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M-PACT Vocal Festival

Dec 5-6, 2024

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About the Festival

The M-PACT Festival is a non-competitive festival where vocal jazz ensembles, contemporary a cappella groups and other small choral ensembles have the opportunity to work hands-on with the award-winning group.

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mpact group

Meet M-PACT

M-PACT is an American pop-jazz vocal group based in Los Angeles, CA. Founded in June 1995, the band is known for their award-winning vocal arrangements, recordings, and music videos. The name "m-pact" is meant to signify an agreement (or "pact") between the band members to always remain true to the musical and artistic vision of the group. This 'music-pact' began as 5-man ensemble in Seattle, WA. Conceptually, the founders of m-pact sought to create a group which would combine the harmonic structure and arranging style of vocal jazz ensembles like Take 6 and the New York Voices with a powerful beatbox-driven vocal rhythm section found in groups like Rockapella and The House Jacks. The membership has changed over the years, and the sound of the group has fluctuated to reflect the unique voices of each iteration of the band. However, despite these changes, they have maintained a consistent artistic vision, and to this day they remain true to the original 'pact' of its founding members.

Official Website

Andrew Degan

Andrew Degan

Tenor

HOMETOWN: Bristol, CT
ALMA MATER: Central Connecticut State University
BIRTHDAY: May 18
OUTSIDE OF M-PACT: Andy has only been in LA since 2017, but he has already made a name for himself as a vocalist for a wide variety of musical projects, including studio work, choral groups, and professional caroling companies. He is also m-pact's most prolific arranger, and his arrangement of "Stay" won a 2019 CARA for "Best Jazz Song".

Gregory Fletcher

Gregory Fletcher

Alto

HOMETOWN:Moreno Valley, CA
ALMA MATER: California State University - Long Beach
BIRTHDAY: June 10
OUTSIDE OF M-PACT: Greg is an accomplished musician in the greater Los Angeles area, known for his work as a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, arranger, teacher, producer, recording artist, and session singer for TV and film. Notable appearances include background vocals for The Weekend for the Superbowl LV halftime show, and film scores such as Avatar 2, Turning Red, Nope, Disenchanted, Dungeons & Dragons, Bad Boys For Life, and more.

Jamond McCoy

Jamond McCoy

Baritone

HOMETOWN: Long Beach, CA
ALMA MATER: California State University - Long Beach
BIRTHDAY: October 22
OUTSIDE OF M-PACT: Jamond is a music teacher at Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, CA. He is also a church music director, and performs extensively around the LA area as a vocalist and keyboard/piano/organ player. Jamond and his wife are also brand new parents, having welcomed their daughter Iylah to the world in November 2019.

Aaron Schumacher

Aaron Schumacher

Soprano

HOMETOWN: Ennis, TX
ALMA MATER: University of North Texas
BIRTHDAY: September 8
OUTSIDE OF M-PACT: : Aaron is an in-demand lead vocalist for wedding/party bands and studio recordings, and is the director of a semi-professional community choir in the LA area called "Top Shelf". He is also a successful entrepreneur, and is the creator and owner of VocalMist - a line of portable nebulizers and vocal health products.

Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith

Tenor / Beatbox

HOMETOWN: Oklahoma City, OK
ALMA MATER:University of Kansas
BIRTHDAY: July 22
OUTSIDE OF M-PACT:: In addition to being the unofficial 'dad' of m-pact, Jeff is married w/4 kids (ages 8-16) of his own. He is an officer in the Army Reserve and is the commander & conductor of the 300th Army Band in Los Angeles. Jeff is also a studio vocalist for film, TV, and commercials; and he works as a recording engineer and producer from his home studio in Georgia.

Daniel Weidlein

Daniel Weidlein

Bass

HOMETOWN: Boulder, CO
ALMA MATER:USC Thornton School of Music

OUTSIDE OF M-PACT: :: In addition to being the unofficial 'dad' of m-pact, Jeff is married w/4 kids (ages 5-13) of his own. He is an officer in the Army Reserve and is the director of an Army Band in the LA area. He is also a studio vocalist for film, TV, and commercials, and works as a recording engineer and producer from his home studio near Riverside, CA.

About KCKCC Music

The mission of the Music Department at KCKCC is to develop the well-rounded musician through theory and practice - artistically, intellectually, and technically. This well-rounded musicianship is achieved through studying and performing music of not only the classical tradition, but also in the jazz and contemporary popular styles.

More About KCKCC Music

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Kansas City Kansas Community College
7250 State Ave Kansas City, Kansas 66112
913-334-1100

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Photography

M-PACT and Sam Anderson