LAURIE CAPPELLO

Laurie Cappello has been the Director of Vocal Music at Cascade High School in Everett, Washington for the past 3 years. During her 21 years of teaching, Laurie has taught vocal and instrumental music at all levels, including 11 years at Evergreen Middle School in Everett, WA. Her vocal jazz choirs at Evergreen performed at Washington Music Educators Association Conferences as well as Northwest and Western Division ACDA Conferences, and opened for the Four Freshmen in the spring of 1998. Evergreen's vocal jazz ensemble has been honored three times by downBeat Magazine as their 2000 "Outstanding Junior High Vocal Soloist" and the 2001, 2002, and 2003 "Outstanding Junior High Vocal Group". In her first year at Cascade High School she brought honors to her student, herself and to her program by winning the 2003 downbeat award as their "Outstanding Senior High Vocal Soloist". Currently, Laurie is working toward completion of her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting. A professional vocalist, Laurie has had the opportunity to study with jazz vocalist Carmen Bradford. She has presented numerous sessions on classroom management and developing vocal jazz at the junior high/middle school level at various colleges, state, division and the previous two National ACDA Music Conferences. Laurie is in demand as a clinician/adjudicator at choral and vocal jazz festivals throughout the Pacific Northwest, California, and Canada. In 2003, Laurie was the guest conductor for the Alaska All-State Women's Choir. In 2006, Laurie will conduct the Central Division ACDA Junior High Honor Choir. She recently served as the ACDA Repertoire and Standards Chair in the Pacific Northwest for Middle School/Junior High. Laurie has vocal jazz arrangements published through Sound Music Publications. She is listed in the 1998 and 2000 editions of Who's Who Among American Teachers. She and her husband Kirk are co-directors of the Soundsation Jazz Camp, a week-long summer workshop for students and teachers, held at Edmonds Community College, in Lynnwood, Washington.