Debby Boland Watt

Bio:

Debby's journey began in Chicago and later took her to Washington State where she began her vocal studies at Western Washington State University. After two years she moved to California; joining several music groups that toured across the lower 48 and Alaska, Canada and Western Europe. For the next 25 years, she worked as a vocal performer, choral director, studio musician and teacher to children with special needs. In 2007 Debby graduated Cum Laude from Cornish College of the Arts in vocal jazz, later attending Goddard College, earning her Master of Fine Arts-Interdisciplinary Arts degree in Performance Art / Vocal Improvisational & Compositional Studies. Currently, she teaches Improvisation at Tacoma's School of the Arts (S.O.T.A.) and from her private studio in Tacoma, WA. Debby is a strong vocalist, performance artist, composer and master teacher whose unique musical vision embraces jazz, a cappella circle singing, improvisation, spoken word. Ms. Watt has performed with Bobby McFerrin, The Boston Pops, Tacoma Symphony Choir, Julian Priester, Denny Gore and Jerry Granelli, to name a few. Under the tutelage of Meredith Monk's Ensemble, Pauline Oliveros, Rhiannon(music), Greta Matassa, Jay Clayton, Dee Daniels, Madeline Eastman, Nancy King, Rebecca Paris and Kurt Elling her intuitive jazz and improvisational skills have flourished, making her an engaging musical treat for any audience. ....

Member Since:

June 27, 2007

Members:

Various talented musicians I've performed with: Bobby McFerrin, The Boston Pops, Julian Priester, Rhiannon, Denny Gore, Hans Brehmer, Mark Ivester, Chuck Kistler, Dawn Clement, Darin Clendenin, Clipper Anderson, Larry Holloway, Steve Korn, Gary Hobbs, Randy Halberstaff, Kareem Kandi, Osama Afifi, Mike Japp, Victor Noriega, Eric Eagle, Josh Rawlings, Brian Bermudez, Burt Boice, Mack Grout, Jacques Willis, Mason Hargrove, Michael Catts, Nate Omdal, Josh Hickman, Kaz Nomura, David J. Moggia and Kellie Lynch.

Influences:

Bobby McFerrin, Meredith Monk, Rhiannon(music), Kurt Elling, Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton, Jeanne Lee, Ursula Dudziak, Greta Matassa, Kelly Harland, Degenerate Art Ensemble, Bjork, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Diane Schuur, Anita O’Day, Dinah Washington, Thelodious Monk, Shirley Horn, Blossom Dearie, Tribal Voix, Kitty Margolis, Madeline Eastman, Charles Mingus, Julian Priester, Ornette Coleman, Philip Glass, John Cage, Pauline Oliveros, Scott Johnson and Harry Partch.