Jazz Workshop Jeff Tower, Chairman: BA in Music Education, University of Northern Iowa, MM in Trombone Performance, University of Redlands; Director of Bands at Hemet High School for thirty-one years; played professionally behind such artists as Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Ray Charles and many others; instrumental music accomplishments include Downbeat Magazine’s DeeBee Award for best student recordings in the fields of Big Band Jazz and Classical Instrumental; honorary doctorate degree in music from Pacific Western University for musicality and educational accomplishments at the high school level in Southern California. Bobby Dominguez, percussion; studied drum set and Latin percussion with Joe Porcaro, Billy Moore, Chuck Flores and Todd Gregory. He has given numerous orchestral and jazz performances in Southern California performing with Brandon Fields, Russell Ferrante, John Patitucci, Don Mock, Riverside and San Bernardino Civic Light Opera Productions, Bill Watrous, Les Brown, Bobby Shew, Redlands Bowl Symphony, Inland Empire Symphony, Les Hooper, Jack Blades, and Rocco Presti. Dominguez appeared as the drummer in the 1988 CBS television series of Dirty Dancing, produced by Christopher Morgan and Mireiller Soria. He is currently on faculty at the University of La Verne, University of California at Riverside, Idyllwild Arts Summer Program, and the National Guitar Summer Workshop. He has provided instruction for twenty-two years at Lier’s Music Co., San Bernardino, California. He has served as a clinician at Hemet High School, and San Bernardino Valley, Crafton Hills, Chaffey, and Riverside Community Colleges. Lee Gause, trombone: Served thirty years as trombonist and leader of the United States Navy Band Commodores jazz ensemble in Washington, D.C. He has performed extensively at the White House and has toured throughout the US, Europe and South America. He has appeared at prestigious jazz festivals such as Newport, Detroit, Montreaux and national conventions including IAJE and The Midwest. As a freelance player, Gause has performed with many of the giants in the jazz entertainment business from Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennet, Natalie Cole and Henry Mancini to Dizzy Gillespie, Bob Mintzer, Christian McBride and Louie Bellson. Besides recordings with the Commodores he has appeared on projects with Bill Potts, Frank Mantooth, George Roumanis, Ashley Alexander and numerous recordings with the Washington Winds. He is an active musician and private teacher in the Washington area. Matt Harris, piano: BA, University of Miami, masters degree from Eastman School of Music; based in Los Angeles; keyboardist, composer/ arranger; previously toured with Maynard Ferguson and Buddy Rich; both leaders performed and recorded his charts, many of which are featured in the Kendor jazz catalog. Recording debut as a leader on Voss Records; most recently accepted an appointment as Director of Jazz Studies at California State University, Northridge. Jeff Hellmer, piano: declared “the real virtuoso” of Great American Jazz Piano Competition after one of his two recent appearances as a finalist in the nation’s most prestigious jazz piano competition; musical collaborations include Eddie Daniels, Harvey Pittel and the Lettermen; faculty member, University of Texas, Austin; maintains an active performing schedule at jazz venues in Austin as well as performing and teaching throughout the United States and abroad; compositions are available through UNC Press and Walrus Music. Tom Hynes, guitar: BM, University of Southern California, MA, California State University, Los Angeles; currently on faculty of Fullerton College, Citrus College and Cal State, Los Angeles; professional credits include Bob Hope, Danny Ganz, Bobby Vinton, Pia Zadora, Les Hooper, Louie Bellson, Lanny Morgan, Les Brown, the Mills Brothers, and The Fifth Dimension; guest artist, clinician and adjudicator for numerous festivals in California and Arizona; directed the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association High School Honor Jazz Ensemble. Jeff Jarvis, trumpet; Director of Jazz Studies at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSU, Long Beach. Music Director Emeritus of the Central New York Jazz Orchestra and is a former Vice-President of the International Association For Jazz Education. He is part-owner of Kendor Music, Inc. Jeff’s early career as a studio trumpeter encompasses over 100 albums for such names as Lou Rawls, Melba Moore, The O’Jays, and many more. He has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Louie Bellson, Benny Golson, Jon Hendricks, Joe Lovano, Henry Mancini, Slide Hampton, Eddie Daniels, and Doc Severinsen. Jeff is frequently commissioned to compose for schools, military and professional musical groups, along with serving as a contributing editor for The Instrumentalist, and other music trade journals. A Yamaha trumpet artist, Jeff has been featured with the USAF Airmen of Note, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Jazz Orchestra, US Army Jazz Ambassadors, Riverside Jazz Orchestra, Oslo Big Band (Norway), US Army Blues, Frank Mantooth Jazz Orchestra, Denver Symphony Orchestra, USAF Shades of Blue, and more. Matt Johnson, drums: considered one of Southern California’s most versatile drummers, the Los Angeles Times proclaimed Matt Johnson “a hurricane on sticks!” Best known for his jazz stylings, he is equally versed in all forms of pop drumming and has performed with a range of entertainers from singers Julie Andrews and Andy Williams to Surf-rock pioneers Jan and Dean to big band legends Billy May and Les Brown. Modern Drummer Magazine said Johnson possesses “captivating technique and creativity.” Along with his busy performance schedule, since 1993, he has worked to inspire the next generation of young drummers as part of the music faculty’s of Fullerton College and the Idyllwild Arts Summer Jazz Workshop. A recent entry on ratemyprofessors.com said, “discipline and control dominate his playing and teaching...personality and charisma bring students back again and again.” Rob Lockart, saxophone: BM in music theory with a performers certificate and MM from Eastman School in Jazz Studies, as well as attending the Banff School with Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler, and David Liebman. He has played with the Woody Herman Orchestra, Tom Harrell Big Band, Doc Severinsen Big Band, Joe LaBarbera Quintet, Kurt Elling, in addition to single performances with Dave Liebman, Mel Lewis, Hank Jones, Clark Terry, and as a soloist with the Houston
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FACULTY BIOS
Symphony Orchestra. His teachers include Dave Liebman, Al Regni, Micheal Nascimben, Joe Allard, Ramon Ricker, and Mardele Marcellus. As a jazz artist he is a featured sideman with Steve Houghton, Bob Sheppard, Bill Cunliffe, Matt Harris, and Mitch Watkins for Enja records. In TV and film Rob has worked on Star Trek, Jag, Party of Five, Fish Police and many films including the jazz score of Dillinger with Charlie Haden. He has taught for over 20 years in New York, New Orleans, Austin and Los Angeles. Charlie Richard, saxophone; one of the founding members of the Orion Saxophone Quartet, is a frequent performer in the Los Angeles area. He has appeared with the Redlands Symphony, the Riverside Civic Light Opera, Dinah Shore, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, the Mark Masters’ Jazz Composers Orchestra of Los Angeles and the Kevin Mayse Big Band. A graduate of the California State University, Los Angeles, where he received both Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts degrees, he has studied saxophone with Harvey Pittel, Anthony Desiderio and Vito Susca. His compositions are published by the UNC Jazz Press, and he has been the recipient of a “deebee” award from Downbeat magazine for Best Original Extended Composition. Charlie is currently Co-chair of the Music Department at Riverside Community College, where he also teaches studio saxophone and directs the Jazz Ensembles. Bart Samolis, bass: A successful session and touring artist, he has performed and recorded with various jazz and contemporary music acts. Playing fretted, fretless, upright and orchestral basses, he can be seen and heard world-wide, in all media as well as live performances. In the studio, his movie credits are many, including Dreamgirls, The Invasion, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Superman Returns, The Fantastic Four, and The X-Men. Bart has also recorded many TV themes and cues including MadMen, Battlestar Galactica, and The Practice. He has also been working with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Educational Program developing high school orchestras and jazz bands. His forte however , is constantly searching for a new approach to his instrument. This is clearly evident in his recordings and becomes even more dynamic in his live performances. Dan St. Marseille, saxophone: recordings are heard internationally on jazz radio. Three of St. Marseille’s CD’s received four star ratings in the third edition of the All Music Guide To Jazz; The Experts Guide To The Best Jazz Recordings. In addition to local and national tours, Dan has performed in Europe, Canada, and many jazz clubs and festivals including a headline performance at the Coleman Hawkins Festival in Topeka, Kansas. His own composition Claxography, was chosen as the title of Claxton’s new book of photographs. Dan’s performance was released in Japan on Toshiba-EMI records on a compilation disc featuring Clifford Brown, Zoot Sims, Art Blakey and others. In May of 2001, Dan was the music director for an international event entitled Clickin’ With Clax at the Los Angeles County Museum Of Art. He is also an educator, having presented workshops at major colleges and universities and he maintains a regular teaching studio in Southern California. Ron Stout, trumpet: Ron has been involved with teaching Jazz Theory/ Improvisation and trumpet since 1978, both as a private instructor and in the role of clinician, while traveling and playing with the Woody Herman Orchestra (1984-90). Since 1991 Ron has taught part-time, recorded and performed in and around Los Angeles, traveling occasionally to Europe. He has worked with the Righteous Brothers, Bill Medley, Jose Feliciano, Frankie Laine, Lou Rawls, Debbie Reynolds, Gloria Loring, to name a few. Ron spent three seasons traveling and recording with Horace Silver in groups ranging from the classic quintet setting to the ten-piece brass ensemble. His other small group jazz work has been with Karl Denson, Pepper Adams, and Supersax, Les Czimber, Poncho Sanchez, Matt Zebley, and David Berger. He can be heard locally and traveling with big bands and also has his own modern quintet, featuring Jerry Pinter on tenor saxophone. Additional Faculty TBA.
Piano Performance Doug Ashcraft has performed throughout the United States and Europe in venues that include Carnegie Recital Hall, Alice Tully Hall, London’s Wigmore Hall, and Jacqueline Du Pre Hall at Oxford University in England. He has won prizes in many competitions including the Young Keyboard Artists Association, Music Teacher’s National Association, and the American pianists Association. He completed his masters and doctoral degrees at the University of Southern California working with pianist John Perry. He has participated in the Aspen Music School and the Holland Music Sessions in Alkmaar, Netherlands. He has been a member of the Idyllwild Arts Academy faculty since 1995. Currently, he serves as Dean of the Arts at the Academy.
Song and Dance Joel D. Pressman, Director: With degrees in Voice and Conducting from the University of Southern California, Mr. Pressman has an extensive background in performing, directing and teaching musical theatre. A member of the Broadway cast of Lerner & Loewe’s Gigi, he has also performed with the Los Angeles and San Francisco Civic Light Opera companies, with Valley Opera, Opera a Ia Carte, as conductor/singer of the Disneyland Carolers, and as singer in such diverse situations as Barbra Streisand’s Higher Ground CD, the Ojai Festival and opera for children at the Hollywood Bowl. After 35 years teaching musical theatre and vocal music at Beverly Hills High School and 26 seasons producing musical theatre at Idyllwild Arts, Mr. Pressman is also in demand as soloist and clinician. His students have appeared in the Broadway or National companies of shows such as Light in the Piazza, Wicked, High School Musical, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Ragtime, Cabaret, Aida, City of Angels, Assassins, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Cats, A Chorus Line, and 42nd Street. Marina Benedict, Professional dancer as series regular and guest star for television series on the WB, CBS, Fox, and TNN. Dance coach and choreographer for music videos, live performances, concerts, and commercials for entertainment companies such as MTV, BMG, and A & M Records, as well as for musicians including N’SYNC, Moby, and RunDMC. Training includes Cornish College of the Arts, Joffrey School of Ballet and The Royal Academy of Dance in London. Richard Berent, accompanist: has an active career as pianist, musical director, and composer in the Los Angeles area. His original musicals have been produced at regional theaters throughout the United States. He is a staff accompanist at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, where he helps train the next batch of Tony Award winners. Janet Miller has been a director, choreographer and educator for thirty years. Her choreography was recently seen off-Broadway at the Westside Theatre in The Marvelous Wonderettes. She received a nomination for a 2009 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Choreographer for this production. Ms. Miller is the Resident Director for Phantom Projects and the Artistic Director for MB Players. She is the recipient of the 2003 Excellence in Art Award for Drama from the city of Torrance. Janet received a 2003 Choreography Garland for The Marvelous Wonderettes, in addition to the 2006 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Choreography. In 2008, she received a Garland and a LADCC award for choreography for Winter Wonderettes. She holds a BA in Musical Theater from CSUN, and an MA in Theater from CSULA. She is adjunct faculty at Cerritos College and CSULA. Ms. Miller is a proud member of SDC. Linda Muggeridge, costumer, has been a faculty member for the Song and Dance program for almost a decade. A resident of Southern California, she is also the costumer for Peninsula and Palos Verdes High Schools, Miraleste Middle School and Curtains Up! community theater company. Linda has her own costume company and maintains an extensive inventory of costume items. As a member of Miraleste Middle School’s arts staff, she is also keyboard accompanist for the choir program. Although she enjoys working as a costumer, her professional background in the performing arts includes stints with the Young Musicians Foundation, Performing Tree, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic (as Director of Education and Producer of Open House at the Hollywood Bowl). She served on the Governor’s panel to award the California State Awards for Arts Education and was a founding board member of Children’s Hospitals’ Mark Taper Arts Program. Linda is co-director of the non-profit organization Campus Concerts, which provides instrumental music performances to schools across Southern California. Wendy Knudsen Pylko, vocal coach: MM in Vocal Arts, University of Southern California; BA in Liberal Arts, Evergreen State College. She has worked as a teacher/artist for Los Angeles Opera’s Community and Education Department as well as Southland Opera and the cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. She was director of Vocal Music at Flintridge Preparatory School for four years. She has performed with Aspen Opera Theater, Minnesota Opera Institute, Opera Theater and Orange County Opera. Additional studies at The Music Academy of the West and the University of Oslo. Additional Faculty TBA
Nelms McKelvain is one of the Academy’s primary piano instructors. His students have won major competitions, including the Joanna Hodges Piano Competition and the Los Angeles Liszt Competition. They continue their studies at the finest colleges and conservatories in the country. He performs at the Academy with music faculty, students and guests. McKelvain received his Bachelor’s degree in piano performance from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and his Master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin, studying with internationally noted artist and teacher John Perry. His doctoral study was also with John Perry at the University of Southern California. Andrew Park won the first prize of Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition in Palm Desert, California in 1993. He has participated and performed in the Boston University Summer Festival, Tanglewood Music Festival, and Aspen Music Festival. He is a devoted performer of chamber music and has performed with musicians such as Hai Kyung Suh and his own group, the Park Trio. He was also invited to perform with OMC Orchestra and ICO Orchestra. He is a chairperson of MTNA Annual Evaluation and Sonata/Sonatina competition as well as a judge of SYMF and MTAC competitions. He has taught piano at the Idyllwild Arts Academy for three years, USC and LACC, and has lectured at USC Thornton School of Music. He completed his bachelor, masters, and doctoral degrees at the University of Southern California with pianist John Perry. He currently teaches at Bethesda Christian University in Anaheim, California. As a conductor, Dr. Park is music director at the Oriental Mission Church and the Private Eye Youth Chamber Orchestra.
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