Jazz on the Plaza: April Varner

New York City’s favorite community-based jazz festival — proudly welcomes:

The April Varner Group

April Varner (voice)

TBD

About April Varner:

April Varner is a New York City–based jazz vocalist known for her distinctive sound, technical versatility, and deep connection to the jazz tradition. A Toledo, Ohio native, she began her musical journey at a young age, studying piano with her grandmother and voice as a classical singer by age eight. Her early career included performances with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, national honors ensemble recognition, and a debut at Carnegie Hall at age sixteen.

After beginning her studies at Indiana University, Varner discovered jazz and quickly immersed herself in the genre, later earning a degree in Jazz Studies. She went on to complete a Master’s in Jazz Voice Performance at the Manhattan School of Music under Theo Bleckmann. Now an in-demand performer, she has appeared at major venues across the U.S. and internationally, including sold-out shows in New York and a headlining performance in France.

Varner has collaborated with leading jazz artists and toured with Postmodern Jukebox. Her recordings—including her debut album April by April Varner and the Winter Songs series—have received critical acclaim. The winner of the 2023 Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition, she continues to gain recognition as a rising voice in contemporary jazz.

About Jazz on the Plaza:

For over 20 years, Jazz on the Plaza has been held in the public outdoor plaza at 601 Lexington Avenue. These midday concerts are free of charge and open to the general public. Many people bring a lunch or purchase it from one of the several area vendors. While every effort is made to host Jazz on the Plaza outdoors, in the event of inclement weather the concert may be moved indoors to the Sanctuary of Saint Peter’s Church, where guests are asked not to bring food or opened beverages.

Concerts begin at 12:30 P.M. and run for about an hour. During the month of September, jazz groups from area colleges are featured as a way to support the ongoing development of young jazz musicians. Through the months of July and August, the festival features some of the best professional jazz musicians in the city. Care is made to present a diversity of ensembles and styles ranging from small trios to large big bands.

THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED, IN PART, BY PUBLIC FUNDS FROM THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

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