La Grassa to Lead Lincoln College Jazz Studies Program
New Faculty Member Holds Doctorate in Jazz Studies; Has Extensive Performance Experience

[July 10, 2017]  LINCOLN -  Denise La Grassa has been named lead faculty for the Jazz Studies program at Lincoln College.

La Grassa has served as an adjunct faculty member at the college since January, offering individual instruction for jazz vocal and piano students, as well as teaching music appreciation.

“We are very pleased to have Denise join our staff on a full-time basis. She not only has outstanding academic credentials, but is also a seasoned jazz performer, having developed and performed a number of original jazz theater productions. She has been featured at music festivals in Chicago, Switzerland, Germany and Scotland, as well as closer to home in Springfield and Bloomington-Normal,” said Lincoln College President David Gerlach.

La Grassa holds a Doctor of Musical Arts-Jazz Studies degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor’s degree in theater and music from Columbia College.

La Grassa has developed a number of original jazz theater productions. Her most recent work, The Blues Ain’t a Color, uses the power of jazz to explore the role and relationship of race in America. The critically-acclaimed production mixes her original jazz compositions with poignant dialogue delivered by an array of characters. It ranges from aching jazz ballad to jazz blues to contemporary hip-hop influences.

La Grassa will teach a variety of music courses at the College and coordinate all performance activities for the jazz program. She is also planning to develop new courses that will merge music with visual and other new media to make jazz more visible and accessible to mainstream audiences.

In addition to her performance background, La Grassa has taught college courses, workshops and private students in Chicago, Bloomington-Normal and Decatur.

The Jazz Studies program is part of a robust fine arts program at Lincoln College that also includes four-year degrees in Theatre, Vocal Performance, and Radio/Television/New Media.

[Mark Gordon
Public Relations and Media Manager
Lincoln College]