Vocal Jazz (Epicenter)
From the campus of California State University, Northridge, comes an exciting vocal jazz ensemble made up of 12 vocalists and a four piece rhythm section. Under the direction of Matt Falker since 1997, Epicenter has traveled to festivals in the Western United States, and regularly performs at high school, college, and professional performing venues around California. Recent guest performances have included Stockdale High School, Oxnard High School, Granada Hills High Schools, MiraCosta College, and Cal State Bakersfield. In the spring of 2008, the ensemble was a featured performer at the Monterey Jazz Festival.
In 2006 and 2007, the ensemble won first place in the Four Year College Division at the Annual Reno Jazz Festival in Reno, Nevada. The ensemble features classic and contemporary vocal jazz literature, selections by student arrangers, and an emphasis on vocal improvisation. This year’s ensemble features undergraduate students from degree programs including jazz, music industry, music education, choral, and non-music programs.