Charenee Wade

Charenee Wade is not one to hold back or let fear stand in her way. The first artist ever to enter two Thelonious Monk Vocal competitions, she walked away from the second one in 2010 with instant buzz and second place to her new friend Cecilé McLorin Salvant. Now is the time for Wade’s star to rise. Known for expert vocal improvisational ability and her seriously swinging groove, Wade evokes a classic jazz sound akin to Betty Carter and Sarah Vaughan, two of her musical touchstones. With her Motéma debut, Offering: The Music of Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson (June 23), she pays tribute to another inspiration, the socially conscious poet and musician Gil Scott-Heron, and confirms that she too plans to use her artist platform thoughtfully.

ALL PROGRAMS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Steven Kroon has been a professional musician for more than 50 years. Born in Harlem, then raised in St. Albans Queens. Percussionist Steven Kroon is mostly noted for adding his percussion sounds to the great late vocalist Luther Van Dross from 1981 to 2001, as well as recording and touring with Ron Carter. He has also recorded and performed with much of the “Who’s Who” in the music business, such as Stanley Turrentine, Roberta Flack, Bette Midler, Aretha Franklin, Diana Krall, Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, just to name a few. For the last 20 years he’s been working on his solo career, and his band has been performing at most major clubs and festivals throughout the states.

Adding to his credits, he has Six CD’s released in his name: “In My Path,” “Senor Kroon,” “El Mas Alla” (Beyond), “Without A Doubt” (Sin Duda), “On The #1”, and his latest “In Your Dreams,” all under his own record label “Kroonatune Records, LLC.”

My Sextet is a high-energy electrifying Latin Jazz Sextet. Our musicality consists of Jazz with the blend of Afro Cuban and Brazilian music.

Sun Young Chang

Sun Young Chang has worked extensively both teaching voice and performing for over a decade, both in her native Korea and in the United States. She received her Masters and Professional Studies Diploma from Mannes College of Music, and made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2006 (and returned in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010). She was named a Finalist in the Connecticut Opera Guild Competition and the Violetta Du Pont Vocal Competition, and a Semi-Finalist in Rochester Oratorio Vocal Competition and Joy In Singing Competition. She has performed opera roles such as Mimi, Lauretta, Giulietta, Micaela, Donna Elvira, Pamina, Nella, Gilda, Anne Truelove, and Zerlina, with such companies as Empire Opera, the Delaware Valley Symphony Orchestra, Kaye Playhouse, and the Actors Studio. Also a Teaching Artist for the Metropolitan Opera Guild, she has worked as a private voice instructor and coach since 2002. She teaches actively at Kean University, Concordia Conservatory of Music and Art, Rosedale Achievement Center, and Wartburg Adult Care Community, and has been faculty at the Berkshire Choral Festival, Westerhoff School of Music and Art, and the Joy of Singing LLC. She also volunteers actively, concertizing at Women In Need Casa Rita Drug Abuse Clinic of the Bronx and gives her time regularly for Sing for Hope.

Sohyun Ahn, piano

For more information, visit: http://sohyun.org/