The Intercollegiate Community College Honors Vocal Jazz Ensemble celebrates the incredible talent emerging from community college jazz programs across the nation. Outstanding students are selected through a competitive audition process to rehearse and perform together at the 2027
JEN Conference. Bringing together the top community college performers from across the country, this dynamic ensemble showcases the artistry, creativity, and future of jazz—highlighting the vital role community colleges play in shaping the next generation of jazz vocalists and musicians.
photos by Frances Scanlon
DIRECTOR APPLICATION WINDOW
April 1 – May 30
PERFORMER NOMINATION WINDOW
August 1 – September 30
Click HERE for membership info
DIRECTOR application guidlines
- The director will be selected through an application process each spring.
- The application window will be open April 1 – May 30.
- All applicants must be current JEN members, Full Individual or higher.
- Any current community college vocal jazz educator is welcome to apply.
- Director applicant must be a JEN Full Individual member in good standing.
- Applicant must be a director/educator at a Community College
Application Information Required:
- Name, address, phone, email
- Employment Information
- Name of Community College
- Faculty Position
- Website and/or Social media Info (not required)
- Resume/CV
- Short bio
- Any guest artists with whom you might be able to arrange to perform with the ICCHVJE
- Five charts you would potentially program with this ensemble, and your rationale for your selected charts.
- Short narrative describing why you want to direct the ICCHVJE.
- (optional) Original compositions or arrangements
- Three (3) audio/video recordings of your an ensemble under your direction. Video is preferred. One may be of your own composition/arrangement.
- No fee required to apply to direct the ensemble
- Travel and expenses are the responsibility of the ICCHVJE Director.
- Directors are required to stay in official JEN conference housing, linked HERE.
- Director will receive a complimentary conference registration.
PERFORMER NOMINATION guidlines
- The student nomination window will be open August 1 – September 30.
- Nominating director must be a JEN member, Full Individual or higher.
- Students must be nominated by their community college director.
- Students cannot nominate themselves.
- Student nominee must be currently enrolled in classes.
- Each nomination requires a $35 application fee.
- The 16-voice ensemble (SATB), plus a 3–4 piece rhythm section, will be selected via blind audition.
- Other details coming soon
Intercollegiate Community College Honors
Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Coordinator
DR. JUSTIN BINEK
Dr. Justin Binek is an internationally recognized jazz and classical singer, pianist, clinician, and composer/arranger. Justin is a co-author of the third edition of Richard J. Lawn’s Experiencing Jazz textbook; he is also a contributing author to Diana Spradling’s Jazz Singing: Developing Artistry and Authenticity and Katrien Van Opstal’s Vocal Jazz Technique: The Mixing Table Model. A renowned scat singer and teacher of vocal improvisation, Justin is a featured clinician in Michele Weir’s ScatAbility iOS app. Justin’s compositions and arrangements are available from Kerry Marsh and Anchor Music, and his original jazz-inspired mass, Missa Lucis, made its Carnegie Hall debut in June 2022.
A 2022 and 2023 GRAMMY Music Educator Award Quarterfinalist, Justin serves as an Associate Professor of Music Theory and Commercial Music at Kansas City Kansas Community College, where he directs the DownBeat Student Music Award-winning Blue Devil Funk Band, teaches applied voice and piano, and coordinates the Kansas City Jazz Summit, the college’s annual educational jazz festival. He also teaches on the faculty of the Belgium’s Halewynstichting Jazz Workshop. Justin has presented clinics and performed at the JEN, IAJE, IJVC, and ISME Conferences, he has twice served as a guest artist/clinician at the National Youth Jazz Festival in Makhanda, South Africa, and he has served as the director for numerous All-State and region-level honors ensembles.
Justin is an active performer in the vibrant Kansas City jazz scene, and lives in Olathe, KS, with his wife, Claire, an accomplished vocal pedagogue and middle school choir director, and their daughters, Cora and Iris. Justin previously held teaching positions at the University of the Arts (Philadelphia) and the University of Mary (Bismarck, ND), and holds degrees from the University of North Texas (DMA), Western Michigan University (MM), and the University of Mary (BS and BA). For more information, visit www.justinbinekjazz.com.