Biography

Jazz VoiceChilders Hall, Room 3028(202) 806-7098jlboykin-settles@howard.edu Jessica Boykin-Settles attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Washington, DC under the tutelage of saxophonist and jazz educator, Davey Y. Yarborough. She earned a BFA in Jazz Performance at New School University in NYC where she studied with musicians and jazz legends such as Reggie Workman, Junior Mance, Arnie Lawrence, Buster Williams, Sheila Jordan and Teri Thornton.Jessica continued her education at Howard University where she earned a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies. While there, she was a member of the premier vocal jazz ensemble Afro Blue, under the direction of Connaitre Miller. She is currently serving as Assistant Professor of Jazz Voice where she teaches voice lessons, jazz vocal improvisation, vocal arranging, jazz theory and directs the female vocal ensemble, SAASY. She also conducts workshops on jazz singing, gives lectures and multi-media presentations on topics in jazz history, and performs at various venues in the Washington, DC area. Jessica has also served on the faculty of the Blues Alley Jazz Summer Camp, has appeared as a guest artist/instructor at George Washington University, University of Pittsburgh and Tri-C in Cleveland, OH and is a regular presenter at the Washington Women In Jazz Festival held annually in Washington, DC.