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About Us

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The Vocal Jazz Summit was created to bring together emerging and established artists, industry leaders, and vocal jazz fans for a unique, intensive weekend dedicated to performance, connection, and education. Co-directors Liz Brydge and Alexis Cole organize the festival events with workshops, masterclasses and panels scheduled alongside performances and jam sessions every night. Now in its 5th year, the Vocal Jazz Summit is fast becoming the premier vocal performance and education conference in the U.S. and beyond.

about the Zeiders American Dream Theater

Zeiders American Dream Theater is a professional, non-profit theater that introduces new works and emerging artists, presents unique artistic experiences, and inspires creative growth in the Hampton Roads Community.

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The Z’s founding principles are that creativity drives the growth of individuals and communities; and that the imagination, passion, and discipline of creation are universal requirements for all successful endeavors, artistic and otherwise.

Our mission is accomplished through programming balanced between developing projects and artists, presenting regional, national and international artists, and community-driven events.

Our 
Story

The History of the Vocal Jazz Summit

In 2018 the team at the brand new Zeiders American Dream Theater  was busy dreaming up their programming!  They looked to the passions and interests of their members and thought about creating an event for jazz vocalists that would inspire and engage singers, professional, amateur and in between, with concerts, workshops and performance opportunities.  The mission of the theater is to engage the community in art making, and what could be more intrinsic than singing!

 

In 2019, the theater reached out to New York jazz vocalist Alexis Cole to partner with her on the event.  Alexis, having a history of community building with the Jazz Vocal Coalition and other endeavors, immediately said yes!  During Covid, Alexis founded JazzVoice.com, and started to build the community that would  culminate in the Vocal Jazz Summit.

Now, six years later, what was once a dream is now a firm reality, thanks to our incredible community who really Show Up in a deep way!  

past performers & Presenters

samara joy
jane monheit
sheila jordan
Catherine Russell
Kate mcGarry
Jocelyn Medina
Dan Tepfer
Johnny O'Neal
Jae Sinnett
Mark Winkler
Ken Avis

Roberta Gambarini
Stephanie nakasian
Greta Matassa
Cyrille Aimee
Ashley Shabankereh
Nikolette Pankovits
John Proulx
Brianna Thomas
Kerri Hardwick

säje
Lynn Veronneau

Kurt Elling
Melanie Charles
Dominique Eade
Rene marie
Rosana Eckert
Darmon Meader
Mary Foster Conklin
Daralyn Jay
Jack Frieden
Alison Crockett

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