Meet our Vocal arts faculty!
Jason Cole
Director of Choirs
Jason Cole
Director of Choirs | St. Peter
Jason Cole (B.M., Tennessee Tech; M.M., University of Kansas) is a choral composer, arranger, and music educator. His arrangement of the hymn I Will Trust in the Lord was premiered at the 2017 National American Choral Directors’ Association Conference and his setting of O Gracious Light is now available from Cantica Nova. During the Summer of 2018, Jason was selected as one of the winners of a composition contest celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Children's Choir. Jason was also the winner of the 2019 Hymn competition held by the Widow's Corporation for the Episcopal Church of Pennsylvania in celebration of their 250th Anniversary. In addition to composing, Jason has served as a music educator for over 17 years and is currently the Director of Choral Music at St. James Academy in Lenexa, KS and the choir director at Keystone United Methodist Church in Kansas City, MO. He resides in Overland Park, KS with his wife MacKenzie and daughter Ginny.
Always Crescendo
Certifications
Composition and Choral Pedagogy
Education
Tennessee Technological University: Bachelor of Music Education
The University of Kansas: Master of Music Education
Christy L’Esperance
Sophomore Seminar, Accompanist
Christy L'Esperance
Sophomore Seminar, Accompanist | Choir, Instrumental, Soloists, Musical
I began my professional career as a classical radio announcer/producer before moving on to adventures in piano performance, private teaching, composition, and ensemble directing. St. James has been my musical home since 2019, and I love the happy energy and the drive for quality that fill our school every day. Interacting with wonderful humans about music and life makes for a joyful existence.
My husband and I are blessed with nine children. You’re sure to run into at least one of them in the halls of St. James.
"O Father, light up the small duties of this day's life: may they shine with the beauty of Thy countenance. May we believe that glory may dwell in the commonest task of every day." - St. Augustine
Education
University of Iowa: Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy
join us!
Find a performance!
VIEW fine & performing arts PERFORMANCE CALENDAR
Tri-M Honor Society
Open to all juniors & seniors in good disciplinary standing.
Classes offered
Instrumental classes
Thunderettes
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
All freshmen students or any girls who have not previously taken choir will be placed in Thunderettes. Students will develop their singing skills through the study of breath support, tone quality, posture, diction, theory, blend, and sight-singing while performing music in a variety of styles and languages. Required of all members is participation in scheduled concerts.
A Capella Choir
Grades: 10, 11, 12
A Cappella Choir is an advanced performing ensemble open to sophomore, junior, and senior men and women. This course is for those students who display a serious attitude towards choral excellence as well as musical and personal maturity. This ensemble will perform advanced choral literature at all St. James concerts, Regional and State KSHSAA music festivals, as well as additional venues in the Kansas City area.
Vocal Thunder
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
This is a choir for men who enjoy singing and want to sing literature in a variety of styles and languages. Students will develop their singing and musical skills while working on breath support, tone quality, posture, diction, theory, blend, and sight singing. Required of all members is participation in scheduled concerts.
General music theory & musical history CLASSES
Intro to Music
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Intro to Music is an introductory class that provides students with a chance to learn the basics of music through performance. Students will learn how to read music as well as develop the basic skills required to perform on a variety of instruments. Aspects of music theory and history will also be covered through applied learning projects. No previous musical experience is necessary. On completion of the class, students may progress and continue their studies in either vocal or instrumental music ensembles for the following year.
Music Technology
Grades: 11, 12
This class is focused on the creation of music and media using technology. Arranging and editing musical projects and evaluating the merit of musical content are also covered. Students will learn computer-based techniques for creating, recording, and producing projects on GarageBand, Sibelius, Finale, Photoshop, and iMovie. Class members will also be taught about the history of music in film and how to create multi-media presentations. This class fulfills a Fine/Performing Arts or Technology credit requirement.
Music Theory & History
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Music Theory and History is a non-performance course open to those students with an interest in learning the basic rudiments, structures, and elements of music. The history curriculum covers both musical and historical developments from the early Catholic Church through to present day. Topics covered include Gregorian Chant, Music at Notre Dame, the Baroque and Classical eras, the Nineteenth Century (Nationalistic Music, Tchaikovsky’s Ballet music, and traditions in German and Italian Opera), Jazz and Blues, Serialism and American Musical Theatre.
Crimson Collective
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
This is a guitar, keyboard, vocal and percussion ensemble aimed at developing performance skills through a wide variety of musical genres including praise & worship, blues, rock, pop and soul. Students will also learn how to arrange and create their own songs in small groups.
Vocal Music Classes
THUNDERETTES
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
All freshmen students or any girls who have not previously taken choir will be placed in Thunderettes. Students will develop their singing skills through the study of breath support, tone quality, posture, diction, theory, blend, and sight-singing while performing music in a variety of styles and languages. Required of all members is participation in scheduled concerts.
A CAPPELLA CHOIR
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Cappella Choir is an advanced performing ensemble open to sophomore, junior, and senior men and women. This course is for those students who display a serious attitude towards choral excellence as well as musical and personal maturity. This ensemble will perform advanced choral literature at all St. James concerts, Regional and State KSHSAA music festivals, as well as additional venues in the Kansas City area.
VOCAL THUNDER
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
This is a choir for men who enjoy singing and want to sing literature in a variety of styles and languages. Students will develop their singing and musical skills while working on breath support, tone quality, posture, diction, theory, blend, and sight singing. Required of all members is participation in scheduled concerts.
General music theory & musical history CLASSES
CRIMSON COLLECTIVE
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
This is a guitar, keyboard, vocal and percussion ensemble aimed at developing performance skills through a wide variety of musical genres including praise & worship, blues, rock, pop and soul. Students will also learn how to arrange and create their own songs in small groups.
intro to music
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Intro to Music is an introductory class that provides students with a chance to learn the basics of music through performance. Students will learn how to read music as well as develop the basic skills required to perform on a variety of instruments. Aspects of music theory and history will also be covered through applied learning projects. No previous musical experience is necessary. On completion of the class, students may progress and continue their studies in either vocal or instrumental music ensembles for the following year.
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
Grades: 11, 12
This class is focused on the creation of music and media using technology. Arranging and editing musical projects and evaluating the merit of musical content are also covered. Students will learn computer-based techniques for creating, recording, and producing projects on GarageBand, Sibelius, Finale, Photoshop, and iMovie. Class members will also be taught about the history of music in film and how to create multi-media presentations. This class fulfills a Fine/Performing Arts or Technology credit requirement.
MUSIC THEORY & HISTORY
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Music Theory and History is a non-performance course open to those students with an interest in learning the basic rudiments, structures, and elements of music. The history curriculum covers both musical and historical developments from the early Catholic Church through to present day. Topics covered include Gregorian Chant, Music at Notre Dame, the Baroque and Classical eras, the Nineteenth Century (Nationalistic Music, Tchaikovsky’s Ballet music, and traditions in German and Italian Opera), Jazz and Blues, Serialism and American Musical Theatre.
