GREG JASPERSE
is a composer, arranger, recording artist and educator currently living in Chicago. As a guest conductor, he has had the privilege of conducting the British Columbia Honors Vocal Jazz Choir (2002), the Colorado and Illinois All-state Honors Vocal Jazz choirs (2004), the Arizona All-State Honors Show choir (2000, 1999, 2001) as well as many district and regional festival choirs. Festival choirs have performed his compositions and arrangements, published by Augsburg-Fortress, Shawnee Press and Oxford University Press across North America and Europe. As a commissioned composer, he has written for the American Boychoir, Chicago children’s Choir and Kokopelli (Edmonton, Canada)

As an educator, Greg enjoys teaching at several show choir and jazz camps in the US and Canada, including Rocky Mountain vocal Jazz camp, Showchoir camps of America, University of Manitoba Jazz Camp, and Western Michigan University Vocal Jazz camp. Throughout the school year Greg also enjoys his work as a clinician and guest artist at various festivals including University of Northern Colorado Jazz Festival, Millikin University Vocal Jazz festival, Musicfest Canada and Ontario Vocal festival.

As a music director, Greg enjoys working with young and old alike. This includes music directing for 18 year old NYU sophomore Michael Craig as well as Serendipity, Chicago’s annual celebration of seniors on stage. He has music directed and accompanied Forever Plaid (Royal George Theater) Clint Holm’s “Comfortable Shoes” (Royal George Theater) and Barry Manilow’s “Could It Be Magic” (Music Box Theater). He also music directs for New York’s up and coming jazz/cabaret vocalist, Jack Donahue as well as Broadway’s own Timothy Shew.

Greg is assistant conductor of the Lakeside Singers, a 24-voice ensemble of professional singers in Chicago. This setting provides him with the opportunity to try out much of his new writing as well as working with Chicago youth through the “Kids on Track” program.

Greg recently released his first commercial recording called “Tournesol.” This recording project is a collection of original contemporary jazz piano pieces. On Tournesol, Greg is joined by such artists as Randy Crenshaw, Grant Geissman, Gary Meek, Michael Shapiro and Jerry watts. “Tournesol” was produced by Bill Cantos and engineered by legendary Bill Schnee.