Farwest Vocal Jazz

See "Upcoming Events" on the home page for a list of future performances.

Listen to performance samples

About the group

Directed by Kelly Kunz, Farwest Jazz is one of the premier collegiate vocal jazz ensembles in the nation. Farwest has won numerous awards, placing 1st, many times at both the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and the Reno International Jazz Festival.

Farwest Jazz holds an annual retreat each fall, just prior to the start of the school year. Members of the group get time to re-connect or get to know each other and get a jump start on their music

Farwest Jazz annually records a CD both off campus and in their in-house digital studios. FWJ performs approximately 25-35 times throughout the year and does a couple of tours annually.

Jazz Expo: an evening performance featuring Farwest Jazz and a guest artist. Guest artists have included internationally known performers like Kurt Elling, Eric Marienthal, Tony Bennet, Mel Tormé, Nancy Wilson and Randy Brecker. This event is also a fundraiser for music scholarships.
The 2007 Jazz Expo features New York saxiphonist Jon Gordon and will be held Friday, May 18, 6:30 p.m., in the College Center Building, Pierce College Puyallup, 1601 39th Ave SE, Puyallup. See the college event calendar for more information about this year's Jazz Expo.

Joining Farwest Jazz

Auditions are held between April and the end of May. Contact Kelly Kunz right away if you are interested in auditioning for next years group.

Vocal auditions

Prepared short solo: accompanied or unaccompanied. Jazz pieces are preferred; you must provide your own accompanist.
Chromatic scale: up and down one octave.
Other "spontaneous" activities: interviews, ear-work, etc.

Rhythm section auditions

Rhythm section players will be asked to play a variety of grooves, do a little sight reading, soloing, etc.

Contact Information

Kelly Kunz, Director
253-964-6652
kkunz@pierce.ctc.edu