The Valley Christian Jazz department is a creative culture developing students through dynamic performance opportunities, curriculum activities, and a comprehensive improvisational program. The jazz department exposes students to an outstanding library of graded literature serving both sight-reading and repertoire criterion. Coaching and clinics from the finest jazz and commercial music professionals on the west coast provides practical hands on application of learned performance skills. Students absorb historical and cultural information through study and concentrated listening.
The bands of the Jazz department have won top honors at the Reno Jazz Festival, Folsom Jazz Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival, Campana Jazz Festival, Mount San Antonio College Jazz Festival, and Central California Jazz Festival. Bands have also been selected as National finalists for both the Monterey Jazz Festival and University of Southern California jazz festivals. Students from the Jazz department have received numerous awards and scholarships including outstanding musicianship and scholarship awards from the Monterey Jazz Festival, Reno Jazz Festival, USC jazz festival, Downbeat magazine and the Grammy Foundation. Jazz department students have matriculated to the Manhattan School of Music, The New School of New York, Cal Arts, Azusa Pacific, and Cal State Northridge among other schools.
Staff
Dave Gregoric
Jazz Department Director
(408) 513-2468
dgregoric@valleychristian.net
The Director of Jazz and Commercial Studies is Dave Gregoric and has served at Valley Christian Schools for 12 years. Mr. Gregoric studied at Cal State Long Beach, the L.A. jazz workshop and graduated from William Jessup University with a B.S in Theology. He holds another B.A. in Christian Leadership with a minor in Jazz Performance.
Mr. “G” has recorded with Pete Escovedo, Andy Narrel, Buddy, Montgomery, Cab Calloway, Della Reese, Smith Dobson, Ray Brown, Dave Eshelman, Zasu Pitts Memorial Orchestra and has performed with The Temptations, Big Lou and the Polka Princess, Jimmy Heath, Confunktion, Bobby Watson, Cyndi Lauper, Gerri Allen, Sheila E., Guy Lomardo, Michael W. Smith, Louis Bellson, Steve Turre, Twyla Paris, Frankie Valle, The Drifters, Sapo, Disneyland, Great America, Vic Demone, Jamie Davis, Jamie Davis, Ron Konali, Martha and the Vandelas, Dick Bright’s SRO, Little Anthony, Princess-Royal Norwegian-Western cruise lines, Circus Vargas, and the Bentley Brothers Circus.
He has also taught at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, Monterey Jazz Festival Summer Camp, Jazz Camp West, Graded Jazz festival (Brazil), Lafayette Summer Music Jazz Workshop, Donner Mine Jazz camp, Osaka Jazz festival (Japan), San Jose Jazz Society and adjudicated at the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival, CMEA (Central Coast and Bay section) Jazz Festivals, Folsom Jazz Festival, and ACSI Music Festival. Cuesta College Jazz Festival, Cal State Hayward Jazz Festival and is currently a member of MENC, CMEA and IAJE.
Jazz Club
The Valley Christian Jazz Club is a group committed to supporting the jazz department by enlisting the charitable contributions and cooperation of parents and supporters. All families of jazz students are welcome. There are many ways to support the jazz department at Valley Christian. For more information, contact Margie Pritchett by emailing margie[at]pritchettsolutions.com.