Passion to Profession

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Ready to take your passion for jazz from hobby to career? Join award-winning jazz vocalist Angela Verbrugge for an inspiring and practical session on building a successful music career from the ground up. In this class, Angela shares the real-world tools, strategies, and mindset shifts that helped her turn a musical passion into a full-time, touring profession post-pandemic. You'll get a bird’s-eye view of what it takes to launch and grow your jazz career—including the essential assets you need in place, like what to work toward preparing: • ways to consciously build your bio • assets presenters look for • how to find venues and contacts • how to find musicians to work with in other regions (book a gig while you’re in a town for your cousin’s wedding?) • what to have ready musically for when you get your chance • budgeting and investing in your achieving your dreams • getting your first press quotes • promoting your performances  Whether you're just getting started or looking to level up, this class will equip you with clear next steps and a big dose of encouragement from someone who’s made it happen. The Victoria, BC-based jazz vocalist Angela Verbrugge first caught listeners’ ears with her 2019 debut album, The Night We Couldn't Say Good Night, recorded in New York City. She also won the 2020 JazzTimes Readers’ Poll in the female jazz vocalist category. The magazine’s review of her album describes that Angela, who takes inspiration from vintage musicals, the swing era, blues, and bebop, has “conspicuously good taste." In 2024, Verbrugge was nominated for Jazz Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards (all style and instruments). She has been played on CBC, and was at the top of the National Earshot jazz charts for multiple weeks. Her song-writing collaborations have been featured in notable international publications. Verbrugge made the top 30 recordings of the year list by DownBeat/LA Jazz Journal writer Scott Yanow for both albums. JazzWeekly describes the former actress as “fun and quirky, hip and a hoot, wispy and romantic; she slithers and oozes, and cleverly swings.”