“Full of emotion and human spirit” is how Frost professor Daniel Strange describes the work of musical jazz prodigy Jacob Collier. Strange hosted Collier on the University of Miami campus on Valentine’s Day for a Frost School of Music exclusive masterclass in Maurice Gusman Hall. Collier is a 24-year old audio and video sensation- a two-time Grammy award-winning singer, composer, arranger, producer and multi-instrumentalist who has recorded dozens of dazzling videos on YouTube while singing every part and playing every instrument himself. Quincy Jones manages the young Londoner, raving that Jacob is "an absolute genius...I have never in my life seen a talent like this…beyond category!”
Collier performed on piano to a packed hall as he discussed his self-taught approach to creating music. “Students were glued to Jacob from the moment he walked on the stage. It felt like a rock concert,” said Strange. Frost senior Rachel Ohnsman got a chance to be on stage with her longtime idol. “That was a great experience,” she said, “but even better was witnessing him jumping around, talking to us about music theory like we were his best friends. It was a dream come true to participate in the masterclass and see his concert.”
Collier also appeared in a special collaborative performance at the Adrienne Arsht Center with Nu Deco Ensemble, the Miami-based modern chamber orchestra co-founded by Frost alumnus Sam Hyken (MM ’11). Strange, who plays keyboard with Nu-Deco, said, “One of the incredible things about working with Jacob is seeing the level of improvisation in all of his performances.”
For more on Jacob Collier’s visit to the Frost School of Music, please visit: https://www.themiamihurricane.com/2018/02/19/jacob-collier-hosts-masterclass-on-campus-performs-with-nu-deco-ensemble/
