This program by the MIT Vocal Jazz Ensemble will feature Standards with a Twist, arrangements created by the members of the Vocal Jazz Ensemble and its coach Liz Tobias. A MIT student jazz trio will accompany the group as they explore the music of Arlen and Harburg, Loesser, Porter, Hamilton, Burke and van Heusen to name just a few.
Vocal Jazz members are: Stephen Yearwood ‘18, Oron Propp ‘18, Briana Chavez ‘18, Tommy Moriarty ‘15, Talia Khan ‘20, Scott Viteri ‘18, Zoe Sheinkopf ‘17.
About the director
Liz Tobias is a seasoned vocalist and pianist who has been recognized as a "breath of fresh air on the world jazz stage." A unique mix of soul and sharp technique, Liz draws audiences in with her Australian charm and creative interpretations of works old and new. Liz took out the Grand Prix in the International Jazz Voicingers Competition (Poland) in 2009, first place in the Jazz Voices Competition in 2014 (Lithuania) and was ranked 3rd in the prestigious National Jazz Awards (Australia) during 2012. Familiar with the Jazz summer festival circuit, Liz has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), the Panama Jazz Festival, the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy and the Easy Jazz Festival in Poland, among others, where she has worked with jazz greats Quincy Jones, Ben Monder, David Linx, James Morrison and the late Jarek Smietana.
Liz was recently appointed to the faculty of the University of New Hampshire as their Jazz Choir Director and Jazz voice specialist. She also teaches on faculty at the Boston Arts Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, coaching voice lessons and teaching jazz choirs. Recipient of the New England Conservatory Presidential Scholarship, she is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Musical Arts in Jazz Voice under the guidance of leading jazz performers and educators such as Dominique Eade, Ken Schaphorst, Ralph Alessi, Jason Moran, Frank Carlberg, Cecil McBee, John McNeil and Miguel Zenon. Liz also holds a master's degree from New England Conservatory, where she was chosen to work with Grammy award-winning singer Luciana Souza and was 2014 Commencement Speaker. Liz hails from Adelaide, Australia and holds a Bachelor of Music with Honors in Jazz Performance from the Elder Conservatorium of Music.
