Vocalist April Varner was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. She began her studies as a classical vocalist and pianist at age 8 and 6, respectively. No stranger to the stage, April began performing and competing at age 5, displaying vocal, musical theatre, drama and piano talents at the local, regional, national and international levels. Influenced by musical artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Eva Cassidy, and Esperanza Spalding, April has a passion for an array of genres ranging from standards from The Great American Songbook, Broadway classics, folk, R&B, funk, Brazilian jazz and sacred music. Upon earning her bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies (Voice) from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in the spring of 2020, at the young age of 25, April has already performed/studied with an array of renowned artists. These include Darmon Meader, Sachal Vasandani, Tierney Sutton, Walter Smith III, Dave Stryker, John Raymond, Kurt Elling, Sunny Wilkinson, Kate McGarry, Dr. Jeremy Fox, Sylvia McNair, Michael Feinstein, Benny Benack III, Theo Bleckmann, Ted Rosenthal, Jean Baylor, Rogerio Boccato, and Damien Sneed. April currently resides in New York City, where she is actively arranging, composing, and sitting in/performing at various jazz clubs around Manhattan. This has included Mezzrow, the Django, 55 Bar, Dizzy’s Coca-Coca Club and more. She is excited to be making her Birdland Theater debut in late September. Most recently, April graduated in May of 2022 with her Master’s degree in Jazz Voice from the Manhattan School of Music. She also just released her debut EP, entitled “Hummingbird”, available on all streaming services.