"You always encouraged us with a smile on your face and that's what I like about you. Your smile makes an unhappy person sing cheerfully."
-Bidushee, Choir Student, Class 10, Kolkata, India
Conducting is a true passion for Jayanthi. She has experience directing various choirs for all ages and ability levels, but is particularly committed to working with young voices. When programming concerts, Jayanthi chooses a wide range of age appropriate literature, including jazz, folk, pop, classical, and world music. Jayanthi concentrates on teaching proper singing techniques such as breathing, tone, and enunciation. Choir students learn and use a large array of musical vocabulary in their rehearsals and perform with live piano accompaniment whenever possible.
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Most recently, Jayanthi had the honor of working with the students of Dolna Day School in Kolkata, India. Her elementary and secondary choirs prepared holiday music for the school's annual Christmas Fete. She also had the pleasure of arranging music and working with forty-two students for the chorus of The Wizard of Oz. For most of these students, it was their first exposure to musicals, a genre widely known in America. From 2011-2013, Jayanthi conducted a choir consisting of fourth and fifth graders from Kohl Elementary in Broomfield, Colorado. Under her direction, she also organized a holiday outreach concert allowing Kohl Choir to perform for senior citizens throughout the community.
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Jayanthi is constantly looking for additional opportunities for her students. Students are often given opportunities for individual solos, descants, and speaking parts. Jayanthi regularly includes instruments, such as flute, clarinet, and saxophone, for her choir to collaborate with. In 2012, twelve students from Kohl Choir were chosen for CU Opera's children's choir in Puccini's Suor Angelica. Jayanthi prepared the students and conducted the entire vocal ensemble for the production.
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Jayanthi directed SUNY Fredonia's female a cappella group, Some Like It Hot from 2005-2007. For more information, including videos, click the button on the right.
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For Jayanthi's more detailed resume, click here.
