Sandy Hook voice instructor Jackie Gaudet has sung with the Connecticut Master Chorale in years past, but the Sunday, April 3, concert will be the first one in which she has been the featured soloist.Sacred Concert, arranged by John Hoybey and Peder Pedersen, as well as American Rhapsody, by Z. Randall Stroope, at First Congregational Church, Danbury, under the direction of Tina Johns Heidrich.Freedom Suite.Sacred Concert is a compilation of pieces from Ellington's First, Second, and Third Sacred Concerts.Sacred Concert.Sacred Concert are the lyrics - "They're gorgeous" - and the music, which she said is "beautiful. And that's what singing is all about, the melody and the lyrics.Sacred Concert music], so this is similar to music I listen to and love. [Sacred Concert] is very expressive music, and freedom is so much a part of this piece," Ms Gaudet said.The Connecticut Master Chorale Spring Concert takes place Sunday, April 3, at 3 pm, at First Congregational Church, 164 Deer Hill Avenue in Danbury. Tickets are available online at cmchorale.org; $20 in advance, $25 at the door. For more information call 203-743-0473.

The Connecticut Master Chorale will present Duke Ellington's

Ms Gaudet is thrilled to be the soloist for four of the ten pieces that make up "Sacred Concert." She will be featured in "Heaven," "The Majesty of God," "Almighty God" and "Sweet Fat and That," from

Duke Ellington was asked to compose music for a church concert series in the mid-1960s, resulting in the "First Sacred Concert," "Second Sacred Concert" and "Third Sacred Concert," works that skillfully blended jazz and religious music, and which utilized both choir and big bands.

Primarily a voice instructor at her Sandy Hook studio for the past 15 years, Ms Gaudet began her musical career studying voice and performance at the University of Bridgeport. She left after two years to perform with Top 40 bands, eventually returning to finish her degree at WestConn in Danbury. She graduated from WestConn in 1992, with a degree in Music Education.

Ms Heidrich, who was familiar with Ms Gaudet's singing - "I have a jazzy, soulful voice," Ms Gaudet said - approached the mezzo-soprano in January and asked if she would be interested in auditioning for the solo parts of

"It is a thrill for me to be reunited with Tina and the group," said Ms Gaudet. "The music was all new to me. When Tina sent me the music, I was so excited by it, I was jumping up and down," she said.

What she loves about

"One of my favorite vocalists is Audra McDonald. A lot of what she does is similar to [the

She is enjoying the free manner in which she can sing the solos, she said.

"It's jazzy, but has to be sung in what they call a 'legitimate' way, round and somewhat choral. You have to use good technique. It ties into my love of musical theater, when you can be in the moment," said Ms Gaudet.

What is different for this singer from other pieces she has performed, too, is that she is singing with "a scaled down Big Band and a chorus. That's a little scary," she admitted.

Practicing daily and staying in good vocal health has been her goal since she was selected as soloist, Ms Gaudet said, not always an easy task in mid-winter.

"I'm so excited," she said, adding that she is very pleased that Joseph Jacovino, Jr, the organist for St Rose of Lima Church, will accompany her in this concert. "This will call on my experience for this performance," Ms Gaudet said.