In Her Own Words - Jennifer Swanson Recital

Soprano Jennifer Swanson enjoys a varied career in performance and education and is currently an Assistant Professor for Voice and Music Theory at the University of Windsor. Former students have gone on to successful careers in performance, music education, and other fields. Dr. Swanson’s performance credentials include opera, recital, and concert appearances. Recent and upcoming performance activities include guest solo appearances and recitals with SoCA Presents, Stone & Sky Music & Art series on Pelee Island, Windsor Classic Chorale, Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, and Metropolitan Chorale as well as a variety of other educational and artistic organizations. Previous teaching appointments were at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa and at Bemidji State University in Minnesota where she built a successful vocal studio and served as Chair of the Music Department. Dr. Swanson completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois and holds graduate degrees in vocal performance from New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where she was a recipient of the Schuessler Vocal Fellowship.

 

Michael Karloff is one of Windsor’s major musical artists. He is the piano anchor and arranger for the Mackenzie Hall Jazz Series now in its seventh year. Mike has been a University of Windsor music faculty member (jazz) since 2012 and has been the music director of the St. Clair College Music Theatre Program since 2008. Mike is one of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra’s “go to” pianists for jazz/pop work and rehearsals (classical or jazz).

Karloff has both performed and had original compositions/arrangements premiered at the Michigan Jazz Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival, Jazz on the River Festival in Trenton and Boblo Island Jazz Festival. He has worked in the pit for over 50 musical theatre productions, and has served as a Music Director for over 20 shows with Windsor Light Music Theatre, The Capitol Theatre, Theatre Intrigue, Lewscrew Productions, Korda Productions, Migration Hall, Windsor Feminist Theatre and St. Clair College.
 

For his most recent project Karloff composed the score for a new Canadian musical comedy entitled Raise the Stakes with co-writer, the Toronto actor Taylor Lavigne.
 

Karloff was the City of Windsor’s orchestra director for the 2013 International Children’s Games at the WFCU Centre, and is one of the city’s most in-demand musicians, performing jazz, pop, classical, rock, Broadway and other styles here, in Detroit and further afield.

Karloff currently works on the faculty of the University of Windsor School of Creative Arts as its jazz/pop piano instructor, and teaches several academic courses including basic and advanced skills and analysis of jazz styles. At St. Clair College Karloff is an accompanist, music director, conductor, pit band arranger/orchestrator and teaches courses in ear training and music theory. Michael continues to work regularly as a freelance jazz pianist and accompanist, comfortable in any genre of music.

Karloff graduated from Wayne State University with a master of Jazz Music degree.

 

Karen McClellan is Executive Director of Arts Can Teach.  Through her work she trains, supports and mentors artist educators and dynamic arts processes in dance, visual arts, music and drama to enliven learning in classrooms and community.
 

A professional cellist, Karen performs with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, 4th Wall Music and in a rock/pop duo Front Row Cello with singer-guitarist Ted Lamont.
 

McClellan graduate from the University of Victoria, BC with a bachelor of music performance-cello degree and the designation AVCM,  Associate of the Victoria Conservatory of Music, cello performance and teacher training. She has played with the WSO since 1998.