Kathleen Grace

Kathleen Grace serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Jazz Studies program at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music, where she directs the solo vocal jazz combo program and previously led the CreSCendo vocal jazz ensemble. An internationally recognized jazz vocalist and songwriter, she is renowned for blurring boundaries between jazz, folk, and rock genres through innovative vocal improvisation and original composition.

Her educational background includes an undergraduate degree from Tufts University with vocal arts studies at the New England Conservatory of Music, followed by a master's in jazz studies from USC Thornton under mentors Tierney Sutton and Shelly Berg.

Grace's artistic research centers on vocal jazz pedagogy, songwriting, and cross-genre composition, pioneering a movement where contemporary jazz artists step "outside the box of the American Songbook into original music." Her work explores the intersection of folk, rock, and jazz traditions through vocal improvisation and genre-blending arrangements.

Her 2018 album "Tie Me To You" and associated singles demonstrate contemporary jazz trends emphasizing original composition over traditional standards, with collaborations featuring Larry Goldings, Gabe Witcher, and David Piltch reflecting interdisciplinary artistic approaches.

Major accolades include:

• Blue Chip Award from IAJE jazz critic Herb Wong for debut album "Sunrise"
• Finalist in the 2004 Montreux International Jazz Vocal Competition
• Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Residency at the Kennedy Center

As an educator, Grace conducts nationwide clinics for jazz ensembles and creativity workshops, mentoring students in vocal improvisation and original composition through USC's jazz programs. She actively develops curriculum for solo vocal jazz performance and cross-genre exploration.

Grace leads The Kathleen Grace Band, which performs at major jazz and rock venues across America, and has collaborated with artists including Portugal the Man and Jim James. Her ensemble work emphasizes creative improvisation within genre-fluid frameworks, pushing boundaries of contemporary vocal jazz performance.