Zakk Jones is an Ohio based guitarist, bandleader, composer and educator. He holds an M.M. in Jazz Studies from Bowling Green State University, and a B.M. in Jazz Studies from Capital University. Currently he is Assistant Professor and Area Head of Jazz Studies in the Conservatory of Music at Capital University. In this role, he leads one of the nation’s oldest collegiate jazz programs, directs the big band, and teaches core-curriculum classes like improvisation and theory. In addition, he is a Lecturer in Applied Guitar at Truman State University. Since his emergence in the Midwest scene he has played and toured all over the country and world at such venues as the Amsterdam Blue Note, Bar Next Door (NYC), Bop Stop (CLE), Cliff Bell’s (Detroit), the Troubadour (LA), Bluebird Theatre (Denver), the Newport (Columbus) and many more. He can be seen frequently with Doc Robinson, the Tony Monaco Trio, Andy Woodson’s PawPaw Orchestra, Third Shore Collective, and the Zakk Jones Trio. In addition, he has played with The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Maria Schneider, The Coasters, The Midtown Men, Lou Marini Jr, Ryan Keberle, John Fedchock, Jaleel Shaw, Dwight Adams, Jaak Sooäär, Olivia van Goor and Bobby Floyd. In mid-2019 he released his debut trio record “Mise-en-scène”, produced and mixed by Grammy-winning professionals Jeff Ciampa and Rob Griffin, known for their long standing work with Wayne Shorter. His latest release is the EP "In My Life", released in late 2022.
As an educator, Zakk has previously been on faculty at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University, Bowling Green State University, and hosts online masterclasses for students from around the world. Outside of his busy gigging and teaching schedule, Zakk is an avid composer/arranger, writes educational articles for JazzGuitarToday.com and hosts the podcast "Beyond The Frets".
Zakk proudly endorses Eastman Guitars and Kopp String Instruments.
Our guitar studio is open to anyone on campus, and we celebrate musical diversity by exploring all genres and styles with our students and ensembles.
Students auditioning for the guitar studio as a B.M. major will need to prepare for the following items:
Two pieces in any style At least 1 (One) must be unaccompanied E.g., playing a solo guitar arrangement of a jazz standard, classical piece, rock/pop/indie playthrough of a song's guitar parts. The other can be played using a backing track or other form of accompaniment E.g., playing melody and improvising over a jazz standard, funk song, blues progression. Note: Demonstrating Improvisation in your performances is not required, but strongly encouraged if you have experience in that area.
Major Scales Be prepared to play one or two octave major scales with two different fingerings in at least 2 (two) keys of your choosing. Faculty may request additional keys or fingerings if appropriate.
Chord Recognition Be prepared to demonstrate your knowledge of chords and voicings. Familiarity with all open chord shapes and basic barre positions is expected. You may demonstrate knowledge of 7th chords, shell voicings, or more advanced options if appropriate.
Sight Reading During the audition you will sight-read melodies and rhythms on the guitar. These melodies will range in difficulty, but you can expect to find them playable in the open position notes in keys like C, G, and F.
Brief Interview We want to get to know you! We will ask questions like: Why are you interested in pursuing music at the collegiate level? What are your own short and long term goals with guitar? What ensemble and performance experience do you have? Above all, we want to see your artistry, passion, and get an idea of your aptitude for success. Your current knowledge and demonstration of theory, sight-reading, and technique are of course essential, but the most important aspect of the audition is your performance of two pieces.
Faculty Information Coming Soon!
Julie Licata, percussionist / drummer / noisemaker / collaborator / educator, is most passionate about performing chamber music, free improvisation, and integrating acoustic percussion with audio processing. She also regularly presents solo recitals and performs in orchestras, theater pits, and bands of many genres.
Julie has been performing with flautist Ana Laura González as part of Windstruck Duo since 2018. Together they aim to stretch their instruments’ idiomatic worlds and promote a diverse range of composers. The duo has recently presented at the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, the College Music Society Southern Regional Conference, and the 10th Annual Flute Festival of Junín, Argentina. They released their first album of flute and percussion music, Reciprocity, in Fall 2022. She also recently released an album, resound/unsound, with co-creators Andris Balins and Brett Masteller, that features percussive improvisations with time lag accumulation, feedback looping, and modular synthesis. In the realm of improvisatory and electronic music, Julie has performed at the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the US, the International Computer Music Conference, CHIMEFest in Chicago, IL, and numerous new music venues across the US.
As an educator, Julie strives to cultivate musicians’ creative voices and personal agency through improvisation, self-assessment, and peer feedback. She engages with musicians in a holistic way, weaving in philosophical and emotional discussions about music, and integrating physical elements such as meditation, strength training, and yoga as ways to help musicians foster deeper connections with the self.
Julie is an active participant in the Percussive Arts Society, having served as new literature reviewer for the Percussive Notes journal and as a member of the PAS University Pedagogy Committee and Diversity Alliance. Julie is also a member of the Black Swamp Percussion Educator Network and is the Secretary/Treasurer and recent Interim President of the PAS New York Chapter.
All students will be asked to perform major and chromatic scales (preferably two octaves) and one or more compositions of their choice that demonstrates both their technical and lyrical ability.
Students wishing to major in Jazz Studies should, in addition to the above materials, present a jazz selection with backing track (such as medium swing, ballad, straight-eighth, be-bop, etc.) with improvisation.
All candidates will be given sight-reading and complete a brief personal interview at the audition.
Prior to her position at Capital University, Dr. Bergan taught at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. She has given masterclasses at the University of West Florida, and the Cleveland Institute of Music. Dr. Bergan’s singers have gone on to perform on Broadway, star in films, record CD’s, and partake in international summer festivals.
Dr. Bergan is fortunate to have been raised in Norway and France. Her native languages are French, Norwegian, and English. She has acquired fluency in Italian and facility in German through intensive language study and immersion programs. Her love of languages allows her to promote underrepresented and diverse cultures through thoughtful repertoire selection.
As a soloist, Ms. Bergan made her debut with the Cleveland Orchestra in their centennial season- opening production of The Cunning Little Vixen. Ms. Bergan's international credits include Suor Genovieffa (Suor Angelica) in Arezzo, Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), and Miss Jessel (The Turn of the Screw) for the Music Academy International festival in Mezzano and Siena. She performed for the CIM Opera Theater as Amelia (Amelia al ballo), Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Morgana (Alcina), Belinda (Dido and Aeneas), and Pamina (Die Zauberflöte). Ms. Bergan sang Drusilla (L’Incoronazione di Poppea) with the Young Artist program at Pensacola Opera, Florida. She performed the role of Countess (Le nozze di Figaro) with The Ohio State University Lyric Opera Theatre. Ms. Bergan has sung in masterclasses for Renée Fleming, Renata Scotto, Julia Faulkner, Warren Jones, and Bo Skovhus. Ms. Bergan is a past winner of the Mirabell Schloss Competition in Salzburg, Austria. She is a recipient of the Anna Sosenko Artist Trust Fund Award. She has performed Poulenc's Gloria with the Firelands Symphony Orchestra, Berlioz selections from Beatrice et Benedict, and Henrik Andriessen's Mirroir de Peine with the Duke Orchestra, and Rossini's Petite messe solennelle with Opera Project Columbus.
Caroline Bergan holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree and a Singing Health Specialization from The Ohio State University, a Master of Music and Artist Diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of West Florida.
