LAURIE CAPPELLO

Laurie Cappello has been the Director of Vocal Music at Cascade High School in Everett, Washington for the past 9 years.  Laurie has taught vocal and instrumental music at all levels, including 11 years at Evergreen Middle School in Everett, WA.  Her vocal jazz choirs at Evergreen performed at Washington Music Educators Association Conferences as well as Northwest and Western Division ACDA Conferences, and opened for the "Four Freshmen" in the spring of 1998.  Evergreen’s vocal jazz ensemble has been honored three times by downBeat Magazine as their 2000 "Outstanding Junior High Vocal Soloist" and the 2001, 2002, and 2003 "Outstanding Junior High Vocal Group".  In her first year at Cascade High School she brought honors to her student, herself and to her program by winning the 2003 downbeat award as their “Outstanding Senior High Vocal Soloist.” Her concert and jazz groups at Cascade have continued to be finalists in festivals throughout the Northwest. Annually soloists and vocal ensembles from Cascade are represented at the state solo/ensemble contest. Currently, Laurie is completing her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington under Dr. Geoffrey Boers. 

She has presented numerous sessions on classroom management and teaching music and developing vocal jazz at the junior high/middle school level at various colleges, state, division and two National ACDA Music Conferences. Laurie is in demand as a clinician/adjudicator at choral and vocal jazz festivals throughout the Pacific Northwest, California, and Canada. She has served as the All-State Treble Choir manager for Washington State Music Educator’s state conferences in 2009, 2011and again in 2012.  She has served as the ACDA Repertoire and Standards Chair in the Pacific Northwest for Middle School/Junior High and was the assistant for the National Junior High Honor Choir in Los Angeles in 2005.  In 2013 Laurie will be the manager to the National ACDA Treble Choir in Dallas. In 2003, Laurie was the guest conductor for the Alaska All-State Women’s Choir.

Ms. Cappello has held offices in her district and regional WMEA organizations. In 2010 Laurie was selected by the Mount Pilchuck Music Educators Association as their 2010 Outstanding Music Educator. Laurie is currently President for the MPMEA.

Laurie has vocal arrangements published through Sound Music Publications.  www.smpjazz.com