Jennifer Barnes is a highly sought-after vocalist, educator, clinician and arranger and the Director of Vocal Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas. Prof. Barnes oversees all vocal activities within the Division of Jazz Studies, including overseeing four vocal jazz ensembles and directing UNT Jazz Singers, who have won Downbeat Student Music Awards for the past 9 out of 10 years. She has taught at seven other universities, served as a guest conductor for District and All-State Music Festivals in fourteen states, taught jazz vocals at the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Camps, and her vocal arrangements are published by Sheet Music Plus, Anchor Music, UNC Jazz Press and self-published on her website. She was awarded the DownBeat 2016 Jazz Education Achievement Award, only the second vocal educator to receive that honor. Jennifer’s voice has been featured on films including “Wall-E”, “Ice Age 2, 3 & 4”, “Enchanted”, “Star Trek” and the television show, “Glee”. She has sung on or appeared in advertising for Chili’s Bar & Grill, Epson, and McDonald’s and released a solo jazz recording, “You Taught My Heart” (Spotify/Apple Music/CD Baby). Jennifer is the alto vocalist and a composer/arranger in the professional vocal group Vertical Voices with Julia Dollison, Greg Jasperse, and Kerry Marsh. Jennifer earned the Master of Music degree in Studio Music and Jazz Performance from the University of Miami (FL) and the Bachelor of Music degree from Western Michigan University.

Mike Plunkett was the choral director at Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, Oklahoma for 21 years. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from Central State University (OK) and his Master of Music Education with an emphasis in Jazz Studies from the University of Central Oklahoma. Mike has taught at the junior high, high school, and college levels. He has served as an adjudicator/clinician in more than twenty states and Canada and has conducted multiple All-State Jazz Choirs. Mr. Plunkett served as Vice-President, President, and Past-President of the Oklahoma chapter of IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators), was a member of the National IAJE Strategic Planning Committee in 1999-2001, and the National IAJE Resource Team for “Published Music.”. He was a faculty member for the IAJE 1999 Teacher Training Institutes at Disney World and Kansas City. In 2014, he was given the prestigious “Presidents Award” for service and achievement in Oklahoma Music Education. Mike served as R & S chair for jazz ensembles for the Oklahoma chapter of ACDA and taught the vocal jazz choir as an adjunct professor at both the University of Central Oklahoma and Southern Nazarene University. In 1995, under Mike’s direction, the Carl Albert High School Vocal Jazz ensemble was selected as an honor group for the Oklahoma Music Educators State Conference. He was also a key figure in the implementation and inauguration of adding Vocal Jazz All-State Choir to Oklahoma, now in its 25th year. In July of 2001, Mike was hired as the Administrator of all Fine Arts activities for the OSSAA (Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association). While serving as administrator, he also served as the Chairman of the Music Committee for the National Federation of High Schools from 2007-2011. After 21 years of service to the OSSAA, he retired in 2022.

• $30 – Registration Fee
• $350 – Tuition 
• $120 – Adult Housing (optional; private room with private bath)
  • $60 additional night (late departure) 

• $50 – Meal Plan (optional; Saturday breakfast-Sunday lunch)
  • No option for additional meals. Those who require an extra night of housing can pay with cash or card in the dining hall or go off campus 

• $15 – Commuter Parking Permit (optional)
• $20 – Continuing Education Units Certificate (optional) 

Participants residing on campus must provide their own bedding (extra-long twin size), pillows, towels, and toiletries.

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 23, 2025 

 Registration Policy

• Payment is due in full at the time of registration.
• 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.   

• Requested by May 23, 2025 – Full refund less $130 ($30 registration fee + $100 administrative fee)
• Requested by June 6, 2025 – Full refund less $230 ($30 registration fee + $200 administrative fee)
  • We are unable to process refunds requested after June 6, 2025.
  • No refunds will be made should a participant be dismissed for violating UNT policy or program rules provided on the first day.