FRANCOIS VAIANA

François Vaiana is an inspiring young jazz singer. He grew up in a family of artists, his father is a soprano saxophone player and his mother is a sculptor.He traveled around the world with his father to bring and share the love of music. From West Africa to Europe passing by New York City, François immerged himself with music regardless of the style. He took some contemporary music classes as well as traditional percussions with African masters. He started his studies of jazz at the “Jazz Studio” of Antwerp in Belgium. He decided to continue his studies in NewYork City, the motherland of jazz music. He is currently a student at the Long Island University where he is majoring in music. François Vaiana just participated to the first Brussels young jazz singers competition, and made it to the finalists. He performed in many Jam sessions around the world such as the Jazz Vocalist Jam Sessions, Sounds Club, in Brussels Belgium and the vocal series of the Lennox Lounge in Harlem, New York. He also performed in various concerts with his jazz quintet, in restaurants and for the city of Brussels. - --------------Music Lessons.-Jan.04 to present: Music Major in Long Island University. (New York): private vocal training(Dr.Gloria Cooper), private piano training (Jim Jimelita), harmony (Bob Aquino), counterpoint (Bob Aquino), vocal jazz ensemble (Dr.Gloria Cooper),school choir (Dr.Gloria Cooper), digital audio (Mr.Lefferts), studio technology (Mr.Lefferts), jazzimprovisation (Dr.Gloria Cooper)-Sept.01 to June.03: Jazz Studio of Antwerp (Antwerp,Belgium): private vocal training (Anja Kowalsky and Kelly Huylenbroek), private bass training (Bas Cooyemans), various jazz ensembles (Herman Pardon, Guy Varendonck, Gunther Valconier), arrangement (Francois Descamps, David), harmony (Tuur Fiorizone, Johan Saab), music analysis (Bas Cooyemans), composition (Pierre Vaiana), ear training (Bas Cooyemans),solfeggio (Kelly Huylenbroek).-Sept.01 to June.02: Nova Noise: free jazz ensemble as bass player (Erwin Van)-Sept.99 to June.01: Nova Noise (Brussels, Belgium):private vocal training and vocal jazz ensemble withAnja Kowalsky.-Sept.99 to June 01: Academie d’Ixelles (BrusselsBelgium): solfeggio.-Sept.96 to June.99: Ecole de Music de Ouagadougou(Burkina Faso, Africa): Ensemble as Bass Player(Pierre Vaiana and Alain Nyame), Harmony (PierreVaiana), private brass training (Alain Nyame),percussions and african drums ensemble (Abdul RasaqDankambary).-Sept.95 to June.99: private african drums instruction(Abdul Rasaq Dankambary, Souleyman Dankambary,Abdulaye, Zoumana Dembele, Dioulassoba Percussion, andSurutu Kunu).-Sept.93 to June 95: academie d’Amay (Belgium): Jazz ensemble (Pierre Vaiana), polyrhythms Class (FabienDegrijs), Solfeggio.-Sept.92 to June 95: private jazz and latinpercussions (Kris Jooris, Michel Seba, FredericMalempre)-Sept. 91 to June 95: some double bass instructions (Jean Louis Rassinfosse)-Sept.91 to June.93: Academie de Uccle (BrusselsBelgium): Solfeggio.Workshops.-July.03 Academie d’ete de Libramont (Belgium):contemporary free improvisation (Garrett List)-July.02 afro-jazz workshops of Nova Noise: afro jazz ensemble as bass player (Desire Some) and traditional percussions (Zoumana Dembele)-Aug. 01 summer workshops of the Jazz Studio: vocaltraining, and jazz ensemble as vocalist-July.01 afro-jazz workshops of Nova Noise:traditional percussions Zoumana Dembele-July.01 Academie d’ete de Libramont (Belgium): jazzand contemporary composition (Pirly Zurchtrassen)-July.99 Academie d’ete de Libramont (Belgium): jazzand contemporary composition (Pirly Zurchtrassen)-April.99 the Jazz a Ouaga Festival’s workshop:afro-jazz vocal ensemble (Anja Kowalsky) and afro-jazzpercussions (Zoumana Dembele).-Aug.98 Summer workshops of the Jazz Studio ofAntwerp: private bass instruction, jazz ensemble asbass player (Billy Hart)-July.98 Academie d’ete de Libramont (Belgium):private bass instruction (Nicolas Thys) and jazzensemble as bass player (Fabien Degrijs).-April.98 the Jazz a Ouaga Festival’s workshop: worldmusic afro-celtic ensemble-Aug.97 Summer workshops of the Jazz Studio ofAntwerp: private bass instruction, jazz ensemble as bass player-July.97 Academie d’ete de Libramont (Belgium):private bass instruction (Nicolas Thys) and jazz ensemble as bass player (Nicolas Thys)-July.95 Academie d’ete de Borzee (Belgium): privatepercussion training and percussion ensemble (Kris Jooris)-Aug.95 Academie d’ete de la Marlagne (Belguim):brazilian jazz ensemble as percussion player andvocalist (Marcia Maria) -July.94 Academie d’ete de Borzee: percussion ensemble(Frederic Malenpre)-April.93 Spring Break workshops of the Jazz Studio ofAntwerp private percussion training (Kris Jooris) andjazz ensemble as percussion player (Kris Jooris)-April.92 Spring Break workshops of the Jazz Studio ofAntwerp: private percussion training and jazz ensembleas percussion player (Kris Jooris)

After a one week stay in Brussels to participate ine the first international young singers competion organised by The Music Village Jazz Club, François is back to New York to reassume his studies with vocal teacher Dr Gloria Copper at LIU.