Summer Jazz Vocal Intensive, July 23-26, 2026
Instructor: Charenee Wade
Location: Vermont Jazz Center 72 Cotton Mill Hill, Ste 222, Brattleboro, VT
Limited space available. Register TODAY!
A program designed by Charenee Wade that offers helpful tools for vocalists on their singing journey. The goal is to provide a well-rounded and enjoyable long weekend for vocalists that incorporates active and direct learning based on Charenee’s years of teaching and professional experience.
Charenee Wade is an award-winning singer, arranger, educator and composer from New York City. Wade teaches masterclasses, clinics and jazz camps in the U.S. and all over the world. Charenee is currently an instructor at the Aaron Copland School, Peabody Institute of John Hopkins University, and The Juilliard School. She has excited audiences all over the world with her ingenuity, vibrancy and vocal dexterity. Charenee has performed at top venues including Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Jazz Standard and The Apollo. She has appeared at major festivals worldwide including Montreux, the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Istanbul Jazz Festival, Spoleto, Savannah Music, Jazz En Tete, Bern Jazz Festival, and Charlie Parker Jazz Festival.
Schedule
Zoom meeting with Charenee (Last Week of June)
– Expectations
– Provide a playlist to discuss arrangement concepts, what to pay attention to in the listening examples (especially intros and endings and arc of form)
– Give assignments to prep 3 tunes (bring in charts in different keys when possible)
– Teach warm-ups to use in preparation for the workshop
Thursday, July 23
7:30 pm Concert plus Q and A
Charenee with rhythm section
Performance will focus on creating different textures and demonstrate how to create an overall arc within a set
Q and A after the set
Friday, July 24
10:00 am Theory with Eugene + Charenee
Tools for chart writing, finding keys, transposing to best keys for singers
11:30 am Warmups and musicianship with Charenee
12:30 pm Lunch in town, or bring your own
2:00 – 4:00 pm Masterclass Part I –
Tunes with Charenee + piano and bass accompaniment
Assigned times for each participant, but we encourage all to remain for the entirety
4:15 – 6:15 pm Masterclass Part II –
Tunes with Charenee + piano and bass accompaniment
Saturday, July 25
10:00 am Theory with Eugene and Charenee
11:00 am Warmup and musicianship with Charenee
12:30 pm Lunch break in town
2:00 – 5:00 pm Masterclass Part III – dress rehearsal with all participants + drummer
Evening in town, or outdoor concert at Retreat Farm (Feat. VJC Sextet; food truck available)
Sunday, July 26 (5 hours)
10:00 am Warmups
11:00 am Tune talk-throughs
All vocalists and instrumentalists
12 – 1:30 pm Lunch break
1:30 – 4:30 pm Final Concert
TUITION: $900
The VJC will provide coffee, tea, and light snacks throughout the program. Participants will need to arrange their own room, meals and transportation. Please contact elsa@vtjazz.org for questions or more information.
If you are a first time participant, contact eugene@vtjazz.org before registering.
Register