Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Coggiola.
Hi Julie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Syracuse, NY as a part of a very musical family. Both of my parents are musicians and music professors, and my brothers are both very musically inclined as well. Growing up, we used to have family recitals where we would perform for each other. This is where my love for music began.
While I learned to play many instruments over the course of my life, including clarinet, saxophone, piano, and violin, I have been singing for as long as I can remember. I used to sing for the people who worked in the grocery store and sometimes they would give me free cookies. In school growing up, I was a part of every musical class or extra-curricular imaginable (musical theatre, marching band, choir, wind ensemble, jazz band – you name it). I have always loved being a musician, and I knew from an early age that it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I went to music school after graduating from high school, knowing that I wanted to continue with my journey of becoming a multi-faceted musician.
I earned a Bachelor’s in Music Education from Syracuse University as a jazz and commercial vocalist and as a classical clarinetist. When I was starting to apply to graduate school, the COVID pandemic hit, and so after getting my undergrad I took a year off and worked full time in venue and event/concert management for a year at Hendricks Chapel, located on Syracuse’s campus. I had worked as a student employee at the facility for four years prior. Then, I went to graduate school, and last year I graduated from the University of North Texas with my Master’s of Music in Jazz Studies (concentration in Jazz Voice). While I was there, I was a jazz voice teaching fellow, teaching classes, lessons, ensembles and assistant directing the UNT Jazz Singers. I performed with numerous ensembles as well, including the UNT Jazz Singers and the Three O’Clock Lab Band.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course it hasn’t always been a smooth road. Challenges related to imposter syndrome and the ever-present desire to be better consistently present themselves. It is hard to ignore feelings of inadequacy or comparison as a musician, which especially hurts when what you produce is so personal. The most important lesson I have learned from it all though (and that I tell my students) is that everyone is good at something and everyone improving at something, and you never know what that is when you look at other musicians. Myself and my peers all have our own skills, and there are things we are all constantly working on as well. That is a beautiful thing, in my opinion – as a community, we are able to learn from each others’ strengths and support each other as we continue to grow in our profession.
Being my own boss is weird for me as well. For a long time, I struggled to find the time and motivation to achieve my personal goals, as I was so used to external deadlines and prioritizing what others needed from me over all else. I needed to implement a more regimented schedule and to be more disciplined with my personal goals. I am happy that I have found a better balance between fulfilling what others need from me and what I need from myself.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Today, I am an active musician in the Dallas-Fort Worth music scene. I like to pride myself on being a passionate performer, writer and educator. Some people prefer one category over the other two, but I care about each element of my musicality evenly and try to be the best I can be at them all.
As a performer, I am very lucky to gig around DFW in solo, combo and big band settings. I perform a variety of music, but primarily the genres of jazz, singer-songwriter, and pop, along with my original music. Vocally, I draw inspiration from greats such as Nancy Wilson, Carmen McRae, Sara Bareilles and Karen Carpenter. My shows have been described as “soul-touching,” as I am always committed to caring for my audience through a well-crafted performance. I have received acclaim including a Downbeat Award for “Outstanding Performance as a Vocal Jazz Soloist” amongst other graduate college students, as well as the U.S. Air Force Bands Diversity Fellowship, which allowed me to perform a concert with the USAF Airmen of Note.
As a writer, my arrangements and original music are performed by the combos and ensembles I perform with. I try to create arrangements that accurately capture the true meaning of a song’s lyrics. In my original music, I like to fuse styles – usually jazz, musical theatre, and/or other commercial genres. My lyrical inspiration draws from my personal stories and how I experience the world around me. I recently received a Downbeat Award for my writing as well; it was “Outstanding Jazz Vocal Arrangement,” awarded amongst other graduate college students for my vocal jazz ensemble arrangement of “Taking A Chance On Love.”
As an educator, I currently teach at the University of Texas at Arlington and Dallas College, primarily as a jazz and commercial music professor. I teach clarinet lessons part-time through Boswell High School in Fort Worth as well, along with running an adult community choir through HanOpera Music Academy in Plano. On top of it all, I have a private studio where I teach voice, clarinet, piano, and songwriting – and anything else people want to learn about! I care deeply for my students and love to watch them grow as musicians.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I offer a variety of services! As a performer, I love to sing for private parties and public venues. I have been commissioned to write songs for a variety of projects as well. I am always open to working with others, as a performer, lyricist, or writer. Finally, I am an experienced educator, and I have a private studio that is currently accepting students.
I am currently trying to record an album and could use some financial support – you can find the link to donate to my GoFundMe here: https://gofund.me/f36fb6fe
You can request any of my services through my website, my email, or my social media messages.
You can also follow me on Instagram or YouTube, or come see me perform at one of my shows in the area!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://juliecoggiola.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julie_coggiola/?hl=en
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-coggiola/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWUcOjDjOjFVGBaJZUk5euA
- Other: My New Album’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/d9f190da
Image Credits
Marcy Bishop
Nick Coggiola
Alison Miserendino
Madison Payne
