Jim Diego

Last Login 05/30/12

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Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, Jim Diego is a sought-for clinician and judge for a cappella, especially in the field of visual performance.

After graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in Architecture in 2006, Jim moved to New York City to pursue his career. Jim joined the (now defunct) semi-professional a cappella group, Bridge 'n Tunnel in 2007, and stayed on as a member for over a year. In 2008, Jim, with Rutgers alumni Candice Helfand and Brian Chambers, formed The Red States. While active in both groups, Jim also studied hip hop and street jazz dance with renowned New York City-based instructors Derek Mitchell, Eddie Villanueva, Kristin Sudeikis, Sheryl Murakami, and Laya Barak. This training in dance led to assistant teaching with Rommel O'Choa at the Broadway Bodies dance studio, in hip hop and "videography" style dance classes aimed for dancers of all levels. This translated into choreography and critique of movement and visual performance in a cappella, for which he is sought for at a cappella festivals throughout the United States. As a member of The Red States', Jim is responsible for the group's movement. From his efforts, he was awarded Outstanding Choreography (for the entire performance set of "Redux," a subset of The Red States) at the 2010 New York City Regional Harmony Sweepstakes, the first time the prize was ever awarded in the history of the competition.

As an instructor, Jim has led classes at both at SoJam 2010 and Singstrong 2010 and 2011, in Visual Performance and Choreography for a cappella, as well as leading master classes the same festivals. He also has provided commentary on the 2011 ICCA Finals for the Mouth Off podcast, and as a live guest commentator for the AcaGeeks Blog for Season 3 of "The Sing Off."

As of September 2011, Jim was appointed the CASA Ambassador for the New York City metropolitan area. This area includes the five boroughs, plus points east into Long Island, points north into the Lower and Mid-Hudson Valley (up to Poughkeepsie and New Paltz), the western counties of Connecticut (New Haven, Fairfield, and Litchfield), and much of northern and central New Jersey.