Jazz Choir

The ABAC Jazz Choir is an ensemble composed of 12-16 vocalists who are selected by sight-reading compositions.  Members are usually selected from the concert choir.

ABAC Jazz Choir

Jazz Choir singing for Disney's Epcot International Stage

A Short History of ABAC's Jazz Choir          

The Abraham Baldwin Jazz Choir was formed in 1974 under the direction of Donald B. Coates, and for the past fifteen years has given numerous performances throughout the Southeastern United States under the direction of Mr. Wayne Jones, Director of the Arts Connection at ABAC. In the fall of 2005, Dr. Susan Roe became the director.

The Jazz Choir is an auditioned group at the college where each performer is also a part of the Concert choir at ABAC.  It consists of 12-16 vocalists and the group performs a variety of music from the roots of jazz to present day compositions.

Each year the Jazz Choir participates with the Jazz Ensemble in the major jazz festival that is sponsored by the Arts Connection and patrons from the community. This festival is in its 34^th year and consists of performances, jazz clinics, and workshops with a well-know jazz-educator and performing artist.  In the past two years the Jazz Choir has been one of the featured performers during the New Orleans Heritage and Jazz Festival and the Pensacola Jazz Festival.

The ABAC Jazz Choir was invited to sing at St. Francis Cathedral in New York City as well as St. Paul’s the Divine and the World Trade Center Site by audition. In the spring of 2009, the group was invited to sing at Epcot on the West International Stage. The coordinator of the “Sing for Disney” invited them to return at anytime because the group had “one of the best ensemble sounds he had ever heard!”