As autumn approaches and the days shorten, the halls of Howard Music Building will only brighten with the lively, smooth sound of jazz as Hillsdale College brings in a talented guest jazz performer.
Professor of Jazz Voice at Michigan State University Sunny Wilkinson has an extensive music career: from the eclectic rock bands of Los Angeles, to Chicago’s jazz-fusion.
Her next stop: the Hillsdale College jazz department.
Wilkinson is going to be a new artist-in-residence, and will be coming to Hillsdale twice a semester to work with 4-5 jazz vocal students in private lessons and group sessions, said James Holleman, associate professor of music.
“Our voice faculty teaches classically, and specializes in broadway, but none really were a pure jazz vocalist,” Holleman said. “We are really excited about this because it adds another dimension to our jazz program. It gives us somebody with real experience working with our jazz vocalists.”
Wilkinson said she is looking forward to being part of the team at Hillsdale.
“I think [jazz] is really coming alive at Hillsdale,” she said. “The clear support the jazz program is getting from the administration is somewhat unusual.”
Wilkinson visited Hillsdale once last semester, and junior Rachael Maloley was privileged to have a private lesson with her. “She is amazing,” Maloley said, “She cleared up some things that I was having trouble with.”
Maloley grew up with jazz music and sings with the Hillsdale College Big Band. She is very excited to spend more time working with Wilkinson.
“She was so nice and welcoming,” Maloley said. “Sunny had us sing for her, and she really got into the music.”
The Hillsdale music department also invited Wilkinson to be the featured soloist in the liberal arts jazz festival on Feb. 16. She will be performing with The Hillcats, Hillsdale’s faculty jazz band.
Wilkinson first began her music career immediately after high school when she joined two small rock bands in Phoenix, Ariz.: “Friendly Persuasion” and “Pastry.”
“I have been singing longer that I have not,” Wilkinson said. “My mama said when I was two years old, I sang ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’ perfectly in tune. I guess I’ve always sung!”
Wilkinson’s music career is very diverse.
“I’m a mixture of a true jazz artist in the old style, but also a world-influenced pop artist,” Wilkinson said. “I’m a chameleon of sorts.”
She also plays the piano and trombone.
Wilkinson has performed everywhere from Los Angeles to Chicago to Great Britain to Japan.
She even sang on the American sitcom “Saved by the Bell.”
While Wilkinson enjoys singing, she said performance and education in jazz go hand-in-hand.
Wilkinson loves the idea that first-rate musicians no longer have to emerge from the coasts.
“People can take advantage of world-class music around the country,” she said. “I don’t think people know that, but it’s a great thing to be able to support your local and regional artists.”
