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Jazz Studies

Meet Lucy Wijnands

“Attending Purchase was one of the greatest decisions I have ever made!”

Lucy Wijnands, Class of ’20 (BM)
Voice

Emerging jazz vocalist, Lucy Wijnands is a spirited enthusiast of jazz music from its beginnings to today. She recently completed a five month residency with the Birdland Big Band, directed by David Dejesus, and she has performed with musicians as acclaimed as Joe Lovano, Jon Faddis and Kenny Washington. In 2016, marking the beginning of her professional jazz studies, she appeared in concert with rising star pianist, Julius Rodriguez at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room. She is currently an Ella Fitzgerald Scholar at Purchase.

Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, she got her start performing with her father, master of stride piano, Bram Wijnands. From a very young age, she sang with her father in many jazz clubs in Kansas City, including the Majestic, the Blue Room, Green Lady Lounge, as well as the Endless Mountain Musical Festival in Pennsylvania. In the summer of 2017, she and her father toured in Europe, enriching her musical scopes. The two will be touring together again in the Netherlands in the summer of 2019.

Once relocating to New York in 2013, Lucy studied with renowned vocalist, Anne Phillips. While attending Hastings High school, she participated in numerous school bands, musical productions and All-State jazz ensembles. She worked with esteemed musicians Bob Kindred, Paul Meyers and Corky Siegel and was nominated for a Maestro Award by the Philadelphia Heritage Festival in high school.

On the occasion of Purchase’s 25th Anniversary, Lucy said:

“Attending Purchase was one of the greatest decisions I have ever made! Its proximity to the city and the kindness within the faculty is what makes me feel incredibly grateful. Through Purchase, I have had the opportunity to sing at places I never could have imagined for myself. I am forever thankful to have mentors like Jazz Program director Pete Malinverni, voice professor Alexis Cole and jazz icon, Jon Faddis. who endlessly encourage me and help me grow as a professional musician.

What I think is truly wonderful is that I have met some astonishing musicians in this program who I can not only call my colleagues, but also my family. I am excited to see what the future brings for each one of us, given that we all care enormously for each other’s growth as musicians and friends.”