About Us

In 1995 Fionna Duncan attended the Stanford Jazz Vocal Workshop Program in California run by jazz Singer/Educator Professor Madeline Eastman. Her trip was funded in part by the Scottish Arts Council. On her return to Scotland, Fionna began to put the wheels in motion to run a similar pilot workshop for singers with the assistance of Madeline Eastman. The first workshop, part funded by the Scottish Arts Council, Glasgow District Council and the Glasgow International Jazz Festival, was held during The 1996 Glasgow International Jazz Festival and proved to be very successful.

. . . is responsible for creating the structure and format of The Fionna Duncan Vocal Jazz Workshops. She acts as public relations person to her workshops and has a vast network of contacts to call upon. There would be no Fionna Duncan Vocal Jazz Workshops today had it not been for her determination, energy, enthusiasm, experience and reputation in the music business.

. . . is the inspiration for the Fionna Duncan Vocal Jazz workshops. After Fionna Duncan attended Madeline's course at Stanford University, USA, she was inspired to do the same in Scotland. Madeline taught on the first workshops and helped Fionna structure the course. She has returned every year since 1996 to teach on our 5-day pilot course in Glasgow. Madeline has the reputation of being a leading jazz educator as well as a top jazz vocalist in the USA and her knowledge is crucial to the development of the workshops in Scotland.
Visit Madeline's website at http://www.madelineeastman.com

. . . attended our workshops in 1996 and has become one of our tutors. Her reputation in the music business for her jazz performances and in the last few years with her own compositions on the contemporary music scene is immense. Sophie teaches privately and has held her own workshops. Sophie is also responsible for structuring the workshops with Fionna Duncan and Madeline Eastman. Visit her website at www.sophiebancroft.co.uk

. . . runs her own arts administration company, Alba Arts and handles all our administration. Her qualifications include over 15 years sales administration experience. Her knowledge and experience in sales and marketing is of great value to the Fionna Duncan Vocal Jazz Workshops and she was responsible for our successful application to the Scottish Arts Council Lottery fund in 1999.

Cathie is a well known professional jazz singer and attended the first two Fionna Duncan Vocal Jazz Workshop pilot projects during the Glasgow International Jazz Festivals in 1996 and 1997. She has in depth knowledge of jazz musicians, as her family are all involved in the music.

Cathie is a good advert for the workshops. When she did the first workshop she was an amateur singer. She is now a professional and performs regularly at both Edinburgh and Glasgow Jazz Festivals with her own jazz group.

For more information visit www.jazzbase-scotland.co.uk and email: info@jazzbase-scotland.co.uk.

Gina is a relative newcomer to the workshops. She has been singing professionally for 10 years, notably with Sophie Bancroft, The Lanterns jazz funk band Swirler and more recently with her 2 sisters "The Rae Sisters" and on her own projects. Gina has taught for several years in the Czech Republic on their vocal jazz summer school. She is also the choir leader for the Fionna Duncan amateur Vocal jazz choir - the first of it's kind in Scotland.

Gina attended Madeline Eastman's Jazz Camp West in the summer of 2001. Gina will be teaching song form, rhythm, mic technique, improvisation techniques and vocal harmony on our workshops throughout the year.

To contact Gina email: ginarae@onetel.net.uk Website: www.jazzbase-scotland.co.uk

Fionna Duncan Vocal Jazz Workshops will provide a safe, supportive, relaxed, fun environment for all students wishing to experience jazz vocal techniques through the teachings of professional jazz vocalists and musicians. We will take the workshops to all areas in Scotland specifically communities disadvantaged by economical, geographical, social, cultural or physical reasons.

We will provide high quality professional training for vocalists wishing to further their professional career which is not available at present and we will develop long term education projects to offer ongoing association with students.