SMC Vocal Jazz Concert Brings Music and Community Together
The Santa Monica College (SMC) Vocal Jazz Ensembles performed at Broad Stage on Friday, May 15, bringing together students, musicians, teachers, and community members for a night of live jazz music.
The atmosphere inside Broad Stage reflected the event’s community focus. The theater was filled with parents, family members, friends, and jazz enthusiasts. Audience members arrived dressed up and excited for the evening. Marisa Bradfield, director of Santa Monica College Vocal Jazz program, leader of Golden Hour, the advanced vocal jazz ensemble, and Seaside Swing, the program’s large vocal jazz ensemble, spoke about the significance of the performance.
“Our concerts are always a special opportunity to share our music with the community,” Bradfield said. “This performance was especially meaningful because our singers have continued to grow as musicians, taking on challenging repertoire and complex musical elements that allow them to develop their musicianship and confidence.”
“I hope our audience had a great time,” Bradfield said. “I also hope they developed a deeper appreciation for the art form and felt inspired to return and support more music at Santa Monica College, as well as live jazz throughout the city of Los Angeles.”
Emily Sanders, a retired music teacher and longtime Santa Monica resident, attended the concert and described it as “outstanding and inspiring.” She said student director Alejandra Belladonna Del Valle conducting songs such as “The More I See You” and “Don’t You Worry ’Bout a Thing” was the highlights of the evening for her.
Sanders praised singer Van Aalst for her solo performances and receiving a DownBeat award for “Community College Outstanding Performance.”
“I smiled the whole time,” Sanders said while talking about Van Aalst’s performance. “She worked incredibly hard and has such an engaging performance style.”
As a retired music teacher, Sanders said she was impressed to see singers of different ages and backgrounds performing together. She explained that many school music programs are cut because of budget problems, so seeing such a strong choral program at SMC gave her hope for the future of music education.
Van Aalst said that the performance represented a personal milestone as much as a musical achievement.
“My favorite part of my performance was how much fun I had and how I was able to stay present in the moment,” Van Aalst said. “As musicians, we all have our own internal battles. For me, it’s perfectionism.”
Van Aalst explained that much of her preparation for the concert was mental, particularly when it came to scatting, a form of vocal improvisation common in jazz music.
“The thought of making something up on the spot terrified me,” she said. “What would people think if I messed up?”
Despite those fears, Van Aalst said Bradfield helped students build confidence by teaching improvisation techniques step by step and creating a supportive rehearsal environment.
“I needed the building blocks,” Van Aalst said. “Also, the confidence and reassurance that even if I mess up, I’m still a good singer and musician.”
She added that the encouragement she received from fellow ensemble members helped her stay grounded during the performance.
“It’s more than a sense of community and belonging,” Van Aalst said. “It’s a chosen family.”