. We deeply appreciate your consideration towards achieving this goal.