El Paso Jazz Girls is a non-profit organization I founded for female identifying musicians age 11 - 18. In the last decade only 7 girls have made Texas all-state jazz band, which is less than 2% of participants. El Paso Jazz Girls is a direct, practical way to combat these demographics in Texas, by empowering girls through music education and performance, creating a support system, and mentorship. Learn more at www.epjazzgirls.com

Árabe is a multi-faceted project combining stories, research, and composition to explore Syrian immigration to Mexico and El Paso, TX. Middle Eastern immigrants have substantially influenced Mexican food, language, and architecture – but what about the music? I’m working with my family, the Syrian Ladies Club, scholars, and community members to compose new music and curate interactive exhibits. Learn more at www.newmusicusa.org/projects/arabe

Arranging for the Solo Jazz Vocalist is a workbook designed to help singers create their own arrangements. I researched instrumental techniques, read educational arranging books, transcribed arrangements, and included some of my own work to explain concepts and how to get started. In this workbook you’ll learn about instrumentation, how to write melodic motives, formatting charts, reharmonization and more. It’s all written in a conversational, no nonsense way, so you can understand what the heck is going on! In 2017, I traveled to Helsinki, Finland to present my research on arranging and premiere this workbook at the International Vocal Jazz Conference. You can get a copy here -

https://amandaekery.bandcamp.com/merch/arranging-for-the-solo-jazz-vocalist-a-workbook-that-isnt-boring

The Lomax Folk Projectz explores the vast repertoire of American folk music recorded by John and Alan Lomax. Hannah Grantham and I co-founded the Lomax Folk Project to connect with music of our home states, North Carolina and Texas respectively. Hannah is our musicologist, researching the stories behind our repertoire, and I’m the arranger, reimagining the music. Together we collaborate on creating interactive informative performances, inviting audiences to participate and learn about the music history in their own backyards. We went on tour in the summer of 2017 and have an album out now! For every ten albums sold we are donating ‘What’s Folk’ to an elementary music school folk figures. For a copy of our album or ‘What’s Folk’ please visit

www.thelomaxfolkproject.com

Crayon Box is an interactive workshop series introducing students to improvisation and composition via technology and visual art. The curriculum I wrote includes learning about graphic scores, alternate notation, visual representations of music, and creating student compositions. At the final workshop performance, students play their compositions with a full band and draw their graphic scores on tablets. These visual scores are projected behind the band as students bring their creations to life through improvisation. Crayon Box has been possible with the help of the Boston Cultural Council, NEC Entrepreneurial Musicianship Department, and Kadence Arts.

Some Short Songs is a collection of original compositions that explore the Lydian Chromatic Concept (LCC). I love the LCC theory because it has helped me to explain my compositions in a clear way. When writing these pieces I wanted it to be fun! So, you’ll hear songs about hula-hoops, running out of peanut butter, and others about self-conscious clouds. The sequel, Some More Short Songs, was awarded a grant from Chamber Music America in 2019 to work with Sylvie Courvoisier and release more music soon. Listen here

https://amandaekery.bandcamp.com/album/some-short-songs

Andrew & Amanda is a piano voice duo that focuses on playing a mix of unusual standards and original music. Andrew Boudreau and I met while studying at the New England Conservatory and have been playing and hanging ever since. We love discovering and uncovering new repertoire from the American songbook and reinterpreting our original music for this intimate setting. Our repertoire includes Steve Lacy, Abbey Lincoln, Annette Peacock, and Carla Bley compositions. You can experience our performances in living rooms, galleries, and basements up and down the east coast.

Songwriting, Improvisation, and Storytelling (SIS) is a program I created to introduce students to music via literature. Through improvisation games, musical storytelling, and fun songwriting exercises, students unlock their creativity and compose music based on stories. Previous presentations of SIS include the Boys and Girls Club of Roslindale, YMCA Cambridge, and Dr. Green Elementary School in El Paso, TX.