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2026 ACDA Northwestern Region Conference March 4-7, 2026 Tacoma, Washington

Performing Choirs
hoirs
P
orming C
f
er
Bellevue High School BlueStreet Voices
Bellairs

BlueStreet Voices is a community jazz choir based
in Seattle that was started by Ken Wilson over twenty
years ago. They have also been led by Dave Cross and,
The Bellevue High School Bellairs is an award-win- since 2021, by Dave Barduhn. They comprise doctors,
ning vocal jazz ensemble open to high school students lawyers, accountants, business owners, teachers, retir-
(grades nine through twelve) by audition. Accompanied ees, and of course, moms and dads. Their literature
by a rhythm section (piano, bass, drums, guitar), this en- includes jazz-inspired standards, blues, gospel, ballads,
semble meets daily before school and travels frequently bebop, big band, Latin, and contemporary jazz. They
to jazz festivals and workshops throughout the year. This present three anchor concerts yearly, including a holi-
group performs difficult literature ranging from four to day, an early spring (featuring a guest artist) and their
twelve parts in a variety of styles, including swing, blues, season finale in June at Seattle’s famous Triple Door.
Latin, and funk. This group is the most demanding of They also perform at local high schools, colleges, retire-
the choral ensembles at BHS. Students in Bellairs must ment homes, and jazz festivals.
be enrolled in a large music ensemble at BHS (band/
choir/orchestra). Dave Barduhn received his education
at Puccini Elementary, Buddy Rich JH,
Andrew Jacobson is a composer, educator, Count Basie HS, Sarah Vaughan CC,
conductor, and active pianist who is cur- and the University of Stan Kenton. He
rently the director of choirs at Bellevue has played piano for Ernie Andrews, Di-
High School in Bellevue, Washington. He anne Reeves, Diane Schuur, Mark Murphy, and sever-
holds an advanced degree in music educa- al Stan Kenton alumni bands. Barduhn recently con-
tion from Boston University and a BME from the Uni- ducted all-state vocal jazz in California, Colorado, and
versity of Washington. He is a Washington State solo Oklahoma. His extensive list of jazz band charts have
and ensemble clinician for the male voice, small vocal been published with Hal Leonard, and his vocal jazz
ensembles, and large vocal ensembles. He is active as a charts are published with Anchor Music Publications.
choral festival clinician across Washington State. He is After thirty years of teaching both vocal and instrumen-
a proponent of and educator in teaching music litera- tal jazz (his vocal jazz group Genesis receiving eight
cy to junior high and high school choral students. As a Downbeat awards and performing at ten national con-
composer, his works have gained popularity across the ventions while at Mt. Hood CC), he now directs BlueS-
country and internationally. treet Voices in Seattle and is available as a clinician.

78 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5