Community Programs

Jefferson State Choral Coalition (MUS199)

Fee: $70
Wednesdays, March 30-May 25, 7:00-9:30pm
Location: SOU Ashland Campus, Music Building, Room 231

Under the direction of Kirby Shaw, Jefferson State Choral Coalition performs a mixed brew of standards, swing, rock, ballads, and gospel. Spring term brings special “Songs of Inspiration" and includes a public concert on Saturday, May 28, in the SOU Recital Hall. If you have sung in a choir before and want to continue, this ensemble is for you. If you always wanted to sing this style of music but have no experience, or “used to sing” (any kind of music) in the oh-so-distant past and would like to get back into it, this ensemble might be for you, too! Auditions held before the first rehearsal every term, by arrangement with instructor; call 541-488-5637.

Click here for a registration form. For more information, call 541.552.6102.

Instructor: Kirby Shaw has made a major impact in choral music education and has shared his musical expertise in 45 states, Canada, Australia, the Bahamas, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy and South Africa. He has degrees in Music Education and Choral Composition from San Jose State University and a DMA degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington. Dr. Shaw's teaching is infused with a sense of humor and breadth of knowledge that is transmitted in an exciting and highly contagious manner.

A composer/arranger with over 2,500 choral arrangements/compositions in print, Kirby's music is sung around the world and has sold nearly 20 million copies. His most recent commission is for The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This creative and prolific output has resulted in numerous ASCAP awards.

Kirby taught in the Mt. Shasta public schools before joining the faculty at College of the Siskiyous in California where he founded and directed the innovative and highly acclaimed COS Vocal Jazz Ensemble. He also directed similar groups at Colorado State University and The University of Missouri-Kansas City and is now directing the Jefferson State Choral Coalition at Southern Oregon University.

Kirby has scatted one-on-one with such noteables as Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, Chris Calloway, Jon Hendricks (who once told Kirby...'Man, you don't make mistakes!'), Mark Murphy, legendary guitar player Joe Beck and alto saxophonist Brandon Fields. He has overseen the creation of hundreds of educational recordings, 5 college-university albums and 2 solo albums. He is a member of Just 4 Kicks, a four man a cappella ensemble specializing in Jazz.

For more information about the SOU Music Department, visit the Music Department homepage.