What is the Davis Jazz Choir?
The Davis Jazz Choir is an auditioned performance ensemble is made up of students from Davis Senior High School and DaVinci High School in Davis, CA and requires advanced singing, musicianship, dancing and acting abilities. With its focus on vocal jazz, contemporary a cappella, and show choir elements, it offers students a diverse range of musical and performance experiences. The choir emphasizes both ensemble harmony and solo performances, providing students with opportunities to shine individually while also blending seamlessly with the group. The combination of advanced singing, musicianship, dancing, and acting makes for a dynamic and engaging environment.
Participation in the Davis Jazz Choir is centered around a dedicated class period during the school day, where students engage in sight-reading, solo performances, and collaborative work in both small groups and large ensembles. Returning members have access to numerous leadership opportunities, fostering their growth and involvement. Beyond the classroom, membership in the Jazz Choir involves a weekly one-hour sectional rehearsal, as well as occasional evening and weekend performances, offering a comprehensive and immersive experience.
The Davis Jazz Choir performs under the talented direction of Ms. Natascha Bach (Director) and Mr. Jeff Teague (Choreographer), and they are supported by Mr. Alex Snow (Assistant Director). LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR DIRECTORS below.
Throughout the year, the Davis Jazz Choir will perform on its own, alongside the other two choirs at Davis Senior High School – the Madrigals and Concert Choir, and as smaller ensembles in both public and private events. Performance highlights include the Annual Cabaret, Davis Tree Lighting, Winter Concert, Spring POPS Concert, and Graduation, in addition to having opportunities to travel and perform in concerts/festivals elsewhere in California and the U.S.
These students who come together through a love for music and dance sometimes refer to themselves as “Jazz Diamonds” and use a visual of a diamond with the 4 facets of performing arts – singing, dancing, musicianship and acting – that are incorporated into their rehearsals and performances.
Our Directors
Director
Assistant Director
Choreographer
Natascha Bach
Director
Natascha Bach is Director of the DHS Jazz Choir as well as the Madrigals and Concert Choir. She has positively impacted the lives of thousands of young people for over 26 years as a music educator, choral director, and private voice teacher. She attended the University of North Dakota graduating with a degree in Music Education, specializing in vocal music.
Natascha began her teaching career as a music specialist for the Bismarck Public School District in Bismarck, ND. She participated in the development and creation of a city-wide opera education program for sixth graders where she also performed demonstrating the mezzo-soprano voice. In 2008, Natascha was invited to co-direct choirs at the high school level where she donated her time, during her prep periods, to ensure that all students in the choral programs, at two high schools, had access to free voice lessons. At Bismarck High School, Natascha co-directed 4 choirs and 1 jazz choir teaching 253 students. During her time with the Bismarck Public Schools she supervised 5 student teachers and helped to mentor first and second year music educators who were just beginning their teaching careers.
In 2014, she relocated to California where she served as Head of School, choral conductor, and voice instructor at the Pacific Boychoir Academy in Oakland, CA. She helped create and launch the first ever sister choir at PBA, called Sorella. In 2019, Natascha began working with the San Francisco Girls Chorus as Director of Chorus School Programs and Level Director.
Throughout her teaching career, Natascha has maintained a private voice studio called Voices by Bach. She is passionate about the role music plays in learning and well-being. Utilizing her expertise in vocal pedagogy, her work with vocal students focuses on raising awareness of their physical positioning and how adjustments to each aspect of their body influences vocal results, empowering singers.
Natascha is a classically trained mezzo-soprano who performs varied repertoire in opera, oratorio, and song recital. She has been featured as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s Requiem, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Bernstein’s Candide, and Mozart’s Magic Flute. Natascha studied with voice technician James Toland and with Internationally Renowned Opera Soprano Deborah Voigt.
Natascha is thrilled to be working with Davis Senior High School Music Department as Director of Choral Activities.
Alex Snow
Assistant Director
Alex Snow is the Assistant Choral Director at DSHS, where he is also a proud alumnus of the Choral Program. His deep passion for music drives his commitment to bringing the joy of choral singing to the students of his home district. Alex’s dedication to nurturing young voices and fostering a love for music in his community is at the heart of his work. As a former student of the program, he is thrilled to give back to the place where his own musical journey began.
Jeff Teague
Choreographer
Jeff Teague is an award winning director, choreographer and performing arts instructor who has worked extensively throughout California.
Jeff was the Executive/Artistic Director at Alameda Civic Light Opera and Associate Artistic Director at Inland Valley Repertory in Claremont.
A few of his favorite director/ choreographer credits include Ragtime-Diablo Light Opera Company (starring James Monroe Igelhart), Aida, Hair and Evita-Alameda Civic Light Opera and Chicago-Inland Valley Rep. He has choreographed for Placer Pops Chorale, the Bracebridge Dinner at the Ahwanee in Yosemite, Elk Grove Arts Commission, San Francisco Boys Chorus as well as numerous companies throughout California.
As a performer he’s worked at Disneyland, Curtain Call Dinner Theater in Tustin, CA, toured with The Young Americans as well as regional theater credits, industrials and commercial work. He has had the honor of sharing the stage with Tina Cole, Susan Egan, Anthony Newley, Stephanie J. Block, Pat Harrington, Nedra Volz and Mary Jo Catlett. You may have caught him on The Richard Simmons show back in the 80’s. Though these days he doesn’t perform as much as he’d like to, he continues his love of singing by studying with Matt Liebowitz.
He teaches dance and fitness classes through his company Jeff Teague Performing Arts, is Outreach Instructor at Woodland Opera House and teaches line dancing at Esplanade at Turkey Creek in Lincoln. He is also the Project Coordinator for Uplift People of Elk Grove, a local nonprofit, that empowers individuals and families in Sacramento County to break the cycle of poverty .