DATES - July 13-20 2025
VENUE - Académie La Roche d'Hys
LEADERS - Jennifer Scott, Rene Worst, Dawn Pemberton, Michael Creber and Jeannette Aster
COST - $2500 CAD + $125 Registration Fee + GST
**REGISTRATION WILL OPEN SAT SEPT 28th 2024 at 11:00 am PST
The Registration Links will start working on that day!
France Vocal Performance Immersion Program
Join us for an exciting one week vocal intensive in Burgundy, France! A chance to nurture and hone your personal vocal performance skills! You will work with renowned vocal/physical coach Jeannette Aster (and our amazing host!), as she teaches and facilitates her trademark bodywork for singers. You will also study with internationally acclaimed Vocal and Performance Coaches Dawn Pemberton and Jennifer Scott will work vocal technique with you in a daily technique workshop and lead master classes helping you with your vocal performance dynamic and artistry. Along with Dawn & Jennifer on piano, you will get exclusive access to amazing pianist Michael Creber and bass legend, Rene Worst.
You can curate your program throughout the week with additional workshops of interest: Art of the Duo ( bass or piano), improvisation and more!
There will be two intimate evening showcases during the week in this beautiful retreat center! The week will wrap up with a final performance on Saturday in La Roche d’Hys state of the art performance space/gallery - open to the public!
For those interested, we will offer side trips to a local chateau, a beautiful medieval town and into the Côte d’Or for a Burgundian lunch plus an exciting trip to a vineyard winery! Howard Aster is our chef; delicious food and wine are provided in this idyllic setting! This is the land of slow, delicious eating in the garden with a view that you will never get tired of.
The beautiful Academie Roche D'Hys is situated in the heart of the Auxois region of Burgundy, France about 50 km north east of DIJON. L’Académie de la Roche d’Hys "was founded in 2002 and has been developed by Canadians Jeannette and Howard Aster as an international centre for the exploration and development of artistic and cultural projects which stimulate creative thinking and offer a forum for the exchange of ideas."
"Nestled between a dramatic rock escarpment and a magnificent valley of rolling hills and pastures, surrounded only by forests and the occasional wild- life, La Roche D’Hys~Domaine des Arts is an ideal place to leave the rest of the world behind and concentrate fully on the work at hand."WHAT'S INCLUDED
Cost will include full tuition, accommodations, transportation while at Roche d'Hys and all meals! Registration will open on Sept 15th 2022. There are some limited single rooms available for an extra cost of $325.
**There will be an opportunity for 8 participants to travel on to the Cinque Terre in Italy with Jennifer & Rene for intensive study in qigong/vocal technique, performance & gig preparation and writing/repertoire PLUS exploring/inspiration, wine tasting and food pairing!
INSTRUCTORS
JENNIFER SCOTT
Considered the finest Jazz Vocal Improviser in Canada by her peers, her fans and by the musicians who work with her, Jennifer Scott is an important Jazz Voice. She has sung with such Jazz Greats as: Gene Bertoncini, Clark Terry, Tommy Banks, Paul Horn and Kenny Wheeler to name a few. She has been nominated for Juno and Jessie Awards with ‘Mythos’ and theatre production ‘War of the Worlds’.
Jennifer Scott has performed to sold out crowds from San Diego to Vancouver to Whitehorse on the West Coast of Canada and has begun a major foray onto the world stage including performances in France, Amsterdam, Genoa and Rome. Recent lauded performances have included Main Stage shows at the 2009 Vancouver Island Music Fest sharing the stage with artists as diverse as Jane Bunnett and Jerry Douglas. She received a lengthy standing ovation reception for her duo set with bassist Rene Worst at the same festival. Jennifer was also featured with Jon Batiste at Stanford University performing at the Miles Davis tribute concert for their Concert series in tandem with The Jazz Museum in Harlem.
More recent studio works have seen her align her vocal talents with the piano brilliance of Miles Black in the CD release Storybook and with American drummer Jud Sherwood for the Jazz Project release “Where or When”.
Her most recent release is “Music for Bigs and Smalls” May 2022.
Scott’s newer releases are “Sonho Meu” recorded with her outstanding sextet – Brasileira featuring Bill Coon & Cory Weeds. Jennifer Scott also has recorded Duets and Pairings, intimate, virtuosic recordings with Canadian bass legend Rene Worst. Both CDs have made the Canadian (and American) jazz charts and have been lauded by anyone who has reviewed them.
Recent performances include Monterey Jazz Festival, performances with Jon Batiste (Stephen Colbert) in NYC and San Francisco and festival dates in Redwood City, California and Sacramento, California – as well as many concerts in Oregon, Washington State, Alberta and British Columbia. Jennifer Scott was also featured soloist with Turning Point Ensemble in Vancouver performing the orchestral works of Duke Ellington & Stravinsky. She has also been featured as guest soloist with the Good Noise Gospel Choir. Her most recent performances have been with the award-winning ensemble Novo Tempo, Their new CD, “Where or When” having just been released.
She has just completed a tour of the Western States and Canada and was named “Pick of the week” by the L.A. Times where she was quoted as having: “...a velvet tone & superb phrasing....” From a recent review by noted Jazz journalist Andy Gilbert (Jazz Times): Scott has set herself apart from the jazz-vocalist pack with her mesmerizing renditions of the most unlikely tunes ... With her warm, flexible contralto, Scott brings a striking emotional intelligence to everything she sings, no matter what the context. As much a song stylist as an improviser, she puts her stamp on material through her supple sense of swing and deft, slippery phrasing. Jennifer Scott is an in demand performer, clinician and teacher of workshops throughout the USA and Canada.
Website: www.therealjenniferscott.com
DAWN PEMBERTON
Vibrant, genuine and soulful, Dawn has deep musical roots that take her powerful voice from gospel and soul to jazz, funk and world music. Dawn has her B.Mus in Jazz Studies from Capilano University and is a certified teacher in Somatic Voicework™ The LoVetri Method. She has become a staple of the Vancouver music scene and can often be found tearin’ it up as a vocalist, pianist, teacher, adjudicator, choir director and “go to girl” for live performances and studio sessions. She currently is on faculty in the Musical Theatre Department at Capilano University and hosts her own funk, soul, and r&b show called, “Get on The Good Foot” and a weekly Top 30 show called “On The Rise” on CKUA Radio. She has also spent her time touring with her own original music project as well as, Moira Smiley + VOCO, Vox.Infold, The Bluesberries, and Canadian blues juggernaut,The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer. Dawn has toured extensively throughout Canada and Europe and has performed with musical greats such as Bettye LaVette, John Boutte, Kenny Werner, Kurt Elling, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Randy Bachman, Ruthie Foster, The Hamiltones, The Sojourners, Linda Tillery and has opened for musical heavyweights such as Maceo Parker, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, The Philosopher Kings and Lee Fields. Dawn is the founder and Artistic Director of Roots ‘N’ Wings Women’s Choir and teaches masterclasses and workshops all over North America. Her latest theatre projects include the Arts Club’s Jesse Nominated ‘Da Kink in My Hair (Nia), Kinky Boots (Vocal Coach), Beneath Springhill (Vocal Coach), Beautiful: The Carole King Story (Shirelle/Ensemble), Choir Boy (Music Director) with the Arts Club and Canadian Stage and Parade (Vocal Coach) with Raincity Theatre Company. Dawn’s debut solo album, Say Somethin’, released on DoRight! Music won Best Urban Recording at the 2015 Western Canadian Music Awards and has received praise from around the globe forecasting her as “…the new queen of Canadian soul.”
A passionate educator and performer, Dawn approaches music with a sense of adventure, quirkiness, and serious groove and shapes it into her own unique and dynamic package. Tight, expressive and bold, Dawn will hit you where it counts, funk you up and make you say “Go ‘head!”
MICHAEL CREBER
Michael is one of Canada's most sought-after musicians, both onstage and in the recording studio. He is a Grammy-nominated producer and has vast experience as a keyboardist in pop, r&b, jazz and choral music. He has performed and recorded with kd lang, Raffi, David Foster, Andrea Bocelli, Joan Rivers, Patti Labelle, and The Irish Rovers among many others. Performance highlights include Saturday Night Live, the Grammy Awards, Austin City Limits and six appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
Michael is especially fond of accompanying and coaching singers, and is the regular accompanist with Vancouver’s City Soul Choir and the Cypress Singers.
RENE WORST
Having worked with a diverse group of musicians such as Chet Baker, David Bowie, Freddie Hubbard and Aerosmith, Rene Worst is a virtuoso on both electric and acoustic basses.
As a producer and session artist, he has worked with Juno award nominated Skywalk (a band he co-founded), Mythos and jazz singer JenniferScott.
Rene is an in demand workshop facilitator, teaching worldwide.
JEANNETTE ASTER , Opera Stage Director and Artistic Director of l’Academie de la Roche D’Hys ,was born in Linz Austria and brought up in Montreal Canada. Initially trained as a dancer, she went on to study Music at McGill University and Opera production at the London Opera Centre in England.
After 45 years of experience working in opera houses and arts institutions literally all over the world as stage director, artistic director, producer and docent, Jeannette had a dream to develop a creative oasis where artists from all disciplines could come and work, if only for a short time, in a peaceful, inspirational environment, away from the constraints and routine of daily life. The dream of every creative artist.
TESTIMONIALS
“My La Roche d’Hys experience - I will never forget the week I spent at La Roche D’Hys as a part of SongRoots with Karla Mundy and the amazing people she works with. Jennifer Scott and Rene Worst are always superb at whatever they do! It was a treat for me to also do some work with Karla Mundy and Sophie Michaux. Mornings were spent workshopping and developing songs we brought to dig into in master class, alternating between Jennifer/Rene and Karla/Sophie. Being a part of these sessions taught so much, not only when I was singing but also listening and watching others being taught by these professionals with such patience and kindness and generosity with their talents. Afternoons were devoted to group singing, repertoire and sightseeing (including a visit to a chateau and to a vineyard and winery). Evenings were so special; tables were set up outside where we dined, chatted, and experienced the awesome sunset over the valley. I can’t find words to express the beauty of La Roche D’Hys, the peacefulness and serenity that gave me great energy for the creative experience we were offered. Our days of study culminated with a concert attended by locals who were excited to hear us and ever so complimentary and sweet. Jeannette and Howard Astor are warm and welcoming hosts, providing beautiful and delicious meals, wonderful stories and answers to any and all questions about the area. I recommend this experience to anyone who is fortunate enough to be able to do it. It was worth whatever it took to make it happen for myself!!!”
Judy Johnston
Singer, participant in 2023
“We loved our week in France with Jennifer Scott, Rene Worst, Karla Mindy, and Sophie Michaux! Spending quality time making vocal music with these wonderful musicians on a beautiful farm in the rolling hills of Burgandy, was a bucket list experience.”
John Lyon
“My experience during a week-long vocal workshop at l'Academie Roche d'Hys in June 2023 was nothing short of outstanding. Our instructors were Sophie Michaux, Jennifer Scott, Rene Worst, Jeannette Aster and Karla Mundy, offering a beautiful and bountiful range of expertise and guidance through the week in vocal technique, body and voice warmups, and song interpretation, which was topped off with the opportunity to perform for residents of the surrounding area and receive a professional recording of the concert we gave.
The workshop was a wonderful chance to spend all day in a magical location, focussing on singing and developing our own technique and presentation of music that we love. The instructors and all the students were incredibly supportive no matter what level you were at, or what genre you were focussing on. I took home valuable and practical tips and ideas about ways to develop my singing after the workshop was over. And I made some good friends.
In addition, the venue was so special, a gorgeous farm in the French countryside that has been converted into an arts centre with all the amenities you might need, but also with a quiet and calm atmosphere that allows you to focus on what you’re learning.
And then there was the food! Simply delicious local French ingredients and recipes… and very plentiful. We never went hungry and there were lots of options. I can’t stop without mentioning the wine. We met every evening for exquisitely-curated wine selections and other refreshments before dinner, overlooking the most spectacular views of rolling hills and sunset. Honestly, it was dreamy.
The other fabulous benefit was several unique side-trips that the Academy took us on… a way to experience some of the nearby villages and farms, places you might otherwise not think to visit.
I love traveling this way… to learn through instruction and experience…. and SongRoutes does it up in such a superlative way. I also highly recommend spending time in Paris or other areas of France before and/or after the workshops. Why not make the most of it?
Thanks to SongRoutes and all the instructors for offering such amazing opportunities.”
Elaine Schiman