Dr. Christopher J. Venesile is Associate Professor of Choral Music Education at Kent State University. where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music education, coordinates the 100% Online Master’s of Music in Music Education degree, and directs the new Kent State University Nova Jazz Singers, which serves, in part, as the vocal ensemble component for the new Jazz Minor.
Christopher Venesile earned degrees from Case Western Reserve University (Ph.D.), Cleveland State University (MM), and The Ohio State University (BME). His public school teaching experience includes the Independence, Brooklyn, and North Olmsted, Ohio school districts. His College/University teaching has included Cuyahoga Community College-Western and Metro campuses, Youngstown State University, and Kent State University.
Dr. Venesile’s research interests include teacher education, online learning, educational policy-making, and vocal jazz. He has presented at professional conferences for the Ohio Music Education Association, Jazz Education Network Conference, and American Choral Directors Association-Central Division. Other research, clinic, poster, and panel sessions include The Society of Music Teacher Education Conference (Greensboro, NC), American Choral Directors Association National Conference (Dallas, TX), and International Association of Jazz Educators Conference (Long Beach, CA). His articles have been published by the Ohio MEA publication, TRIAD, and the Ohio Choral Directors Association newsletter.
As a choral music educator, Dr. Venesile’s choirs were recognized for their excellence in OMEA Adjudicated Events, touring yearly, and performing with various college choirs. In addition to being an expert scholar in vocal jazz education, his North Olmsted “Special Edition” was one of only three high school ensembles invited to perform at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference in Long Beach, CA, won a prestigious DOWNBEAT Student Award for Outstanding High School Performance, and performed at five OMEA State Conferences. Dr. Venesile also serves the profession as the Repertoire and Standards Chair for Vocal Jazz for OCDA. He was also co-founder and co-director of the Pro-Music (formerly Heartland) Vocal Music Camp, a week-long, summer workshop in contemporary vocal and choral music for high school and college students and teachers at Tiffin University.