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Visiting Guest
Artist –
Peter Erskine has been at the forefront of world-class jazz ensembles for thirty years. He joined Weather Report in 1978. The excellence of the partnership between Erskine and bassist Jaco Pastorius was an integral part of that group's success. Eskine has appeared on over 400 CD recordings. Peter has recorded twelve solo albums: "Peter Erskine,” "Transition,” "Motion Poet,” "Sweet Soul,” "Big Theatre,” and his ECM recordings “You Never Know,” "Time Being,” "As It Is,” and "Juni,” as well as "History of the DRUM,” "Behind Closed Doors,” and "Side Man Blue” on his own label FUZZY MUSIC. Erskine is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, and studied percussion with George Gaber at Indiana University. His own pedagogical efforts include 3 instructional videos, a performance video titled "Peter Erskine Trio / Live at JazzBaltica" (Hudson Music.) as well as 3 drum instruction books, the most recent being titled "Drumset Essentials, Vol. 1,” part of a trilogy of books for Alfred Music Publishing. His other books include "Drum Concepts & Techniques" and "The Drum Perspective,” both published by the Hal Leonard Corp. Peter conducts clinics, classes and seminars world-wide. Peter teaches at the University of Southern California, and is the "Jazz Drumming Consultant" to the Royal Academy of Music in London. He has won the Modern Drummer Magazine Readers' Poll in the Mainstream Jazz Drummer category 7 times, and was awarded an honorary Doctorate degree from the Berklee College of Music. Peter was the soloist along with Evelyn Glennie at the world premiere of a new Double Concerto for Percussion, titled "Fractured Lines," composed by Mark-Anthony Turnage, in London at the Proms in July 2000 with Sir Andrew Davis conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra |
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Visiting
Clinician/Guest Artist –
Michele Weir is currently a faculty member at U.C.L.A. and previously taught at U.S.C., C.S.U. Long Beach and the Phil Mattson School. In demand internationally as a jazz clinician/adjudicator, recent notable presentations include the World Choral Symposium in the Netherlands, the National A.C.D.A Conference and the I.A.J.E Convention. Michele has served as co-chair of vocal jazz for I.A.J.E., as an ARTS panelist for the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts and as co-conductor of the World Youth Choir. An extremely versatile musician, Michele was music supervisor for the foreign language dubs of the Dreamworks film, "Prince of Egypt," in Mexico, Greece, Portugal, Denmark, Thailand and Japan. As a performer, Michele has toured internationally as pianist with various artists such as Bobby Vinton as well as performing as guest vocal artist for numerous festivals. Michele was vocalist and arranger for Grammy-nominated "Phil Mattson and the PM Singers." As a writer, Micheleˆs arrangements and compositions have been performed by major US symphonies, Disneyworldˆs live performing group, "American Vibe," the Holland America Cruise Line, the HR Radio Big Band of Frankfurt and numerous vocal groups including Chanticleer, New York Voices, Beachfront Property, Voice Trek, M-Pact and others. Other arrangements or compositions have been featured on Disneyˆs "101 Dalmatians Sing-along CD," the Shari Lewis television show, and the C.B.S. TV movie, "The Patty Duke Show Revisited." Her published vocal arrangements are issued by Hal Leonard, Heritage Jazz Press, Sound Music Publications, MichMusic, and the U.N.C. Jazz Press. Michele's educational book/CD, "Vocal Improvisation" was released in 2000. Her new book/CD Set, "Jazz Singers Handbook" (Alfred Publications) will be released fall, 2004. In 2004, Michele initiated the MichMusic publishing company |
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Visiting Clinician – CHRIS MERZ Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Iowa, Chris has toured with Dave Brubek and played lead alto saxphone with several East Coast groups, including the Cecil Bridgewater Big Band. Merz has received commissions from university and high school jazz ensembles throughout the country and has several compositions and arrangements published by the UNC Jazz Press (Greeley, CO). Visiting Clinician – ROBERT WASHUT Professor of Music at the University of Northern Iowa. An accomplished jazz composer and arranger, Washut has received numerous commissions from collegiate jazz ensembles, professional jazz artists, and symphony orchestras. During his 22 years as director of the award-winning UNI Jazz Band One, Washut recorded 11 CDs (two of which earned 5-star ratings from DownBeat magazine). He is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the country and is an active jazz pianist. Visiting Clinician – ROBERT BACA University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Baca’s versatility as a consummate trumpet player and his contributions to music teaching have gained him wide recognition in jazz and classical areas of the performing arts. He has received a Bachelor of Music Education and Masters of Music from Indiana University. He has taught privately in public school systems for over 15 years and has worked as a band director in the Lockport, Illinois public schools.
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