After twelve competitors braved their way through a night of auditions on Sept. 6., sophomore Carrie Blanton and freshman Dani Shillingstad were announced the newest vocalists in Hillsdale College’s Jazz Band.
“Those two singers just gave me goosebumps,” Director of Jazz Studies and Trumpet Instructor Chris McCourry said.
McCourry asked auditioners to sing “My Funny Valentine” and “All of Me” while he accompanied the singers on piano. This year senior Natalie Foley, senior Seth Hendrickson, senior Trent Meyer, and junior Logan Verner judged auditions.
“After the last audition [McCourry] was like ‘OK you guys, well this sounds good, I trust your guys’ judgment –– then he was out the door,” Big Band trumpet player Logan Verner said.
McCourry was satisfied with the judges’ final choice.
“They picked exactly who I would have picked,” McCourry said. “[Blanton and Shillingstad] were really standouts.”
“It is encouraging to see that so many are interested,” Verner said. “It breaks my heart that we can’t take them all because I really want to take them all. I encourage them to come back, work on it some more, and try again next audition.”
Blanton was exposed to jazz in her junior year of high school through Frank Sinatra’s “Bewitched” and then Ella Fitzgerald’s singing.
“I really wanted to be a part of the Jazz Band and sing.” Blanton said. “I went to see a lot of [Jazz Band] performances last year and it was really inspiring to see Erin O’Luanaigh [Former Jazz Vocalist] sing. I knew that I wanted to be able to do that.”
Shillingstad, like Blanton, also was inspired by the talent of Ella Fitzgerald and vocal improvisation and began delving into jazz last January.
“I am not as seasoned,” Shillingstad said. “[But] I am really excited to be working with everyone in the Jazz program.”
Blanton said she hopes to sing with the Jazz Band or in a jazz combo, but is looking forward to the year regardless.
“I’d be happy to do it all just so long as I sing,” she said.
