DANIELLE WERTZ, A BEAUTIFUL DEDICATION TO SOUND
Danielle is a vocalist from Falls Church, Virginia. She is currently majoring in Jazz Vocal Performance at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, and is studying under the direction of Dr. Kate Reid.
At 13 years old Danielle became the vocalist for the Annandale Jazz Ambassadors under the direction of Jeff Cummins. Continuing with the program throughout high school presented her with the opportunity to perform in various countries including Turkey, Japan, Russia and Mexico. She later became the vocalist for the Blues Alley Youth Orchestra under the direction of Michael Bowie.
Danielle is a graduate of McLean High School and was the vocalist for their jazz ensemble. At the 2012 WorldStrides Heritage Festival in Boston, Danielle received a Maestro Award for outstanding individual performance. She was also the first vocalist to receive the ensemble's Louis Armstrong Award for "outstanding musical achievement and incredible dedication."
Additionally, Danielle was named the first winner of the Washington Women in Jazz Festival (WWJF) Young Artist Contest in 2012 and was the featured vocalist with Shannon Gunn and the Bullettes at the 2013 WWJF. In June of 2014, she was invited to a live audition for the vocalist position with the U.S. Navy Commodores. In 2015 she received a DownBeat Student Music Award in the category of Outstanding Performance: Undergraduate Vocal Jazz Soloist. In October of 2015 Danielle was named one of eleven semi-finalists in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition.
Danielle has performed in many established venues such as Blues Alley, Jammin’ Java, HR-57, The Carlyle Club, Bethesda Blues and Jazz, Twins Jazz, and the St. Petersburg Jazz Philharmonic Hall. She has also had the privilege of working and performing with many renowned musicians including Cyrille Aimée, Gretchen Parlato, Chris Botti, Bruce Hornsby, Martin Bejerano, Claire Daly, Lena Seikaly, Mark Meadows, Billy Williams, Chris Grasso, Scott Weinhold, Champian Fulton, Dave Stryker, and Claudio Roditi.
At 13 years old Danielle became the vocalist for the Annandale Jazz Ambassadors under the direction of Jeff Cummins. Continuing with the program throughout high school presented her with the opportunity to perform in various countries including Turkey, Japan, Russia and Mexico. She later became the vocalist for the Blues Alley Youth Orchestra under the direction of Michael Bowie.
Danielle is a graduate of McLean High School and was the vocalist for their jazz ensemble. At the 2012 WorldStrides Heritage Festival in Boston, Danielle received a Maestro Award for outstanding individual performance. She was also the first vocalist to receive the ensemble's Louis Armstrong Award for "outstanding musical achievement and incredible dedication."
Additionally, Danielle was named the first winner of the Washington Women in Jazz Festival (WWJF) Young Artist Contest in 2012 and was the featured vocalist with Shannon Gunn and the Bullettes at the 2013 WWJF. In June of 2014, she was invited to a live audition for the vocalist position with the U.S. Navy Commodores. In 2015 she received a DownBeat Student Music Award in the category of Outstanding Performance: Undergraduate Vocal Jazz Soloist. In October of 2015 Danielle was named one of eleven semi-finalists in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition.
Danielle has performed in many established venues such as Blues Alley, Jammin’ Java, HR-57, The Carlyle Club, Bethesda Blues and Jazz, Twins Jazz, and the St. Petersburg Jazz Philharmonic Hall. She has also had the privilege of working and performing with many renowned musicians including Cyrille Aimée, Gretchen Parlato, Chris Botti, Bruce Hornsby, Martin Bejerano, Claire Daly, Lena Seikaly, Mark Meadows, Billy Williams, Chris Grasso, Scott Weinhold, Champian Fulton, Dave Stryker, and Claudio Roditi.
