Meet the members of

 

6 Miles Ahead

                          

                           Utah’s premiere vocal jazz ensemble

The members of 6 Miles Ahead:

Kristie Arnold- Director/singer-

 

BA Music Brigham Young University

Current director of Lone Peak High School Jazz/Show Choir

Director of BYU Jazz Choir, Syncopation, including performances at various 2002 Winter Olympics venues and at Gene Harris Jazz Festival 2nd place finish College Jazz Choir Division;

Featured vocalist with Synthesis on Queen Elizabeth II Cruise Line and tour of England;

Featured vocalist with BYUI Swing Set tour of Italy;

Featured vocalist and clinician in Young Musicians Festival with Great Basin Street Dixieland Band Evanston Wyoming;

Performed with jazz greats Alvino Rey, Kitty Margolis, Dennis Rowland, and Dee Daniels among many others

 

Allen Matthews-singer/arranger-

 

ED.S. Higher Education Leadership; MA Educational Leadership and Policy Studies; BM in Education University of Northern Colorado;

Current teacher in the Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Teaching Assistant Jazz Studies Dept. UNC

Directed Vocal Jazz I Choir at UNC

Performed with Northern Colorado Voices

Assistant Director of 34th Annual UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival

Assistand Director of The Rocky Mountain Vocal Jazz Camp

Co-Governor Colorado All State Jazz Choir

Performed with/headlined for Kurt Elling, Frank Mantooth, Beachfront Property, among many others

 

Lisa Whatcott-singer/flautist-

 

MM Flute Performance Brigham Young University

Current private flute studio

Former president of the Utah Flute Association

Former tour president of BYU Philharmonic Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra

Directed BYU Flute Choir Silver Breeze;

Soloist with Syncopation on BYU “Jazz Banquet” recording.

Soloist with Checkmate and En Sync.

Performed with renowned flautists Julius Baker, Michelle Debost, Lori Bell, and numerous others

 

Daniel Blomberg- Singer/arranger

 

Junior at Brigham Young University studying Music and Family History

Current freelance songwriter, arranger, and keyboardist

Former Director of BYU Scandinavian Choir

Vocalist in and president of BYU’s Concert Choir

Teacher in BYU Language Department

Teaching Assistant at BYU Knight Mangum Building Recording Studio

Won National Swedish music competition for youth

Translated two Jenny Phillips albums in Swedish and Danish for her 2005 European tour.

Fluent in 8 languages

Performed with Kenneth Cope, Kelly Eisenhour, James Stevens, Angela Winston, Clint Poulson and others

 

Deanna Jones- singer-

 

BS History Teaching Brigham Young University

Substitute teacher at Provo High School

Swimming Coach Provo High School

Coach of Boys Regional High School 4A Swim Champions

Water Polo Coach Orem Recreation Center

Vocalist on LDS Church “Especially for Youth” 2004 and 2005 recording.

Vocalist on Jenny Phillips and Tyler Castleton “Journey Toward Zion” recording.

Performed with BYU Syncopation,  Jenny Phillips Fireside Group, Shine a capella Fireside Group.

 Vocalist in Mt. Pleasant High School Jazz Choir awarded Downbeat Magazine High School Jazz Choir of the Year 1995 and 1996.

 

Adam Hopson- singer-

 

Junior at Brigham Young University studying business finance;

Awarded Heritage Academic scholarship Brigham Young University;

Received Boeing Employees Credit Union Scholarship for Community Service for work done with YWCA Shelter for Battered Women;

Vocalist in BYU Men’s Chorus, 2000-2001. Vocalist in BYU Syncopation;

Vocalist with Runner-up 4A Kamiak High School Jazz Choir Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival;

Washington All State High School Jazz Choir; All Northwest High School Jazz Choir; All State High School Classical Choir;

Salutatorian Kamiak Washington High School;

Eagle Scout.

6 Miles Ahead:

Molded in the tradition of other great vocal groups such as the Manhattan Transfer and the New York Voices, 6 Miles Ahead has garnered respect and excitement among Utah's jazz community. The jazz choir is comprised of the best vocal talent along the Wasatch Front. The group was formed in 2002 by founding member Kristie Arnold, former director of BYU's premier jazz choir.

 

Within a year of its creation, the jazz choir was recognized with a first place finish at the 2003 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho. Following its finish at Moscow, the groupwas invited to appear at the 2003 Western Regional International Association for Jazz Educators Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Other performances have followed since including the Crescent Jazz Festival, the Utah Arts Festival, the Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival and the Park City International Jazz Festival