Saxophone:

DAVE PIETRO

A native of Southboro, MA, Dave Pietro has been on the New York jazz scene since 1987. In 1988 he toured with the Woody Herman Young Thundering Herd. In 1989, he toured with the Lionel Hampton Big Band, and in 1990, he tourned and recorded with Maynard Ferguson’s Big-Bop Nouveau Band.  Since returning to New York in 1991, Dave has become a much in-demand sideman on the New York music scene. He has performed with the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, The Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, John Fedchock’s New York Big Band, the David Berkman Sextet, and many other ensembles.  Presently, he is the lead alto saxophonist for the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra and has recorded four CD’s with the band since becoming a member in 1994.  He has worked in the orchestras of dozens of different Broadway musicals and has played at jazz clubs, jazz festivals, and concert halls in more than 30 countries throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America.  Pietro has also perfomed with many other well known bands and musicians including:  Paul Anka, Louis Bellson, Blood Sweat & Tears, Bobby Caldwell, Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Harry Connick, Jr., Michael Feinstein, Liza Minnelli, and John Pizzarelli.  Dave was selected as a semi-finalist for the first two Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Saxophone Competitions (1991 & 1996) and was a finalist in the 1995 JAZZIZ Magazine "Woodwinds on Fire" talent search.  In 1996 he was the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and in 2002 he was selected as runner-up in the Second Annual Jazzconnect.com International Jazz Competition.  Dave’s first two CD’s forgotten Dreams (A-Records 1996) and Wind Dance (A-Records 1998) which both feature Dave Holland on bass, Kenny Werner on piano, and Bill Stewart on drums each received exellent reviews and much critical acclaim.  His third CD Now Becoming Then (A-Records 1999) which features drummer Brian Blade, bassist Scott Colley and trumpeter Scott Wendholt among others is a "rich feast for listener" according to Bill Bennett of Jazz Times magazine.  Dave’s fourth CD of 2001 by Bob Blumethal of the Boston Globe and received 4 stars from Downbeat magazine.  Bill Milkowski of Jazz Times says "fronting a stellar septet" Pietro has come up with inspired interpretations and has rewritten the book of Stevie with intelligence, creative daring and an arranger’s sense of the big picture." Pietro holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from North Texas State Univeristy where he toured and recorded four albums with the school’s One O‚Clock Lab Band.  He also holds a masters degree in jazz composition from New York University.  Currently he is an adjunct faculty member for the city College of New York, Hofstra University, New York University and Long Island University (CW Post Campus). Dave is sponsored by the Selmer Instrument Company and has given hundreds of workshops and concerts at schools around the country.

TIA FULLER

Originating from a musical family, "Fuller Sound," Ms. Fuller began her music education in piano and flute at a very early age.  She has studied saxophone with Joe Jennings where she graduated Magna Cum Laude receiving her B.A. in Music from Spelman College (1998).  As a full-time teaching assistant in Jazz Studies by directing Jazz Ensemble II and III and teaching improvisation, Ms. Fuller has also received an MM degree in Jazz Pedagogy and Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder (2000).  She has performed with numerous jazz luminaries including Abby Lincoln, Jimmy Heath, Javon Jackson, Marcus Printup, Robin Eubanks, Wes Anderson, Ed Thigpen, Valerie Capers, Ron Miles, Joe Bonner, and Dee Dee Bridgewater.  Other honors include her performances at the following jazz festivals: "Jazz Fest Vien" (Vienna, Austria); Monterey Jazz Festival (Monterey, CA); Clifford Brown Jazz Festival (Wilmington, DE); and the Mary Lou Williams "Women in Jazz Festival" at the Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.).  Ms. Fuller has also been a winner of the 1999 IAJE’s "Sisters in Jazz" Collegiate Competition, a winner of the Young Talent All-Stars for the Vail Jazz Party (instructed by the Clayton Brothers), featured the DOWNBEAT article for "Up in Coming Musicians," chosen as TA/clinician for IAJE’s "Sisters in Jazz" Quintet in 2000, and performed lead also saxophone for the legendary Ray Charles Big Band.  Ms. Fuller has taught at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, University of Massachusetts at Amherst "Jazz in July" program, University of Denver "Colorado Jazz Workshop" and performed a weeklong residency at Miami-Dade Community College (Miami, FL) where she served as clinician/guest artist in local middle school, high school, and college ensembles.

PETER SOMMER

Peter Sommer works as a freelance saxophonist and private instructor in the Denver/Boulder area.  He received his Bachelor degrees in Music and Biology from the University of Colorado and completed his Masters in Jazz Performance and Pedagogy at CU in December of 2002.  During his time at CU, Peter was awarded first place in the Jazz Improvisation Competition at the North American Saxophone Alliance National Conference, was the recipient of Downbeat Student Music Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Jazz Soloist, Outstanding Performance in the Blues/Pop/Rock category, and was a member of three jazz combos that received Downbeat Student Music Awards for Outstanding Performance by a small jazz group. 
Peter has performed in concert with John Fedchock, Mike Lee, Greg Gisbert, Dave Pietro, Bobby Shew, and Jim McNeely.  Peter can be heard locally with Kenny Walker, Mitchell Long, Marc Sabatella, and Art Lande.

GRANT LANGFORD

Saxophonist Grant Langford has been residing in Brooklyn, NY for two years.  Prior to that he studied jazz performance at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston earning a BM in Jazz Studies.  Mr. Langford has performed all over the country with such notables as Eric Reed, Ben Dixon, Bradford Leali, the Harlem Renaissance Jazz Orchestra, the Brooklyn Big Band, and the Will Tirrell Quintet.  He currently leads his own Quintet that performs his original music primarily.  He will be releasing his debut CD entitled The Chase in late summer 2002.

CLARE CHURCH

Clare Church is a respected Denver jazz saxophonist, having played alongside Ron Miles, Fred Hess, Eric Gunnison, Art Lande, Lannie Garrett, and many others, as well as backing national names such as Natalie Cole, Mel Torme, Nancy Wilson, George Shearing, Dizzy Gillespie, and Benny Carter.  She is a regular member of the San Francisco-based Joe Henderson big band.  She  is also active in the Denver area freelance scene having worked for the Buell Theatre, the Arvada Center Theatre, and the Colorado Symphony.  Clare earned the BM degree from Northern Illinois University and the MM from the University of Colorado at Boulder.  She currently teaches saxophone and jazz at the CU-Denver Campus and Metropolitan State College of Denver, is on the faculty of the Mile High Jazz Camp, and adjudicates at various festivals throughout Colorado in addition to maintaining an active private lesson studio.

Trumpet:

GREG GISBERT

Greg Gisbert is one of New York’s busiest jazz trumpet players.  He has played jazz and/or lead with the bands of Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Clark Terry, Maria Scheider, John Fedchock, Horace Silver, and the Frank Sinatra East Coast Orchestra, and is currently performing with the Carnegie Hall Orchestra.  Greg has three solo CD’s on the Crisscross jazz label.

JOHN MCNEIL

John McNeil has been playing trumpet professionally since the age of fifteen.  He studied music at the University of Portland (Oregon) and the University of Miami.  In the mid-seventies John moved to New York City and began pursuing a career as a freelance musician and jazz artist.  He has played with Gerry Mulligan, the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, and Horace Silver, among others.  John has recorded seven albums under his own name and has led his own groups for the past dozen years.  Mr. McNeil’s teaching credits include ten years with the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Clinics and also a position as Adjunct Professor of Jazz Studies at the New England Conservatory of Music, which he currently holds.

LAURIE FRINK

Laurie Frink, born in Pender, Nebraska, has toured throughout the world playing trumpet with the big bands of Benny Goodman, Gerry Mulligan, Mel Lewis, Bob Mintzer, Maria Schneider, Andrew Hill, Dave Liebman, and Kenny Wheeler. Her diverse career includes numerous Broadway shows, radio and television jingles, movie soundtracks, and guest appearances with artists such as T.S. Monk and David Bowie.   Her versatility as an artist has led to performances with the Manhattan Brass Quintet, the Saturday Brass Quintet, and the Gramercy Park Brass. Considered the foremost authority and teacher of the Carmine Caruso method, she attracts professional brass players from around the world.  In addition to her private studio, she has served on the faculties of New School for Social Research, SUNY Purchase, Stoneybrook, New York University, Westchester Conservatory, Harbor Junior High School for Performing Arts, Manhattan School of Music, and the Mile High Jazz Camp. She has  been a featured artist at the International Trumpet Competition in Kiev, and the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Goteborg, Sweden.  Ms. Frink is a member of the International Association for Jazz Education and is a member of the Board of Directors for the International Trumpet Guild.

JASON PALMER

Jason Palmer has been playing the trumpet for the past 12 years.  While attending the Greensboro Music Academy in North Carolina, he was awarded the "best jazz soloist"  award at the North Carolina Central University Jazz festival in 1996 and 1997.  He later went on to study at the New England Conservatory of music, where he was able to study artists such as Danilo Perez, George Russell, Jerry Bergonzi, John McNeil, Bob Brookmeyer, and Cecil McBee. Mr. Palmer was a resident at the 2000 Thelonious Monk Institute Jazz at Aspen Snowmass in Aspen, Colorado.  There, he was able to study and perform with jazz legends such as Herbie Hancock, Joshua Redman, Brian Blade, Christian McBride, Jimmy Smith, Poncho Sanchez, and Fred Wesley.  During his time in Boston, Jason has been fortunate to share the stage with Wynton Marsalis, Benny Golson, Lewis Nash, Billy Pierce, Roy Hargove, and Chico O'Farrill.  He has perfomed at venues such as Sculler's Jazz Club, Ryles Jazz Club, Tremont Theatre, Les Zygomates, and The Good Life.  Along with week engagements at the Wonderbar, Mr. Palmer has performed at the Bell South Jazz festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as well as the Marblehead jazz festival as a member of Kendrick Oliver's New Life Jazz Orchestra. Jason is currently a faculty member of New England Conservatory's prepatory school.  His future plans include attending the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program, Steans Institute for Young Artists at Ravinia, as well as performing at the Newport and Tanglewood Jazz Festivals.

BRYCE LUTY

Bryce Luty has recently retired as director of Jazz Studies and trumpet at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, KS.  Mr. Luty received his BME from Bethany College, his MME from Wichita State University, and did additional graduate work at the University of North Texas.  His bands, while at HCC, made many appearances at state, regional, national, and international music conferences including the national MENC in Chicago, and the international IAJE in Washington, D.C.  During the summer of 1997 his college band was invited and performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland, and also played at Euro Disney in Paris.  For two years, "93" and "94," he served as director of the National Community College "All Star" Jazz Ensemble at the Annual IAJE Conference in San Antonio and Boston.  He has been a member of the faculty of the Mile High Jazz Camp at the University of Colorado since its beginning.  He performs professionally with his own quartet and quintet and conducts the Salt City Jazz Big Band.  He has played professionally in Las Vegas and has contracted for many of the top names in show business.  He is the Central States Coordinator for IAJE and is an education specialist, trumpet soloist, and clinician for Benge trumpets with United Musical Instruments, Inc.

GORDON CURTIS

Gordon Curtis resides in Colorado Springs where he represents Selmer, Ludwig, and Glaesel instruments in a six-state region.  Since completing a three-year tour with the NORAD Commanders Orchestra, he has worked extensively as a professional trumpet player.  He has appeared with such artists as Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Vic Damone, Ella Fitzgerald, Kenny Rogers, Nelson Riddle, and Maynard Ferguson.  Since 1979, Gordon has been on jazz camp faculties at Oklahoma State and Emporia State Universities and the Telluride Academy in Telluride, CO.  He holds a music education degree from Indiana University and has served on the advisory board for the School of Music at the University of Colorado at Denver.

Trombone:

DENNIS WILSON

After graduating from Berklee College of Music, Dennis Wilson began his professional career with Lionel Hampton as trombonist, arranger, and musical director. He has been a lead/solo trombonist for the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, The New Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and for ten years with Count Basie and his Orchestra. He received a Grammy Award nomination for arrangements created for Manhattan Transfer. He has performed on over six Grammy Winning Albums with the Count Basie Orchestra. His experience includes work with many jazz greats including Sarah Vaughn, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry, and Joe Williams. In May of 2000 Professor Dennis Wilson joined the music faculty of the University of Michigan, School of Music. His duties at Michigan include directing their Jazz Lab Ensemble, Jazz Trombone Ensemble, Jazz Flute Ensemble, and arranging. Working with outstanding artists/jazz educators Ed Sarath, Ellen Rowe and Donald Walden, Wilson also coordinates the University of Michigan, Rhythm Section Institute and is the Executive Director of the University of Michigan Jazz Festival. He currently leads the trombone section of the new and prestigious Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra under the musical direction of Mr. Jon Faddis. His Carnegie Hall Jazz Band concerts include four seasonal engagements at Carnegie Hall as well as tours throughout the USA and Europe.                           
   
LOLLY BIENENFELD

Lolly Bienenfeld studied tenor trombone at the New England Conservatory of Music. Her goal was to secure a position in one of the country's symphony orchestras, however, plans took a major turn in 1973 when she joined Isis, a recording/touring rock band. This led to studio work in New York City on rock and pop albums as well as jingles. During this time, Lolly worked in Broadway pit orchestras, was on staff at the Apollo Theater, and played many of New York's major music venues. Ms. Bienenfeld's primary introduction to the jazz world came with membership in the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. Other interests have included working with many of New York's premier Salsa bands and performing with classical chamber groups. Lolly enjoys an active free lance career in New York City.

MARK PATTERSON 

Mark Patterson, originally from Evergreen, CO, was inspired to study music by his bassist/trombonist father Dick Patterson.  An honors graduate of the University of Denver, he won a position with the Central City Opera Orchestra.  After three seasons with Central City, Mark moved to New York City and was recruited by Skitch Henderson as trombonist and music librarian for the New York Pops Orchestra—positions he still holds.  He has since worked with such jazz artists as Toshiko Akiyoshi, Charli Persip, Tom Pierson, Jack McDuff, Jaki Byard, Carl Fontana, Eddie Palmieri, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.  He occasionally leads his own quartet in jazz club engagements and has for several years worked with the Rainbow Room Orchestra, often leading the group.  He appears on Dale Bruning’s recently-released recording Tomorrow’s Reflections.  Mark’s compositions and arrangements have been performed or recorded by the BMI Jazz Composers’ Orchestra and the Tony Corbiscello Big Band.  He lives in Nyack, NY with his wife, Pat, and five-year-old daughter, Margaret.

 BRENT CAMPBELL

Brent Campbell holds degrees of BME (SUNY Potsdam, 1981) and MME (Brandon University, 1989).  He has taught courses at St. Lawrence University, Brandon University, and at both junior and senior high level in Manitoba.  He is a past board member of the International Music Camp and past Coordinator of the Brandon Jazz Festival.  He is currently the Canadian representative to the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) Executive Broad, Director of the University of Manitoba Summer Jazz Camp, Canadian Consultant to the Essentially Ellington program of Jazz at the Lincoln Center in New York City and Executive Director of the Brandon Jazz Festival.  Mr. Campbell teaches concert and jazz bands at Vincent Massey High School in Brandon, Manitoba.

JEFF YOUNG

Jeffrey Young is currently the instrumental music director at Montbello High School in the Denver Public Schools.  He also maintains a private studio where he specializes in teaching trombone, jazz improvisation and jazz theory.  Mr. Young holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the Berklee College of Music and a Master of Music degree in trombone performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder.  While at CU he was a graduate assistant in the Jazz Studies Department.  Mr. Young formerly taught instrumental music in the Aurora Public Schools at the middle and high school levels. As a professional trombone player he has performed around the Denver area freelancing with such outstanding groups as the Creative Music Works Orchestra, Jazz Spectrum and the Cleo Parker Dance Ensemble.  Mr. Young has had the pleasure of assisting such star entertainers as Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Maria Schneider, Carl Carlton, Peaches & Herb, Slide Hampton and many others.

Rhythm:

ANDREW GREEN

A professional musician since the age of 15, Brooklyn Guitarist Andy Green has performed with such jazz luminaries as Donald Byrd, Billy Hart, Willie Smith, and John McNeil among others.  His playing reflects both the visceral sense of swing gained from many nights spent in the highly rarified atmosphere of soulful organ gigs and the heady harmonic recidivism delineated by the great modern composers.  Add a patina of Brazilian rhythmic sensibility and you get a truly spirited approach to the guitar.  Andy’s compositions have been performed and recorded by some of the most creative groups in modern jazz.  They combine a disparate array of influences in unique and challenging ways, reflecting Andy’s singularly iconoclastic take on jazz.  In addition to performing in the jazz arena, Andy has worked in a wide variety of contexts from Broadway shows to Brazilian dance bands, but alas, rarely polkas.  He’s still working on it.

JEFF JENKINS

Jeff Jenkins is Music Director and Pianist of the Denver Chapter of Hearts and Voices.  His professional experience includes Unexpected Journeys, One World, Party, and Party 2 for American Gramaphone Records, In Every Moment, Nelson Rangell, and Truest Heart for GRP Records, and tours of musical productions such as The Who’s Tommy, Forever Plaid, Always Patsy, Little Shop of Horrors, and Beehive.  Jeff has been sideman with Marlena Shaw, Freddie Hubbard, Richie Cole, Bobby Shew, Hank Crawford, Jovan Jackson, Dave Grusin, Nelson Rangell, and Ernie Watts.

KEN WALKER

Ken Walker received the BA degree from Arkansas Tech.  Through 1985 he worked as a freelance bassist playing in the Little Rock area.  In late 1985 he moved to Denver where he has become one of the busiest bass players in the area, playing clubs, festivals, and concerts.  He participated in the Young Audience Program through the Denver Public Schools, was on the faculty of the Mile High Jazz Camp, and has been a member of the Lamont School of Music faculty.  In addition to his applied studio duties, Ken coaches the Hard Bop and Latin Combos.  He is the bassist for the Lamont Faculty Jazz Ensemble, "The Climb," which was chosen to perform at the 1995 International Association of Jazz Educators Convention in Anaheim.  This group regularly performs clinics and concerts throughout the Rocky Mountain Region and has released a CD with compositions and arrangements by the members.  Ken has played with a host of highly regarded musicians including the late Eddie Harris, Randy Brecker, Nat Adderly, Jimmy Witherspoon, Butch Miles, Frank Mantooth, Art Lande, Bob Dorough, and many others too numerous to mention.  Ken has performed at the following festivals:  Telluride, Jazz Aspen in Snowmass, Glenwood Springs, Westcliffe, Breckenridge, Winter Park, Taos, NM, Laramie, WY, Mobile, AL, and the Mile High Jazz Festival.  He can be heard on 15 CD’s including To Someone with Fred Wesley, Witness with Ron Miles, Comes Love with Lannie Garrett, I Ain’t Doing Too Bad and Hurry Up and Slow Down with James Van Buren, three of the Live at Vartan Jazz recordings with Lew Tabackin, Valery Ponomarev and Charles McPherson, Because I Love You with Rich Chiaraluce, "The Climb" and most recently on Valery Ponomarev’s A Star for You.

HAROLD SUMMEY, JR.

Harold F. Summey, Jr., a Newport News, Virginia native, won first prize at the Sixth Annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 1992.  In addition to receiving the BA degree in music and applied percussion from Hampton University in 1985 and receiving an MM in jazz studies degree from Howard University in 1995, he has performed with many great artists and ensembles.  The list includes Sonny Rollins, Whitney Houston, Wynton Marsalis, Gary Bartz, Geri Allen, David "Fathead" Newman, Bobby Watson, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, and the Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra.  Mr. Summey was also a member of the United States Navy Band in Washington, DC where he was a percussionist in the Concert Band from 1989 to 1993.  He currently leads the Harold Summey Quintet, Quartet, and Trio which perform regularly.  In addition to performing, Mr. Summey is also an educator.  He is the percussion instructor at Howard University at at the Suitland High School for the Visual and Performing Arts.  He teaches privately and has conducted clinics and seminars on both jazz and percussion.




JOE ANDERIES

Joe attended Mesa State College and North Texas State University where he majored in jazz studies and flute performance.  He later graduated from Metro State College in Denver with degrees in Flute Performance and Music Education and more recently completed his masters degree at the University of Colorado in Music Education and Saxophone.  For the past 10 years he has been teaching music in Douglas County and Denver Public Schools.  Prior to teaching he was active as a  professional musician.  He helped form the group IMAGES and was featured on three national recordings.   In 1998 he toured nationally with the jazz group "The Young Lions" as a part of a touring show called "This is America."  He continues to be active in the professional realm, playing and recording with keyboardists Rob Mullins, Mark Sloniker, and Ron Miles.  During the past ten years, he has been developing the "Music Beyond Borders" concept and curriculum for elementary students.  This features an overlay of technology assisted jazz instruction, call and response improvisation work, and a professional mentor program for beginning instrumentalists.  He is currently on the IAJE resource team for Elementary/Middle School Instrumental and last year took a group of 6th and 7th grade students, the "Jazz Explosion" to perform at the New Orleans IAJE Convention.  Joe is also active as a clinician and is on the faculty for the Mile High Jazz Camp in Boulder.

RICH INOUYE

Richard Inouye, is Musical Director and saxophonist with The Falconaires Jazz Ensemble of The United States Air Force Band of the Rockies (formerly the United States Air Force Academy Band).  He is also Director of the Colorado College Tiger Jazz Ensemble in Colorado Springs CO. Rich received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Northern Colorado in 1981 where he was a member of the nationally acclaimed Jazz Lab Band I.  After graduating from college he was a recognized instrumental music educator in the Boulder and Longmont Colorado public schools and directed the Breckenridge Music Festival Jazz Ensemble.  A committed jazz educator, he is an officer on the executive board of the Colorado Unit of the International Association of Jazz Educators and also sits on the Colorado All-State Jazz Band Committee.  He is currently finishing a Master of Music degree in jazz performance and pedagogy at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

PETE LEWIS

Pete Lewis is a Denver-area based saxophonist.  Pete received his degree from the University of Illinois and performed in Portland, Oregon and San Francisco, California before coming to the Denver area.  He has performed with the Joe Henderson Big Band, Neophonic Big Band, Maria Schneider, Natalie Cole, Art Lande, and the Colorado Symphony to name a few.  In addition to his performing activities, Pete composes for jazz bands and concert bands.  He also holds a teaching position as director of bands/jazz bands at Platt Middle School in Boulder, Colorado.

TIM LIBBY

Tim Libby is currently the director of bands at Cherry Creek High School.  A 1996 Graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with Bachelor of Music Education and Trumpet Performance degrees, Mr. Libby continues to play professionally in the Denver Metro area as a freelance trumpet player as well as teach at Cherry Creek.  Mr. Libby performs regularly with Cojunto Colores, Joel Kay’s Neophonic Orchestra, the Augustana Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra, and the Augustana Brass.  His experience includes performances with Arturo Sandoval, Milt Hinton, Dave Brubeck, Clark Terry,  Bobby Shew, the Manhattan Transfer as well as many others.

SCOTT MONTGOMERY

Scott Montgomery has Bachelor of Music performance degree from Wichita State University where he studied with Dr. Julie Bees.  He was a finalist in the inaugural Thelonious Monk Competition for solo jazz piano held in Washington, DC.  Scott is currently playing and teaching in Denver where he recently won a regional Emmy.

DREW MORELL

Drew Morell has been a professional jazz musician and educator in the Denver area for the last 15 years.  He was employed by the Baldwin Piano Company at the age of 18 when he began his career as an educator and was eventually made head of the department.  Subsequently he opened his own music studio:  Infinity Music.  Drew is a working pianist and bassist and is currently performing with such groups as The Neophonic Jazz Orchestra, The Crisman Quintet, Laura Newman and AOA, and the James Barela Duo and Trio.  He has also been very active as a studio musician recording on both bass and piano.  He is currently working with other top performers such as Rich Chiaraluce, Bob Montgomery, Ellyn Rucker, and Greg Carroll.

MICHAEL PAGAN

Michael Pagán joined the jazz faculty at the University of Colorado Boulder in 1998.  He currently teaches History of Jazz and directs one of the jazz combos in addition to teaching other courses in CU’s jazz program.  Mike received his Doctor of Music degree from Northwestern University and his Master of Arts degree from Kent State University, both in composition.  He has received numerous awards and commissions for his compositions and arrangements and honors from the Minnesota Music Educators Association and the International Association of Jazz Educators.  Mike has recorded for the Cadence Jazz Records, DYMUSIC (France) and most recently, Capri Records label,s and his compositions are available through P&D Jazz Publications and UNC Jazz Press.

JIM STRANAHAN

Jim Stranahan received his Bachelors of Music Education and MA in conducting from the University of Denver.  He has been an instrumental music instructor in the Denver area for the past twenty-four years.  He was the band instructor at Evergreen High School from 1976-82.  During that time, his jazz ensembles received accolades at the local and national festivals including the Wichita Jazz Festival and the national Music Educators Conference.  Jim has taught at West Middle School in the Cherry Creek School district for the past seventeen years.  The program at West includes teaching jazz improvisation to all ensembles and instruments and utilizing notable guest mentor musicians as instructors and co-performers.  Jim has been a professional freelance saxophone player in the Denver area for the past twenty-six years.  He lives with his wife and two children in Highlands Ranch.

DAVE WISKE

Dave Wiske is currently the band director and department chair at Thornton High School in Thornton, Colorado.  He holds both BME and MME degrees in music education from the University of Northern Colorado, where he was also a member of UNC’s Lab I and the Grammy-nominated vocal jazz group, the "Axidentals."  Dave is currently serving as the Vice President for the Colorado Unit of IAJE and has been invited to teach at jazz camps in Colorado, Wyoming, Wisconsin, and Kansas.  In addition to his busy teaching schedule, Dave works in the Denver area as a freelance trombonist and vocalist.  He has performed with Natalie Cole, Billy Eckstine, Bobby Shew, Peter Erskine, Dennis DiBlasio, the Four Tops, the Supremes, and Rita Moreno, among others.

MIKE WHITE

Mike White is Director of Bands at Northglenn High School in Northglenn, CO.  He holds both BA and MA degrees in music education from the University of Northern Colorado.  Under Mr. White’s direction, the jazz bands, concert bands, and marching bands have been among the best-in-the-state on a consistent basis.  The jazz bands at Northglenn High School have received outstanding recognition and received superior ratings at the State and National levels.  Mr. White has consistently placed students in the CBA All-State Jazz Band and has had his jazz band selected to perform at the Colorado Music Educators Clinic/Conference.  In addition Mr. White’s concert and marching bands have received consistent ratings including four State Marching Championships in the last seven years.  He was chosen as one of the top-60 Disney Teachers of the Year in 1994.  In addition to teaching, Mr. White leads a big band, Jazz Explosion, and plays trumpet as a free lance musician in the Denver area.  He is in his fifth year teaching with the Mile High Jazz Camps.