Jennifer Barnes, current conductor.
The University of North Texas Jazz Singers is the premier vocal jazz ensemble within the Division of Jazz Studies in the College of Music. Under the direction of Jennifer Barnes, Jazz Singers consists of ten to fourteen vocalists and a four-piece rhythm section who perform a challenging and varied repertoire of jazz and jazz-influenced music, emphasizing close vocal harmonies, cutting-edge repertoire and improvisation. The ensemble was awarded Graduate Winner as a Large Vocal Ensemble in the 2019 and 2016 DownBeat Student Music Awards, and has been awarded Outstanding Performance status numerous times under the leadership of both Jennifer Barnes and the founding director, Paris Rutherford. UNT Jazz Singers has performed at state, national and international music conferences and festivals, including those for the Jazz Education Network, International Association for Jazz Education, the American Choral Directors Association and the Texas Music Educators Association. UNT Jazz Singers is one of four vocal jazz ensembles that are part of the comprehensive Vocal Jazz Studies major at UNT, which comprises a global student population of 25 – 35 students who pursue Bachelor’s, Masters and Doctoral level degree programs.