Dr. Art Lapierre is currently the director of the American River College Vocal Jazz Ensembles and teaches private voice in Sacramento, CA. Under Dr. Lapierre's leadership the Vocal Jazz Program offers Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Choir. We encourage you to come sing with us! Dr. Lapierre also conducts vocal jazz workshops and clinics both in the United States and Europe. Prior to his tenure at ARC, Dr. Lapierre directed the Vocal Jazz Ensemble and taught private voice at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Dr. Lapierre has previously received recognition by Down Beat Magazine for his work directing the Polytechnic High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble in Long Beach, CA.

I suppose I would describe myself as a very observant teacher. I listen and watch carefully and as a result I tailor a skill set to meet the needs of each individual. I teache studio voice-both traditional and jazz; piano; guitar; and music theory. I am an active adjudicator and clinician and previously served as the R&S Chair for Jazz and Show Choirs for ACDA- Northwest Region. My students have performed for the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), Jazz Education Network (JEN), American Choral Directors Association, (ACDA), California Music Educators Association (CMEA), and at other regional and international conferences and jazz festivals. Downbeat Magazine has presented my students with 28 Achievement Awards.

I think that my goal as a teacher is to make sure that I direct my teaching to the specific needs of each individual student. I prefer not to use a "one size fits all' approach. I prefer to design my lessons based upon what I hear and observe in each lesson.