Virginia Schenck

Virginia Schenck (born March 21, 1960) is an American jazz vocalist. She has released four albums incorporating jazz classics and ballads along with her own compositions.

Early life and education Born into a musical family in Winter Park, Florida, Schenck is the youngest of four children. Her paternal grandfather was a composer and producer in musical theatre, while her maternal grandfather was an amateur bluegrass musician.

Schenck attended Florida State University and received a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy in 1983. She completed an internship in Music Therapy at Highland Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina.

Schenck studied and performed with legendary vocalist, improvisor, and conductor Bobby McFerrin.

She has drawn inspiration from McFerrin's CircleSinging, a technique creating spontaneous, improvised compositions in a choral style. Through CircleSinging, Schenck met Rhiannon, the innovative jazz singer. Schenck studied extensively with Rhiannon, completing her All The Way In program in 2009.

Schenck occasionally leads musical retreats and pilgrimages. In 2012 she created The Singing Journey Retreat, dedicated to exploring the voice as a spiritual tool capable of establishing deep body/mind/self connection.

Schenck receives global airplay and performs regularly in Atlanta's top jazz clubs and music venues.

Schenck's recent appearances also include: The Drama League in New York City and ACT Theatre in Seattle and the Cape May Theater in Cape May, New Jersey in The Gift, a play with totally improvised music; with aerial dancers at The Robert Mondavi Center/UC-Davis, CA; Chartres Cathedral in France; St Patricks Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland, the Kripalu Yoga and Retreat Center, Stockbridge, Massachusetts; and private concerts in Rome, Italy.

Discography

VA (2012) Interior Notions (2015) Aminata Moseka: An Abbey Lincoln Tribute (2017) Battle Cry (2020)