University of North Texas 
Vocal Jazz Educator Seminar
Vocal Jazz Educator Seminar
June 20-22, 2026
Registration deadline extended until May 15!
About the Seminar
The 9th annual UNT Vocal Jazz Educator Seminar will be held on the campus of the University of North Texas and led by UNT Director of Vocal Jazz, Jennifer Barnes and co-led by Stacy Cunningham, Director of Choral Music at Leyden High School.
Faculty
Jennifer Barnes
Barnes oversees all vocal activities within the Division of Jazz Studies at UNT, including
four vocal jazz ensembles and directing the award-winning Jazz Singers. She has previously
taught at seven other universities, served as a guest conductor for District and All-State
Music Festivals in sixteen states, taught jazz vocal improvisation at the Jamey Aebersold
Jazz Camps from 1998 through 2015, and was the invited conductor of the inaugural
American Choral Directors Association Honor Jazz Choir in 2025. Her vocal arrangements
are published by Sheet Music Plus, Anchor Music Publications, UNC Jazz Press, KerryMarsh.com, and self-published on her website, JenniferBarnesMusic.com. She was
awarded the 2016 Jazz Education Achievement Award by DownBeat Magazine, as only the
second vocal educator to receive that honor.Ms. Barnes’s voice has been heard in feature films including Wall-E, Ice Age 2, 3
& 4, Enchanted, Star Trek, and the television show Glee as well as the World of Warcraft
video games. She has sung on or appeared in advertising for Chili’s Bar & Grill, Epson,
Old El Paso and McDonald’s and released a highly acclaimed solo jazz recording, You Taught My
Heart. Jennifer is the alto vocalist in the professional vocal group Vertical Voices (with
Julia Dollison, Greg Jasperse and Kerry Marsh).Ms. Barnes earned the Master of Music degree from the University of Miami (FL) and
the Bachelor of Music degree from Western Michigan University.
Courtney Anderson
Courtney Anderson was born into a music-loving home and has been chasing harmony ever since. Her first performance came at age three, when she slipped out of her seat at her father’s barbershop dinner show, climbed onstage, held out her hand, and declared, “My turn,” before confidently delivering, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, to a delighted audience. She began voice lessons at six, briefly detoured into competitive horseback riding, and rediscovered her path in seventh grade after hearing the Dos Pueblos High School Jazz Choir and said, “I want to do THAT!”
She never stopped.
A Dos Pueblos alumna, Courtney returned in 2014 as Vocal Music Director and built the program from a single choir of 18 students into a thriving multi-ensemble department. Her ensembles have earned multiple Top 5 and Top 3 placements at Monterey Next Gen Jazz Festival and Reno Jazz Festival, along with consistent Command Performances at the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival. Under her direction, students have had the opportunity to perform with New York Voices and Michael McDonald, experiences that continue to shape the culture of excellence within the program. She is also a founding force behind her district’s All District Choral Showcase, strengthening collaboration among vocal programs.
Courtney holds a degree in Music Management with Applied Studies in Vocal Jazz from CSU Sacramento, where she studied with Kerry Marsh and Julia Dollison. As a student, she performed with Nancy King and is featured with the CSUS Jazz Singers on Ben Folds’ a cappella album. She is also a DownBeat Award recipient.
A 15-year Sweet Adelines International competitor, Courtney’s quartet placed 2nd at the 2011 Rising Star Competition and has ranked among the top 20 in the world since 2019. In 2017, she won the Sweet Adelines Small Chorus Harmony Classic Division A with Carpe Diem. She is committed to building brave, detail-driven singers who are willing to take risks in joyful, supportive spaces.
Her favorite color is rainbow, and she still believes every student deserves their turn.
Tuition & Fees
- Overnight Camper - $700 which includes:
- Registration fee
- Tuition
- Housing
- Three meals per day (Sunday breakfast-Monday lunch)
- Everyone is invited to join for dinner and fellowship off campus on the first day of the seminar
- Parking
- Day Camper - $525 which includes:
- Registration fee
- Tuition
- Lunch & dinner daily (Sunday lunch-Monday lunch)
- Everyone is invited to join for dinner and fellowship off campus on the first day of the seminar
- Parking
- Continuing Education Units Certificate - $20 (optional)
- Overnight campers will arrive on Saturday, June 20 for residence hall check in and camp registration and will depart on Monday, June 22. Camp will end no later than 6:30pm on the last day.
- Overnight campers have the option to arrive on Friday, June 19 and/or depart on Tuesday, June 23 due to travel needs for an additional fee of $100 per night.
- Overnight campers must provide their own bedding (extra-long twin size), pillows, towels, and toiletries.
- Day campers will arrive on Saturday, June 20 for camp registration. Camp will end no later than 6:30pm on the last day.
Registration Information
To register, visit https://app.getacceptd.com/untmusicworkshops. Begin by selecting your Area (Jazz) and Program (Vocal Jazz Educator Seminar ONLY). For technical questions, please visit the Acceptd Help Desk.
Registration Deadline
- May 15, 2026
- A minimum number of participants is required for the seminar to run. We will let you know ASAP should the seminar be canceled and provide information regarding a refund.
- The $30 registration fee is non-refundable.
Registration Policy
- Payment is due in full at the time of registration.
- We are unable to provide partial refunds for unused services including meals and parking.
- Participants must be at least 18 years of age to participate.
- Enrollment is limited.
- Email to be placed on the waitlist if seminar is full – music.camps@unt.edu.
Refund Policy
- Requested by May 15, 2026 – Full refund less $130 administrative fee
- Requested by June 1, 2026 – Full refund less $230 administrative fee
- We are unable to provide partial refunds for unused services including meals and parking.
- We are unable to process refunds requested after June 1, 2026.
- No refunds will be made should a participant be dismissed for violating UNT policy or program rules provided on the first day.
Sample Camp Schedule
*A more detailed schedule will be provided approximately one week before the workshop begins. The schedule is subject to change, and any changes will be communicated to participants in a timely manner.
Day 1 Schedule
3:00 p.m. Check-in/meet and greet!
3:20 Faculty and seminar introductions
3:30 Listening & Watching for Input
4:30 Vocal Jazz History/Sound Concept/Listening session #1
6:00 Warm-ups/Vocalizing/Technique, Part One
6:30 Improvisation: Introduction & Blues
7:15 Culinary Enjoyment & Fellowship!
Day 2 Schedule
9:00 am Warm-ups/Vocalizing/Technique, Part Two
9:20 Improvisation: Call & Response, Trading, Vamps & Lyrics
9:50 Solo Singing Basics
10:30 Listening Session #2
11:00 Jazz Style: Micro-Dynamics & Rhythmic Intensity
11:45 LUNCH BREAK
1:00 Sound Reinforcement - Basics (1strip on a mixing board)
1:20 Individual mic EQ
1:35 Intro to Sound System
1:45 Mics, Compression, EQ, Mains, Monitors
2:45 Sound check protocol
3:10 Circle-Singing
4:00 Repertoire
6:30 Auditions
7:00 Performance Aesthetics: Let’s watch & discuss!
8:00 That’s a wrap!
Day 3 Schedule
9:00 a.m. Warm-ups/Vocalizing/Technique, Part Three
9:20 Improvisation - Syllables, Made-Up Melody, Sing-along, “shedding changes”
10:20 Retreats, Organizations, Festivals
11:00 Vocal Ensemble Rehearsal by co-teacher
11:25 Vocal Ensemble Rehearsal by Jennifer Barnes
11:45 LUNCH BREAK
1:30 Intro to Rhythm Section
1:40 Piano (Acoustic & Electric)
2:00 Piano - everybody plays!
2:20 Guitar (Acoustic & Electric)
2:50 Bass (Acoustic & Electric)
3:10 Bass Demonstration - everybody plays!
3:30 Drum Set
3:50 Drum Set - everybody plays!
4:10 Rhythm section playing a chart together (Wrap-up with Q & A)
5:00 Q & A - What haven’t we covered?
5:30 Seminar Concludes
Additional questions? Please contact us at music.camps@unt.edu or call (940) 369-6541.