Sing & Swing
Jazz Vocal Ensemble
Waltons New School of Music
Starts 16 January 2025.
‘Melanie’s Sing & Swing Jazz Vocal Ensemble inspires confidence even in the most hesitant singer. I learned lots about the jazz/swing era and its music at this class – and all in a relaxed atmosphere. Very enjoyable.’
– M. Bourke
‘Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the Sing & Swing Jazz Vocal Ensemble with Melanie. She is a brilliant teacher and made the classes very enjoyable and educational. Her song choices were fantastic, and we learned to sing in some wonderful three-part harmonies. Many thanks!’
– T. O’Grady-Peyton
Led by a renowned jazz singer, conductor and teacher with many years’ experience teaching jazz and conducting jazz choirs and ensembles, this small ensemble rehearses and performs songs and arrangements hand-tailored to the abilities and interests of its members.
Ensemble Description
The Sing & Swing Jazz Vocal Ensemble is great on its own, or you can also take other vocal tuition with the New School. (Students concurrently enrolled for other tuition receive a 20% discount off the fees for school ensembles.) Although some previous vocal training or experience (in choirs or solo singing) is necessary to join the Ensemble, previous jazz singing experience is not required.
Melanie O’Reilly, the Ensemble director, will phone prospective participants after they enrol to discuss their suitability for the Ensemble.
* Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits – both psychological and physiological – of group singing, including ones published by the Royal Society of Open Science, the Journal of Public Mental Health and the University of Limerick.
Questions about this ensemble?
or call us on (01) 478 1884.
Fee Discount
Students concurrently enrolled for private or group tuition at the New School receive a 20% discount off the fee for this ensemble.
Safety & COVID-19
The health and safety of both students and staff at the New School is of the utmost importance to us, and we have made a number of changes to the school, its equipment and our policies to make this ensemble and all in-school tuition (tuition taking place on the New School premises) safe during the time of COVID-19. These include:
- Perspex screens in every classroom.
- Installation of HEPA air filtration/purification units where necessary – especially in classrooms where wind instruments and voice (singing) are taught.
- Antiseptic dispensers available throughout the school.
- Cleaning and disinfection of both classroom instruments and furniture between lessons and classes.
- Regular cleaning of public spaces.
See our COVID-19 Safety Policy page for more information on what we have done, as well as the protocols we expect all in-school students and visitors to follow.
Melanie O’Reilly, Director
Melanie is an internationally-known jazz performer, singer, songwriter and music educator. She has recorded seven albums and performed on eight compilations, her music has been featured on PBS television and she has won numerous awards from the Arts Council. She was lauded by Downbeat magazine as one of Ireland’s foremost jazz ambassadors, has performed at several international festivals, including the inaugural EU/USA Jazz Festival, where she represented Ireland at the Los Angeles Schoenberg Hall, and her recent tribute to jazz icon Anita O’Day show earned her four-star reviews at the Edinburgh Festival. She is a regular performer on radio and TV and is the creator and host of the award-winning RTÉ radio show Jazz on the Bay, now produced and broadcast monthly by KCSM in California. Melanie has extensive experience teaching songwriting, jazz voice and performance technique. She has taught at the Oakland School of the Arts, the New College of California in San Francisco, the California Jazz Conservatory and the University of California Berkeley’s CAL Extension programme, and she was a Visiting Scholar and Musician-in-Residence at the University of California Berkeley’s Celtic Studies programme from 2003 to 2009. Melanie is currently Jazz Artist in Residence at the Wexford Arts Centre, is a founding member of both the Wexford Normandy Cultural Association and the Jazz at Johnstown Festival, and has recently performed at the Wexford Festival, Culture Night, Farmleigh House, Rosslare Harbour Festival, Aberjazz Festival, and Keys Jazz Club in San Francisco, among others. She was also awarded Artist in Residence at La Mue Cultural centre and represented Ireland at the European Heritage Weekend in Normandy. She has taught with the New School since 2004.
‘Music is what connects us to the world, lifts our spirits, feeds our minds and brings us together. As a vocalist and music educator, it is a joy for me to share this universal language with students of all ages, building confidence and expanding knowledge, innovation, concentration and creative teamwork, while at the same time having a lot of fun! It is my belief that everyone has music within them, and it is my aim to enable that inner creativity to be expressed and to develop, grow and flourish – whether singing or crafting a new song.’
Reviews • Testimonials
‘Melanie is a very talented teacher, and her classes are a joy. She has a natural flair for communicating her extensive knowledge of jazz and swing music with infectious enthusiasm and fun. There was a lovely dynamic in our group, and we all learned to sing great songs with impressive rhythm and harmony.’
– G. Hynes
‘Melanie’s Sing & Swing Vocal Jazz Ensemble is a weekend highlight! Even in these online ‘Zoom’ times, Melanie has kept it fun and focused with individual tuition, blended with jazz history and a wide repertoire of songs.’
– E. Kelly
‘Melanie’s Sing & Swing Jazz Vocal Ensemble is very enjoyable for anyone who likes jazz and swing. The structure of the class gives you a chance to learn and understand the basics and then work further on the songs. Highly recommended!’
– D. Lafon
‘I have thoroughly enjoyed my two terms of the Sing & Swing Jazz Vocal Ensemble. I feel not only that I’m part of a group of kindred spirits but also that I’m individually encouraged and supported. Additionally, a wide repertoire of songs is covered, with both personal and group favourites considered. During the COVID-19 crisis, every technological step has been taken to ensure that the term progresses as well as possible, and for this I am very grateful. I would highly recommend this ensemble all year round!’
– S. Smyth
2024-2025 Second Term Schedule
8 weeks, 16 January – 6 March 2025
Thursdays 7 – 8.30 pm
Tuition Fees
Full Fee: €175
Discounted Fee: €140 *
* Students concurrently enrolled for private or group tuition at the New School receive a 20% discount off the fees for school ensembles.
Enrolment
Enrolment in the Sing & Swing Jazz Vocal Ensemble requires a completed Enrolment Form and full payment of the ensemble fee or payment plan arrangement, if applicable. Membership in this Ensemble limited, and we recommend early enrolment.
Late Enrolment
New members can join the Ensemble, subject to places being available, up to two weeks after it starts each term. Tuition fees for late-enrolling students are pro-rated and depend on the number of classes remaining in the term or year. See the following pages for more information:
First Term Late Enrolment Fees
Second Term Late Enrolment Fees
Third Term Late Enrolment Fees
Purchasing an Ensemble enrolment as a gift?
Please complete a Gift Certificate Booking Form.
Questions about the Ensemble?
or call us on (01) 478 1884.
