Choirs at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival

Overview

For over a century, the University of Idaho choirs have had a long-standing tradition. The Lionel Hampton School of Music’s annual Jazz Festival, which started in 1967 has prioritized from Lynn “Doc” Skinner and John Coltrane, to recent directors like Vanessa Sielert and Navin Chettri, encouraged a collaborative and inclusive experience.

Instrumentalists like the namesake of this 89th Jazz Festival, Lionel Hampton, emphasized an educational festival that continues today. Vocalist performers like Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles have included the students and their ensembles, such as Vandaleers and Jazz Choir I and II to perform with the guest artists coming every year.

Choirs at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival

Why Choirs?

A portrait of a person smiling, wearing a checkered jacket, a black turtleneck sweater and a brooch with the design of a smiling face.
It is important to highlight the student choral ensembles that have a legacy of performing like the Vandaleers, and people who have come through the Jazz Fest over the years. This collection focuses on the collaborative University ensembles and the Vocal Jazz groups that have performed here. While there are many examples of exemplary jazz bands and combos, our voices are the first instrument before all others. Image: Ella Fitzgerald (1972).

Choirs at the University

A half circle of singers perform at the direction of a conductor, with sheet music in front of them and instruments visible in the background.
The Vandaleers rehearsing in class (1965).
A group of singers in gowns are conducted by a figure on the right within a multi-story building, as people in the the foreground sit silently in suits and bow ties.
Glen Lockery leading the Vandaleers (1980).

Vocal Collaboration

A group of four people in tuxedos and bow ties posing.
Portrait of the men in the university quartet. Identification from left to right: Forest Brigham, Oral Luke, William Shamberger, Norman Luvass (1928). While it was before a jazz festival, many of these small groups would be asked to play.
A person watching another sing into a microphone with the blurred outline of keyboards in the background.
Lionel Hampton and student performer.

Jazz in the Schools

A group of six people sit and stand as they either play or hold jazz oriented instruments in a practice space with cement walls. A child sits on the right side of the frame.
Jazz in the Schools bring what is now the Palouse Jazz Project, here visiting Westpark Elementary in Moscow, ID (1998).
A person playing piano and another standing by it watch a person in front of them speak into a microphone, with a double bass and drum set beside him. They are in a gymnasium with the letters G and P hanging from the wall.
The Lionel Hampton Big Band goes to schools in Washington and Idaho to bring jazz straight to their classrooms.
A group of six people pose with a black and white historic photo featuring another group in traditional Indigenous dress.
Outreach in the Community. Left-to-right: Emma Knight, David Gibson, Angela Picard, Christian Fabian, Andre Picard and Kuni Mikami. Angela is pictured as a child in the held picture in front of the vibraphone.

Vocal Jazz and Visiting Choirs

A conductor leads three rows of singers with four stands of microphones in the foreground and stagge lights visible in the background.
Capital High School (Boise, ID) at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival (1992).
A pianist, drummer and bass player on the left side of the image support three rows of singers performing in front of a banner, being led by a conductor.
An unknown student vocal ensemble performs at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, one of the few educational jazz festivals in the USA (1992).
Two vertically conjoined performance photos of a choir accompanied by a pianist, drummer and electric bassist, being led by a conductor. A banner behind the singers reads "The University of Idaho".
Students and their directors travel around the continent each year to Moscow, ID, to be adjudicated by clinicians, with a chance to see internationally renowned jazz artists (undated).
Three vertically conjoined performance photos of a choir accompanied by a pianist, drummer and electric bassist, being led by a conductor. A banner behind the singers reads "The University of Idaho".
These groups perform and are adjudicated at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. Students and their directors travel around the continent to come to Moscow, ID, each year to be adjudicated by clinicians, with a chance to see internationally renowned jazz artists (1992).

Tradition and Legacy

A person holding mallets in front of a vibraphone with musicians behind him and rows of singers in the background.
The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival’s exemplary educational jazz festival comes from our voices as the first instrument collaborating with the many instrumental ensembles and artists today.

About

Gus Labayen is the 2026 Berry Fellow, highlighting vocal ensemble groups that have historically participated in the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. He has a degree in piano and organ and is pursuing his graduate studies in Choral Conducting to teach secondary music education. His teachers and mentors, past and present, are Dr. Evan Stoor, Professors Kate Skinner, Navin Chettri, Dan Bukvich, and Dr. David Klement, as well as Dr. Gary Weidenaar, Dr. John Pickett, and Peggy Gries from Central Washington University.