Dr. Darden Purcell is a soloist with symphony orchestras, big bands and small ensembles, and Jazz Vocal educator. Her ensembles have performed at the Kansas City Jazz Summit, VMEA conference, Jazz Education Network conferences and have shared the stage with The New York Voices, Manhattan Transfer and ACCENT. Dr. Purcell has presented/directed at VMEA, PMEA and Baltimore All County festivals, ACDA Southern Region, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the Institute for Jazz Research, Graz, Austria. Dr. Purcell is the Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice instructor and director of the DOWNBEAT award-winning Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble at George Mason University.