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Accolades for Jazz Studies Students

University of Eau Claire Students are Involved

Along with the many outstanding teachers the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire sends into the working world each year, the following is a list of accolades attributed to current students and *graduates from the Jazz Studies Area.

 *Jamie Andrews, Percussion BME 1998

  • Community Education Director for the Minnesota Opera

 

*Margaret Bailey, Percussion BA 2005

  • Operations Coordinator for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, 2005

 

*Andrew Classen, Trumpet, BME 1987  

  • University of Tennessee, 1992
    • M.M. in Trumpet Performance
  • Drake University, 1992-Present
    • Professor of Trumpet, Director of Jazz Studies
    • 2008, Fred Turner, former CEO of McDonald's, donated $1 million to Drake creating the Fred and Patty Turner Professorship of Jazz Studies.
    • Drake Jazz Ensemble One, winner of the UWEC Jazz Festival College Big Band division 5 times.
    • Principal Trumpet, Cedar Rapids Symphony
    • Conn/Selmer Artist

    Andrew Classen

Ben Covi, Trombone

  • MENC National College Honors Jazz Ensemble, Washington DC, 2000 (Arturo Sandoval, Directory)

 

*Aaron Doty, Double Bass, BME 1997

  • Orchestra Personnel and Operations Manager for the Washington National Opera Orchestra, 2005
  • Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from Ohio  University

 

Matt Franko, Trombone, BA 1999

  • Music career as a Los Angeles area composer, arranger, copyist and performer, 2006

 

Andy Frisinger, Saxophone

  • Down Beat Award for Best R&B Performance, 2000
  • MENC National College Honors Jazz Ensemble, Washington DC, 2000 (Arturo Sandoval, Director)

 

Matt Hall, Trombone

  • MENC National College Honors Jazz Ensemble, Washington DC, 2000 (Arturo Sandoval, Director)

 

*Andy Jaeger, Bass Trombone, BME 1999

  • Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 2000-2001
    • Bass Trombone, Philharmonic Orchestra, Indiana University
    • Bass Trombone, Top Jazz Ensemble, Indiana University

 

*Stacy Kern, Bari Saxophone, BME 2004

  • Alternate for the Mancini Institute Bari Sax/Woodwinds, Los Angeles, CA, 2003

 

*Kevin Kjos, Trumpet, BM 1989, MM 1991

  • Kutztown State University, Kutztown, PA, 1998-2000
    • Director of Jazz Studies
    • Associate Professor of Trumpet
  • Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MN 1997

 

Tom Krochock, Trumpet

  • Down Beat Award for Best Classical Trumpet Performance, 2003
  • Mancini Institute Trumpet Section, Los Angeles, CA, 2001 2002

 

*Dylan Kruziki, Trumpet, BM 2004

  • Lead Trumpet for Broadway Show Losrumbaleros, March-May 2001
  • Great American History Theatre, St.Paul, MN

 

*Larry Lelli, Percussion, BME 1990

  • Lead Percussionist for Broadway Show The Producers, 2004; also played for Broadway productions of Miss Saigon and Beauty and the Beast.
Larry Lelli

 

*Tom Luer, Saxophone, BM 1997

  • Guest Artist for Bethel Jazz Festival with North Texas State Jazz Trumpeter Mike Steinel, Dec. 2005, Bethel College

 

*Matt Mealey, Trumpet, BME 1999

  • University of Colorado, Coulder, 2001
    • Full Tuition Scholarship and Stipend
  • Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY, 1999-2000
    • Full Tuition Scholarship
    • Lead Trumpet, Eastman Jazz Ensemble, 2000
  • University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 1999-2000
    • Director of Jazz Ensemble
  • University of Wisconsin-Stout, 1997-1999
    • Director of Jazz Ensemble

 

*Jeremy Miloszewicz, Trumpet, BME 1996

  • Lead Trumpet for "Ragtime," Touring National Broadway Show, 2000-2001
  • Mancini Institute Trumpet section, Los Angeles, CA, 1999, 2001
  • Manhattan School of Music, New york, NY, 1997-98, 1998-99
    • Full Scholarship for Master's Program in Commercial and Jazz Music
      Lead Trumpet, Eastman Jazz Ensemble, 1997

 

*Amy Minor Schendel, Trumpet, BM 1998

  • Fulbright Award, 2003-2004
    • Scholarship to Study Music in Germany
  • Member of the Presidents Own Marine Band, August 2001
  • Principal Trumpet, Chicago Civic Orchestra, 2000 Season
  • Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 1999,2000
    • Principal Trumpet, Philharmonic Orchestra, Indiana University, 1999
      Concerto Competition Winner, Indiana University, February 2001

 

*Ed Mudrak, Trumpet, BME 2000

  • Holland America Cruise Lines, 2001, 2002

 

*Andy Neesley, Trumpet, BM 2003

  • American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award, 2004
  • Down Beat Award for Engineered Studio Recording, 2002
  • Recipient of the Betty Carter "Jazz Ahead" Workshop, Washington DC 2001
  • Winner of the National Trumpet Competition, Jazz Division, Washington DC, 1999
  • Third Place, International Trumpet Guild Jazz Competition, 1999

 

*Kyle Newmaster, Trumpet, BME 1999

  • Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY, 2000, 2001
    • Full Tuition Scholarship
    • Second Trumpet, Eastman Jazz Ensemble, 2000
  • Mancini Institute Trumpet Section, Los Angeles, CA, 2000, 2001

 

*Bill Olson, Saxophone and clarinet, BM 2001

  • Eastman School of Music, 2002
  • Down Beat Award for Best College Classical Soloist, 2002
  • Mancini Institute Saxophone Section, Los Angeles, CA, 2001, 2002

 

*Scott Pingel, Double Bass, BM 1996

  • Principal Bassist for the San Francisco Symphony, 2004 (Link to San Francisco Chronicle article about Scott's debut performance.)
  • Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY, 1997-98, 1998-99
    • Full Scholarship for Master's Program in Orchestral Performance
      Orchestra; Master's Degree in Orchestral Performance, 1999
  • Down Beat Award for Classical Instrumental Soloist-Double Bass, 1997
  • Finalist for Minnesota Orchestra Bass Position while still a student, 1997

 

*Matt Pivec, Saxophone, BME 2001

  • Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY, 2003-04, pursuing Doctor of Musical Arts
    • Graduate Assistantship
  • Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY, 2001, MM 2003
    • Full Tuition Scholarship
  • Disney Collegiate Jazz Ensemble, Florida and California, 1998, 1999

 

*Max Robinson, Saxophone, BA 2003

  • Lead Alto, Disney Collegiate Jazz Ensemble, 2002
  • Valleyfair Amusement Park, 1999,2000, 2001

 

*Todd Schendel, Trombone, BM 1998

  • Fulbright Award, 2003-2004
    • Scholarship to Study Music in Germany
  • Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 2000-2001
    • Principal Trombone, Philharmonic Orchestra, Indiana University

 

*Jamey Simmons, Trumpet, BM 1994, BME 1999

  • First Prize ($5,000) Winner in the Brussels Jazz Composition Contest, Brussels, Belgium, 2003
  • Down Beat Award for Best Jazz Arrangement, 2002
    • Eastman School of Music
  • Down Beat Award for beast Jazz Composition, 2001
    • Eastman School of Music
  • University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 2001
    • Director of Jazz Ensemble
  • Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY, 2000
    • Full Tuition Scholarship
    • Graduate Assistant in Composition and Arranging, 2000
    • M.M. in Jazz and Contemporary Medai, 2002

 

*Jesse Stacken, Piano, BME 2001

  • Manhattan School of Music, 2002
    • M.M. in Jazz Studies/Piano Performance
  • Assistant Director, Pianist and Bass Drummer of Disney All-American College Band, Summer 2002
  • Clinician for Wisconsin School Music Association at Wisconsin Music Educators Conference, Oct. 2001
  • University of Wisconsin-Stout, 1999-2001
    • Director of Jazz Ensemble
  • Pianist, Disney Collegiate All Star Jazz Ensemble, Disneyland, CA and Disney World, FL, 2000, 2001
  • Pianist with "5 by Design" for performance with the Northwest Pennsylvania Philharmonic Orchestra, April 2001; LaCrosse, WI, performance Sept. 2001; Southbend, IN, performance Nov. 2001

 

Adrian Suarez, Drums

  • Down Beat Award for Jazz Instrumental Soloist-Percussion, 2001
  • Aspen Music Festival and School, 2001
  • Performance with "Evidence" at Dakota Jazz Club, St. Paul, 2001; Artists Quarter Jazz Club, Minneapolis, 2001
  • MENC National Collegiate Honors Jazz Ensemble, Washington DC, 2000 (Director, Arturo Sandoval)

 

*John Timmers, Saxophone, Music Minor, 2004

  • MENC National Collegiate Honors Jazz Ensemble, Washington DC, 2000 (Director, Arturo Sandoval)

 

*Dan Urness, Trumpet, BME, 2004

  • Co-lead Trumpet, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Summer 2002
  • Allegro Simphonia Symphony Orchestra, Principal Trumpet, Wayzata, MN 2001
    • Performance of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra, April 2001

 

*Jeff Walk, Trumpet, BM 2002

  • Manhattan School of Music, 2002
    • Full Scholarship
  • Brevard Music Institute, S. Carolina, Summer 2002
  • Mancini Institute Trumpet Section, Los Angeles, CA, 2000, 2001

 

Dave Whitman, Percussion

  • Valleyfair Family Amusement Park, 2000, 2001
  • Suite E Studios Recording, Atlanta, with John Horesco of So So Def, 2003
  • Performance at Pro Skate Exhibition, Lexington, KY, 2003
  • Abstract Visions Recording, Atlanta, 2003
  • Marching Band Compositions Performed in Competition at BOA National Championships, Indianapolis

 

* UW-Eau Claire Graduate    (Graduates - Send updates to the Webmaster) 

Contact Information: 
Robert Baca
Director of Jazz Studies
250 Haas Fine Arts
UW-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI 54702
(715) 836-4371 bacarj@uwec.edu

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