Northwest Jazz Festival - Northwest College

Northwest
Jazz Festival
March 23
Powell High School Auditorium
Wednesday night concert featuring
Sixth Wave
including the Wyoming HS Allstate Jazz Choir
7:00 pm • $18 admission
This project is supported in part by a grant from the Wyoming Arts
Council, through funding from the
Wyoming State Legislature and National
Endowment for the Arts, which
believes that a great nation deserves
great art. NWC is an EOI.
March 24
Powell High School Auditorium
Thursday night concert featuring
Randy Brecker
including the Northwest Jazz Band
7:00 pm • $28 admission
www.northwestmusic.org

— t h u r s d a y —
R.A. NELSON AUDITORIUM
Adjudicators: Lou Fischer, Shuichi Komiyama
Time School Group Class Director
9:30 AM Cody MS — Cody Cool Cougs JH Ed Martin
10:00 Hardin MS — Hardin, MT Jazz Band JH Dohn Ratliff
10:30 Greybull HS — Greybull Jazz Band AA Marc Graham
11:00 Cody HS — Cody Jazz Band AAA Wade French
11:30 Pinedale HS — Pinedale Jazz Band I AA R. Craig Sheppard
12:00 PM Corvalis HS — Corvalis, MT CHS Jazz Band AAA Nancy Brown
12:30 LUNCH
1:30 Valley Christian HS — Missoula, MT Jazz Band A Dawn Douglass
2:00 Rock Springs HS — Rock Springs Tiger Jazz Orchestra AAAA Katie Uhl
2:30 Buffalo HS — Buffalo Jazz Ensemble AA Brent Rose
3:00 Douglas HS — Douglas DHS Bearcat Big Band AAA Ron Wagner
3:30 Randy Brecker Clinic
7:00 Thursday Night Jazz Concert featuring the Northwest Jazz Band I and Randy Brecker Group at the
Powell High School Auditorium
— f r i d a y —
POWELL HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
Adjudicators: Michele Weir, Greg Jasperse
Time School Group Class Director
8:00 AM Natrona County HS — Casper NCHS Combo AAAA Shawn Weis
8:30 Evanston HS — Evanston Jazz II AAA Richard Garcia
9:00 Riverton HS — Riverton Latin Jazz Ensemble JH Aric Hageman
9:30 Clinics
10:30 Green River HS — Green River Jazz Band II AAA Jerrid Washburn
11:00 Riverton MS — Riverton RMS Jazz Ensemble AAA Jason Bennett
11:30 Northwest College — Powell Tuesday Jazz Combo College Ronnie Bedford
12:00 PM LUNCH
Jazz Band and Combo schedule
12:30 Natrona County HS — Casper NCHS Big Band AAAA Shawn Weis
1:00 Green River HS — Green River Jazz Band I AAA Jerrid Washburn
1:30 Campbell County HS — Gillette Jazz Ensemble AAAA Christopher Lubken
2:00 Evanston HS — Evanston Jazz I AAA Richard Garcia
2:30 Riverton HS — Riverton Jazz Ensemble AAA Aric Hageman
3:00 Northwest Jazz Band I & Northwest Studio Singers Neil Hansen/Craig Olson
Awards Annoucements - 3:30 pm Nelson Auditiorium

vocal center schedule
— t h u r s d a y —
CABRE GYMNASIUM
Adjudicators: Michele Weir, Greg Jasperse
Time School Group Class Director
7:30 AM Douglas HS — Douglas Hamilton Boulevard AAA Randy Gifford
8:00 Greybull HS — Greybull Jazz Choir AA Marc Graham
8:30 Rock Springs — Rock Springs Mixed Jazz Choir AAAA Leesa Kuhlmann
9:00 Pinedale HS — Pinedale Pinedale Jazz Choir AA Gena Anderson
9:30 Douglas HS — Douglas Happenstance AAA Randy Gifford
10:00 Butte HS — Butte, MT B-Sharps AAAA Ted Farabee
10:30 Rock Springs — Rock Springs Gilrs Jazz Choir AAAA Leesa Kuhlmann
11:00 Central HS — Cheyenne Centralaires AAAA David Hurst
11:30 Buffalo HS — Buffalo Balladiers AA Brent Rose
12:00 PM Evanston HS — Evanston EHS Vocal Jazz AAAA Kirk Young
12:30 Cody MS — Cody Cougar Chorale JH Anissa Bree
1:00 Powell HS — Powell EROCNE AAA John Miller
1:30 Corvalis HS — Corvalis, MT Ovation Choir AAA Nancy Brown
2:00 Cody HS — Cody Equestria! AAA Larry Munari
2:30 Worland HS — Worland Marshazz AA Cecile Wiechmann
3:00 Star Valley HS — Afton Treble Tones AAA Kurt Sand
3:30 Cody HS — Cody SYNERGY AAA Larry Munari
4:00 Evanston HS — Evanston EHS Missalayneous AAAA Kirk Young
4:30 Hardin MS — Hardin, MT Select Choir JH Maggie Ratliff
7:30 Thursday Night Jazz Concert Featuring the Northwest Jazz Band I and Randy Brecker Group at the
Powell High School Auditorium
— f r i d a y —
DeWITT STUDENT CENTER, TRAPPER ROOM
Time School Group Class Director
9:30 AM Rocky Mountain HS — Cowley The Treble Makers A Mandie Asay
Awards Annoucements - 3:30 pm Nelson Auditiorium
jazz festival clinic schedule
— t h u r s d a y —
Time Clinic Clinician Location
3:30 PM Meet the Artist Randy Brecker Nelson Performing Arts Auditorium
— f r i d a y —
Time Clinic Clinician Location
9:30 AM Swings the Rhythm Section, Lou Fischer Nelson Performing Arts Auditorium
So Swings the Band
9:30 Blues Scales or My Experience as a Shuichi Komiyama Dewitt Student Center Lounge
member of the Les Hooper Big Band
10:00 Vocal Jazz Clinic Michele Weir and Dewitt Student Center Trapper Room
Greg Jasperse

performers, clinicians and adjudicators
sixth Wave What is a vocal collective? It is what
happens when you bring a group of singers together who all have
extensive resumes ranging in everything from opera to rock and roll, from
jazz clubs in NYC to recording studios in LA. All of these elements come
together to form the deliciously creative soup that is Sixth Wave. Not a
fan of soup? Well, just wait, cuz we got some intriguingly mouthwatering
courses coming soon, starting with a new CD entitled Happy Madness.
come dine with us!
Julia Dollison, 1st Soprano
The group's newest member, Julia brings her unique
experience as a critically acclaimed solo and ensemble
recording artist. Her vocal sound, range, flexibility and
improvisation have been described as "rare, fresh and
substantive" (JazzTimes), "atmospheric" (Jazziz), "richly
imaginative" (ArtsJournal) and "sizzling" (DownBeat).
Cindy Bourquin, 2nd Soprano
Not only does she have an amazing solo voice,
Cindy's extensive jazz and pop background give
the women a seamless blend that makes your ears
smile. An educator and true musician, she always
surprises you with new vocal colors.
Jennifer Barnes, Alto
Jennifer has developed a reputation as an
exceptional musician through her work as a live
and studio vocalist, arranger and educator. Jennifer
balances studio singing and clinician work with her
role as mom for her six-year-old daughter!
Greg Whipple, Tenor
Greg may look like a stunt man, but boy can he sing!
Greg brings many years of a cappella prowess to the
group having been a valuable member of m-pact;
other a cappella credits include performing at
Disney and Universal theme parks on both coasts.
Greg Jasperse, Baritone
Greg is a renowned pianist, vocalist, music director,
composer and arranger. He also recently released his
first commercial recording of original contemporary
jazz piano pieces, entitled “Tournesol.”
Eric Bradley, Bass
The foundation of an a cappella group. He swings,
he funks, he gives you any feel you need. Coming
from an instrumental background, this truly versatile
voice will stretch and bend until you've forgotten it's
the same person.
randy Brecker has been shaping
the sound of Jazz, R&B and Rock for more than four decades.
His trumpet and flugelhorn
performances have graced
hundreds of albums by a wide
range of artists from James Taylor,
Bruce Springsteen and Parliament-
Funkadelic to Frank Sinatra, Steely
Dan, David Sanborn, Jaco Pastorius,
Horace Silver and Frank Zappa.
Randy's history is as varied as
it is distinguished. Born (1945) in
Philadelphia to a piano-playing
father, Randy's musical talent was
nurtured and encouraged from an early age. He began playing
R&B and funk in local bar bands while in his teens, and developed
an ear for Hard Bop through his father's record collection.
Randy attended Indiana University from 1963-66 where he
played with the IU Big Band and in various jazz groups and soul
bands including Booker T and the MGs He later moved to New
York City where he landed gigs with Clark Terry's Big Band, the
Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, and the Duke Pearson Big
Band, with whom he recorded two albums. Randy also began his
foray into jazz-rock by joining Blood, Sweat and Tears. He worked
with BS&T for a year and played on their Innovative 1968 debut,
'Child is Father to the Man.'
After Horace Silver, Randy joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers
before teaming up with brother Michael, Barry Rogers, Billy
Cobham, and John Abercrombie to form the seminal fusion
group 'Dreams'. The group recorded two adventurous and wildly
acclaimed albums: 'Dreams' and 'Imagine My Surprise' - now
collector's items - for Columbia Records before they disbanded in
1971.
In 1972, Randy was back with Horace Silver, this time with
brother Michael as the front line in Horace's quintet. By now, the
two horn players had become two of the most in-demand studio
musicians of the day 'The Brecker Brothers' (Arista), which Randy
produced, wrote, and arranged, was nominated for four Grammys.
The Brecker Brothers went on to record a total of six albums and
garner seven Grammy nominations between 1975 and 1981.
After the Brecker Brothers parted in 1982. Randy recorded and
toured extensively with Jaco Pastorius, recording the famous
'Word of Mouth' album, a live concert in Japan.
In the fall of 1994, the Brecker Brothers released the double-
Grammy winning 'Out of the Loop', with tours that followed
into 1995 throughout the U.S. and Europe. They were the first
international contemporary jazz group to perform in the People's
Republic of China, playing to sell-out crowds in Beijing and
Shanghai. Branching out again in 1995, Randy toured Japan as
a special guest with Stanley Turrentine and was one of the first
western jazz artists to tour in the newly democratic Poland.
In 2000 Randy signed to ESC Records and released "Hangin' in
the City," featuring the antics of 'Randroid,' his rappin' cab-drivin'
alter-ego. In the spring of that year, he toured the US extensively
as a part of Festival Productions' Newport Jazz Millennium
Celebration tour, and in the summer toured US festivals in

support of the release of the 'Jazz Times Superband' on Concord
Records featuring Randy, Bob Berg. Joey DeFrancesco, and Dennis
Chambers.
He released his next CD for ESC, '34th n' Lex,' in 2003 to critical
acclaim ("Randy Brecker clearly outdoes himself on this one"- Paula
Edelstein AMG Review). Eleven new Randy Brecker compositions
and arrangements were brought to life by the 'Dream Horn
Section' of David Sanborn, Michael Brecker, Fred Wesley, and
Ronnie Cuber, along with Randy's regular working band and his
wife, the Italian saxophonist/composer Ada Rovatti. This CD also
brought him his third Grammy for 'Best Contemporary Jazz Album.'
In May of 2003 he toured Europe with his Quintet in support of
the CD, and in the summer went back to Europe yet again with the
Randy Brecker/ Bill Evans Soulbop Band.
2004 saw Randy touring Europe extensively as co-leader (with
Bill Evans) of the band Soulbop. The WDR Big Band also celebrated
Randy and his music that year in a performance at the Leverkusen
Jazz Fest. Performing with him were his brother, Michael, Jim
Beard, Will Lee and Peter Erskine, with arrangements by Vince
Mendoza. The date was of special significance to Randy as it
was the last time he played with his brother, who took ill shortly
thereafter with a rare form of leukemia known as MDS.
In 2007 he was awarded his fourth Grammy for "Randy Brecker
Live with the WDR Big Band," (Telarc/BHM) the live recording (also
available in DVD format) of his performance at the Leverkusen Jazz
Fest in 2004. Tragically, his brother Michael died on Jan 13th, 2007.
Only days later, Randy would perform at a special tribute concert
at Disney Hall in Los Angeles for the great Horace Silver, who had
been a mentor to both brothers.
Randy's newest CD, 'Randy in Brasil,' was recorded in Sao Paulo
with a full complement of great Brazilian musicians and released
in 2008 on Summit/MAMA Record in the U.S., JVC in Japan, and
on XYZ in Europe in 2009. Chosen one of the Top 10 CDs of
2008 by AllAboutJazz.com, the CD won the Grammy for "Best
Contemporary Jazz Album," bringing Randy's Grammy total to five.
As a composer, performer and in-demand Yamaha clinician,
Randy Brecker continues to influence and inspire young musicians
around the world.
He feels like he is just starting out!
Supported in part by a grant from
shuichi Komiyama is a versatile
orchestral and wind conductor, who is well studied in both
classical and jazz idioms. Born in Japan and formally educated
in the United States, his conducting
engagements are concentrated in
Asia. Currently, Shuichi Komiyama is
the Music Director and Conductor of
the Montana State University (MSU)
Symphony Orchestra and the Billings
Youth Symphony Orchestra in the U.S.
Prior to his current appointments,
he held the post of Director of Bands
at Mahidol University College of
Music in Bangkok, Thailand where he was the Music Director and
Conductor of the Mahidol Wind Symphony, one of the premiere
wind bands in Southeast Asia. His most recent international
conducting engagements have included; the Hanoi Philharmonic
(principal guest conductor), Bangkok Symphony, Salaya
Philharmonic and the Music Directorship and Conductor of the
Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, under the patronage of the
Royal Government of Thailand. He has further conducted the
Bohuslav Martin Philharmonie, Slovac State Sinfonietta and the
Zelaina Chamber Orchestra in Eastern Europe.
In demand as clinician and conductor, he frequently works with
primary, secondary, university and professional wind bands and
orchestras in Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan,
Philippines, Vietnam, New York, California and Montana.
Komiyama’s 2007-08 international engagements will take him
to guest conduct the Budapest Symphony, Ho Chi Minh City
Symphony, Hanoi Philharmonic, the IASAS International Music
Festival Orchestra in Bangkok and Keynote Speaker at the 5th
Singapore National Wind Band Convention.
He is the Founder and Artistic Director of INTERASIA Conductors’
Symposia, a series of one-week intensive conducting courses
held in Southeast Asia (Bangkok, Singapore and Hanoi), using live
demonstration orchestras and wind bands. In the summer of 2009,
INTERASIA will host an international conducting conference on
the tropical islands of Koh Phi Phi, Thailand.
As YAMAHA Artist, he has performed or recorded with eminent
artists as Kenny Burrell, Wynton Marsalis, Gerald Wilson, Eddie
Palmieri, Roy Hargrove, Les Hooper, Bob Mintzer, Don Sheldon,
Gordon Goodwin, Dave Koz, Conti Condoli, Eric Merianthal, John
Patitucci and David Berger. Furthermore, he is an Emmy Award
winning composer and arranger (1992-CBS Network), who’s works
have also been recognized by Golden Globe Awards, American
Composers’ and Arrangers’ Society and the Royal Order of the
Kingdom of Thailand.
Shuichi Komiyama is a recipient of research and performance
grants provided by the Nakamichi, Gluck, G. Roden and Bernstein
Foundations.
Lou fischer
As a Yamaha performing artist, playing
the Silent Bass exclusively, Lou has
been an extremely active performer in
the entertainment industry for fortyfive
years, having performed on over
2,000+ commercials, 50+ Broadway
shows, including touring worldwide
with The Crusaders, Airto, Charlie
Byrd, Bill Watrous, Red Rodney, Rich Matteson, Tony Bennett, Andy
Williams, Emmy Lou Harris, plus the orchestras of Woody Herman,
Louis Bellson, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Les Hopper, Tex Beneke, and
Jimmy Dorsey, among many others.
Lou has four album releases under his own name as a
bandleader. Having performed on over 200+ recordings, he is also
featured as a founding member of the groups: “Three As One” Decisions
with Steve Houghton, drums and Stefan Karlsson, piano (soon
to be released) and “Beaux J Poo Boo” on All Things Are New. Additionally,
Lou has been featured on The Manne We Love: Gershwin
Revisited (Steve Houghton); A Time For Love and Bone-I-fied (Bill
Watrous); The Joy (Shelly Berg); A Miracle (The Frank Mantooth Big
Band); and High Wire (Sunny Wilkinson).
Dr. Fischer has appeared as a performer, clinician and/or director
at jazz festivals in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Norway,
Sweden, England, Holland, Canada, Japan, Korea, Great Britain,
Scandinavia, Mexico, and at over three hundred high schools/uni-

versities in the United States, and is scheduled to travel to South
Africa in March 2010. He recently conducted the all-state jazz
ensembles of Texas, North Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin,
Oklahoma, Colorado and Louisiana, and the Intercollegiate Jazz
Ensemble in Ohio. Having acted as faculty at various camps and at
several IAJE Teacher Training Institutes over the years, “Dr. Lou” is
currently jazz division head for the Music For All/Bands of America
Summer Symposium.
A music publisher for thirteen years, Fischer now publishes his
compositions with Walrus Music. He is author of Jazz Bass Solos
Vol. II (Kendor); and has co-authored Rhythm Section Workshop for
Jazz Band Directors (Alfred); and Stylistic Etudes in the Jazz Idiom
(Hal Leonard). Additionally Lou has contributed various articles to
JAZZed magazine, the Jazz Educators Journal and The Instrumentalist
regarding jazz and jazz pedagogy. As a composer, Fischer
has penned commissions for the jazz ensembles of Louisiana Tech,
Illinois Wesleyan, and Ball State Universities, and has completed a
four-movement symphonic work titled Shades of Winter, premiered
by the Capital-Bexley Community Orchestra in 2003.
Lou is co-founder of and currently President-Elect of the newly
formed Jazz Education Network (JEN). A member of the International
Association for Jazz Education since 1976, Dr. Fischer had
served two terms as U.S. Representative on the Executive Board,
was past-president of the Ohio chapter, and had served jazz education
in many capacities throughout his thirty-seven years of service
to the organization.
A member of the University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band
(1971-1974), Dr. Fischer earned a bachelor of music in jazz performance
(’91), magna cum laude, and a master of arts in composition
with honors from the University of Denver (’92). He holds a doctor of
arts in bass performance, with a secondary in theory and composition
from Ball State University in Indiana (’99). Lou is professor of
music, jazz activities coordinator, and jazz ensemble director at
Capital University in Columbus, Ohio where he teaches American
Pop/Jazz Theory, Jazz Arranging and directs the Fusion Band and
Award winning Big Band.
Supported in part by a grant from
Greg Jasperse
Greg is a composer, arranger,
recording artist and educator currently
living in Los Angeles. As a
guest conductor, he has had the
privilege of conducting the British
Columbia Honors Vocal Jazz Choir
(2002), the Colorado and Illinois
All-state Honors Vocal Jazz choirs
(2004), the Arizona All-State Honors
Show choir (2000, 1999, 2001) as well as many district and regional
festival choirs. Festival choirs have performed his compositions and
arrangements, published by Augsburg-Fortress, Shawnee Press
and Oxford University Press across North America and Europe. As a
commissioned composer, he has written for the American Boychoir,
Chicago children’s Choir and Kokopelli (Edmonton, Canada).
As an educator, Greg enjoys teaching at several show choir and
jazz camps in the US and Canada, including Rocky Mountain vocal
Jazz camp, Showchoir camps of America, University of Manitoba
Jazz Camp, and Western Michigan University Vocal Jazz camp.
Throughout the school year Greg also enjoys his work as a clinician
and guest artist at various festivals including University of Northern
Colorado Jazz Festival, Millikin University Vocal Jazz festival,
Musicfest Canada and Ontario Vocal festival.
As a music director, Greg enjoys working with young and old
alike. This includes music directing for 18 year old NYU sophomore
Michael Craig as well as Serendipity, Chicago’s annual celebration
of seniors on stage. He has music directed and accompanied
Forever Plaid (Royal George Theater) Clint Holm’s “Comfortable
Shoes” (Royal George Theater) and Barry Manilow’s “Could It Be
Magic” (Music Box Theater). He also music directs for New York’s
up and coming jazz/cabaret vocalist, Jack Donahue as well as
Broadway’s own Timothy Shew.
Greg is assistant conductor of the Lakeside Singers, a 24-voice
ensemble of professional singers in Chicago. This setting provides
him with the opportunity to try out much of his new writing as well as
working with Chicago youth through the “Kids on Track” program.
Greg recently released his first commercial recording called
“Tournesol.” This recording project is a collection of original contemporary
jazz piano pieces. On Tournesol, Greg is joined by such
artists as Randy Crenshaw, Grant Geissman, Gary Meek, Michael
Shapiro and Jerry watts. “Tournesol” was produced by Bill Cantos
and engineered by legendary Bill Schnee.
Michele Weir
Michele is one of the leading figures in vocal
jazz today. She has earned international
recognition through a diverse set of talents
as arranger, teacher, singer and pianist.
Michele’s vocal arrangements are performed
by The Manhattan Transfer, New
York Voices, M-Pact, Beachfront Property,
Chanticleer, Voice Trek and her orchestral
works played by the Boston Pops, the Buffalo, Cincinnati and Pacific
Symphonies, and others. Michele’s educational arrangements are
distributed by various publishers, including her own online publishing
company, MichMusic. She served as Vocal Producer for the Manhattan
Transfer’s 2009 CD release, Chick Corea Songbook, and her
arrangements or compositions have been featured on the Shari Lewis
TV show, Disney's 101 Dalmations Sing-along CD, and the Holland
America Cruise line.
Currently serving on the faculty of University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA), Michele taught previously at USC, CSU Long Beach, and
the Phil Mattson School. Highly respected as a teacher and clinician,
her work has taken her to more than 22 countries around the globe.
Recent notable presentations include the World Choral Symposium,
the IAJE Conference, and the ACDA National Conference. Michele's
educational book/CD sets, Vocal Improvisation and Jazz Singer's
Handbook are available worldwide. Her most recent book/CD Set, Jazz
Piano Handbook (Alfred Pubs.) was released in January, 2008.
Michele is often featured as guest vocalist at educational jazz festivals
and is a former member of the Grammy-nominated vocal group,
The PM Singers. As a pianist, she has toured extensively with a variety
of artists, including singer Bobby Vinton. In her role as Music Supervisor
for the DreamWorks film, Prince of Egypt, she journeyed through
Europe and Asia overseeing music production for the film's foreign
language dubs. Her solo CD with jazz guitarist Bruce Forman is titled,
The Sound of Music.
Michele is a member of S.A.G., A.F.T.R.A., A.S.C.A.P. and N.A.R.A.S.

Neil hansen is Chair
of the Visual and Performing Arts
Division, Professor of Music, and
Director of Bands at Northwest
College where he directs the
Northwest College Wind Band and
the Northwest Jazz Band I. He is in
his twenty-ninth year of teaching
at Northwest College. Mr. Hansen
has degrees from the University
of Northern Iowa and the University of Wyoming and
is currently pursuing a DMA in Music Education from
Boston University. He has directed bands at all levels from
elementary to college in Iowa and Wyoming during the past
thirty-seven years.
Mr. Hansen is the Chair of the Commission for Community/
Jr. Colleges for the National Association of Schools of Music
(NASM) and also serves the board of the Wyoming Arts
Council. He is the founder of the Wyoming Jazz Educators
and currently serves as the treasurer and webmaster for the
organization. Mr. Hansen is a member of MENC, Wyoming
Music Educators Association, College Band Directors National
Association, the International Trumpet Guild, and is a charter
member of the Jazz Educators Network. He is the founder
and director of the Yellowstone Jazz Camp, the Yellowstone
Summer Music Camp, the Northwest Jazz Festival, and the
Festival of Trumpets. He is in demand as a clinician and
adjudicator in the Rocky Mountain region and has judged
music festivals in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Colorado,
California, South Dakota, Montana, Arizona and Alaska and
Iowa over the past few years. Neil has conducted All-State
Jazz Bands in Colorado and Montana. He has also served
as a band clinician conducting honor bands throughout
Wyoming and Montana.
Neil was selected as the 2007 winner of the Wyoming
Governor’s Arts Award for his contribution to music in the
State of Wyoming. He has recently presented clinics at the
Wyoming Music Educators Convention and the Colorado
Music Educators Convention. In January of 2011 he
presented a clinic session at the 2nd Annual Jazz Education
Network Conference in New Orleans. In 1995 the Northwest
Jazz Band under his direction performed at the International
Association of Jazz Educators 22nd Annual Convention in
Anaheim, California. In 2006 he presented a workshop and
was a keynote speaker for the 67th Annual Meeting of the
Texas Association of Music Schools in Austin, TX. In 2004 he
was honored in his hometown of Woodward, IA at the Jim
Coffin Jazz Festival for his contributions to jazz education.
Mr. Hansen is also a founding member of the Yellowstone
Jazz Festival, Inc. which serves Park County, Wyoming by
educating and entertaining through jazz. This organization
faculty
presents jazz events including the Yellowstone Jazz Festival
in mid-July and during the winter months.
Craig Olson is originally from Southern
California where he acquired a diverse musical background.
He toured for 4 years as a
saxophonist with United States
Navy Band out of San Diego.
After the service he received his
Bachelors from Cal Poly and a
Masters from Azusa Pacific College.
For the next seventeen years he
was in public education and had
an outstanding program at Pioneer
Middle School where his groups
were featured at the International
Association of Jazz Educators
Conventions. He served as President of Jazz Education for the
Southern California Band and Orchestra Association.
Craig also served as the Southern California representative
for IAJE. He has been on the staff for many jazz camps
over the years including the Fullerton College Jazz Camp,
Fullerton State College All-American Jazz Camp, the Idyllwild
School of Music and the Arts and the Yellowstone Jazz Camp.
A resident of Powell, Wyoming Craig currently teaches
Saxophone, Vocal Jazz, and Class Guitar at Northwest College
and leads the Saxophone Quartet. He is also director of music
at First United Methodist Church in Cody. In addition to these
activities he owns and operates his own music business,
adjudicates festivals in the area, and teaches in his private
studio. Craig is also the organizer and director of the Craig
Olson Orchestra.
Craig also has adjudicated music festivals in Montana and
Wyoming in addition to conducting honor bands including
the 2005 Montana Eastern Allstate Jazz Band.
robert rumbolz is an Associate
Professor of Music at Northwest
College in Powell, WY where he
directs AAS and Certificate degree
programs in Music Technology
helping to prepare students for
careers in audio production. Robert
also teaches written theory. He
received his Bachelor of Arts degree
from Macalester College in Saint
Paul (1982), Minnesota and his
Masters of Arts degree in Composition and Theory from the
University of Minnesota in (1989).

Dr. Rumbolz went on to study ethnomusicology at
Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut where he
received a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Ethnomusicology
(2000). In 1993, he was able to travel to the West African
Nation of the Republic of Ghana as a Fulbright Fellow to
conduct research on the history of brass bands from the
colonial period to the present day.
As a performer and composer, Robert has had the
opportunity to play and record with a distinguished field
of artists in jazz and new music including: Ronald Bedford,
David Behrman, Ed Blackwell, Henry Brant, Anthony Braxton,
Don Byron, Doc Cheatham, Don Cherry, Bob Dorough, Julius
Hemphill, Guy Klusevic, Jimmy Knepper, Roscoe Mitchel, David
Murray, John Rapson, Roswell Rudd, Jeff Troxel and Zeitgeist.
tim schoessler is the Instructor of
Music and Piano at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming,
where he began teaching in 2005. He
holds Bachelor's and Master’s Degrees
in Keyboard Performance from the
University of Wyoming, where he
studied piano with Dr. Theresa Bogard
and organ with Dr. Steven Hoffman.
Tim began studying piano at the
age of seven and organ at the age
of twelve. His early piano teachers
were Denise Hugins in Durango, CO
and Laurel Stenlund in Cody, and his organ teacher was Jim
Hager, who is also from Cody. He started accompanying
soloists, choirs, and participating in ensembles at the age
of nine, and was active performing throughout his teens
in Cody and Powell. In his five years at the University of
Wyoming he accompanied over 50 student and graduate
student recitals as well over 100 vocal and instrumental
juries. He presented full-length piano recitals in 2001, 2003,
2004, and 2005, as well as an organ recital in 2004. Recent
performances have included Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.
5 and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.2 in addition to a
wide range of solo literature.
Tim began competing in piano competitions in 1994, and
between 1994 and 2005 competed in seven Wyoming state
MTNA competitions at the Junior High, High School, and
Collegiate levels. He won in 1995, 1996, 2001, 2003, and 2004,
and in those years he advanced to the Northwest Regional
competition, where he placed second twice. He was the 2000
winner of the Northwest College Young Artist's Competition;
as a freshman in 2001, he was the first undergraduate winner
of the University of Wyoming Dorothy Jacoby Young Artist's
Competition out of a field of almost 30 students. In 2002 he
was a semi-finalist in the Fort Collins National Young Artist
Competition.
Tim is an avid hiker and mountaineer, and plays tennis at
a 4.0 USTA rating level. Tim serves on the Board of Directors
for both the Wyoming Tennis Association (WYOTA) and the
Park County Arts Council. He is also one of the top ten chess
players in Wyoming with a USCF rating of 1833. In his spare
time he enjoys playing heavy metal guitar, previously playing
in two bands from Powell, Settled in Silence and Righteous
Vendetta.
This is the new trailer for the movie that Tim did some
scoring for – the music from 1:03 to the end is Tim’s. “I’m
obsessed with music that’s metered in 7… ”
Jan Michael Kliewer is in his
twentieth year teaching music at Northwest College. His focus is
teaching voice, choral music, and music theory.
Jan is an active baritone soloist in both
concert and opera. He has performed
professionally with the Robert Page
Singers, Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and
the Kansas City Choral Art Ensemble.
As a soloist he has recently performed
with the Casper Chorale and Orchestra,
the Cheyenne Chamber Singers and
Orchestra, the Northwest Civic Orchestra
and Chorus, the Wyoming Symphony,
the Billings Symphony, the Rimrock
Opera of Billings, and the Helena Symphony. He has performed
opera roles from L'elizir d'amore, The Medium, The Telephone,
The Merry Widow, Don Giovanni, Carmen, Madame Butterfly,
La Boheme and Sweeney Todd. In the Fall of 2004 Kliewer sang
in the premier performance of Nosferatu, a new opera by Alva
Henderson. As a student of voice he has worked with Noriko
Fugi Paukert, Elizabeth Unis Chesko, Pauline Thesmacher, Dallas
Draper and Inci Bashar.
Jan is also an active conductor. His conducting pedigree
includes work with Ernest Hisey, Robert Page, Eph Ehly, and Bev
Henson. He has served as a clinician and adjudicator throughout
the region.
adjunct faculty
Ronnie Bedford – Percussion, Jazz Combo
Marianne Bibbey - Clarinet
Karen Bree – Piano
Ed Cook – Guitar, Electric Bass, Guitar class
Austin Frescoln – Flute, Flute Ensemble
Morgan Grover – Intro to Music
Spencer Martin – Percussion, Mallet Percussion,
Latin Percussion
Jenna McSwain – Jazz piano
Linda Murray - Cello
Craig Olson – Vocal Jazz, Saxophone, Woodwind
Ensembles, Guitar, Jazz Improve, Jazz Band II
Pat Parmer – French Horn
Rick Parmer – Trombone
Dustin Retzlaff – Jazz Bass
Gerri Scott – Oboe
Vicki Streeter - Voice

Yellowstone Summer Music Camp
June 19-24, 2011 on the Northwest College campus
For more information check the website — www.northwestmusic.org, call Neil Hansen 307.754.6427,
or e-mail: Neil.Hansen@northwestcollege.edu
Yellowstone Jazz Camp
July 10-15, 2011 at the Northwest College A.L. Mickelson Field Station
For more information check the website — www.northwestmusic.org, call Neil Hansen 307.754.6427,
or e-mail: Neil.Hansen@northwestcollege.edu
Yellowstone Jazz Festival
The outstanding combo chosen at the Northwest Jazz Festival will be invited to perform at the
“Jazz on the Lawn” event of the 24th Annual Yellowstone Jazz Festival held on Saturday, July 16.
For more information please visit the festival Web site at www.yellowstonejazz.com.
Music Scholarships
It’s not too late for high school seniors to audition for music scholarships at Northwest College for Fall 2011.
For more information about these scholarships or about the many concerts, camps or festivals at
Northwest or other details about attending college at Northwest please contact:
costs for wyoming students
2010-2011 Yearly College Costs
University of Wyoming Northwest College
Tuition & Fees 3,726 2,235
Room & Board 8,360 4,202
Books & Supplies 1,200 1,000
Travel & Personal Expenses 3,089 2,700
Yearly Total Expenses 16,375 10,107
Wyoming Hathaway Scholarship 3,200 3,200
HOPE Scholarship (USA) 1,650 1,650
Typical Music Scholarship 500 2,000 (or more)
Trapper Scholarship (3.5–4 GPA) 0 1,500
Total Scholarships 5,350 8,350
Net Expense for College 11,025 You get back $1,757
more than
college costs!
upcoming events
Northwest College, Music Department, 307.754.6427
231 W Sixth Street, Powell, WY 82435-1881
www.northwestmusic.org
or call the Enrollment Services Office 800.560.4692
costs for montana students
2010-2011 Yearly College Costs
(as posted on each college’s website)
U/M Missoula MSU/Bozeman MSU/BIllings NWC
Tuition & Fees
for MT residents 5,586 6,170 5,240 3,066 for
MT residents
Room & Board 6,760 7,200 6,200 4,202
Books & Supplies 950 1,130 1,200 1,000
Personal Expenses 5,314 3,080 3,770 2,700
Yearly Total 18,610 17,580 16,410 10,986

Soprano I
Melissa Lechner – Star Valley HS
Alyson Thorsell – Douglas HS
Jessica Wurzel – Powell HS
Soprano II
Andee Schueler – Buffalo HS
Andrea Allred – Rock Springs HS
Michelle Campbell – Star Valley HS
Alto I
Lana Chamberlain – Star Valley HS
Leah Schaberg – Buffalo HS
Rachel Shreve – Riverside HS
Alto Saxophone
Mike Hanick – Cody, WY
Kate Vincent – Laramie, WY
Tenor Saxophone
Michelle Fields – Thermopolis, WY
Drew Brown – Hamilton, MT
Baritone Saxophone
Calvin Alpers – Billings, MT
2011 Wyoming jazz educators
all-state jazz choir
Greg Jasperse, Director
Alto II
Jessica Daniels – Cody HS
Lucy Langdon – Rock Springs HS
Della Lyle – Buffalo HS
Tenor I
Jacob Jessen – Rock Springs HS
Zach Henderson – Douglas HS
Gilean Allred – Rock Springs
Tenor II
Spencer Walters – Buffalo HS
Josh Roerig – Buffalo HS
Matthew Fales – Cody HS
Neil Hansen, Director
The Northwest Jazz Band I has been featured in concert with many of the top
performers/educators in the field of jazz including: Bob Mintzer, Gordon Goodwin,
Jon Faddis, Clark Terry, Bill Watrous, Phil Wilson, Bobby Shew, Maynard Ferguson,
Lanny Morgan, Mike Tomaro, Dick Oatts, and Frank Tiberi to name a few. The
Northwest Jazz Band has performed at college jazz festivals in Greeley, CO,
Moscow, ID, and Kansas City, MO. The band has been honored at those festivals
with standing ovations and superior ratings. Student soloists have consistently
receiving outstanding performance awards. Convention performances include
the 1991 Music Educators National Conference Northwest Regional Convention
in Seattle, WA and, in 1995, the International Association of Jazz Educators 22nd
Annual Convention in Anaheim, CA. Trumpet artist Marvin Stamm from New York
was a featured soloist with the band at that conference.
In 2006, the Northwest Jazz Band went on tour with Ronnie Bedford & Friends
and was filmed for later broadcast by Wyoming Public Television. More recently, the band performed for the Wyoming Governor’s
Arts Award banquet in 2008.
Trumpet
Monte Nickles – Powell, WY
Nick Pierson – Powell, WY
Chris Dugger – Douglas, WY
Denae Thomas – Cody, WY
Trombone
Hayden Woods – Manhattan, WY
Michael Conner - Greybull, WY
Chris Seago – Powell, WY
Baritone
Trevor Cook – Cody HS
Ryan Steele – Douglas HS
Saxon Bull – Douglas HS
Bass
Kayle Petty – Rock Springs HS
Steven Austill – Powell HS
Kasey Esponda – Buffalo HS
northwest jazz band i
Rhythm Section
Leslee Christopherson, Piano – Natrona County HS
Brady Sunderman, Bass – Natrona County HS
Christian Archard, Drums – Cody HS
Rhythm Section
Zach Paris, drums - Cody, WY
Keller Paulson, drums - Casper, WY
Amos Helvey, guitar - Cody, WY
Colin Ingram, bass - Cody, WY
Jun Terasawa, piano – Kasiwa-Shi Chiba, Japan
Sound Technician
James Hamilton - Powell, Wy

northwest studio singers
Malerie Estes – Deaver, WY
Eric Jacobs – Powell, WY
Kallie Kent – Dillon, MT
Keli Mitchell – Buffalo, WY
Monte Nickles – Powell, WY
Nick Pierson – Powell, WY
Sam Sietz – Deaver, WY
John Songstad – Joliet, MT
Kate Vincent – Laramie, WY
Louisa Wilkinson – Billings, MT
The Music Department of Northwest College is fully accredited
by the National Association of Schools of Music.
It offers diverse performance opportunities to students of
all majors and provides music majors a complete twoyear
transfer program. The music technology program
gives students an opportunity to prepare for a career
in the recording and production areas of music. A new
audio recording/TV production studio was completed in
the fall of 2010.
From orchestra to jazz ensembles to vocal groups or
bands, Northwest College has quality, performing ensembles
which are typically found only at schools many times
its size. Music courses and ensembles are instructed by a
combination of full-time and part-time faculty who bring
to Northwest College varied backgrounds in education
and professional performing experience. Classes offered
include traditional music theory and history as well as
courses in jazz improvisation, jazz combos, opera theater
and the music technology program. The music ensemble
offerings at Northwest College, a two-year college, are
unique in the region because of their focus toward the
traditional college-age student. These ensembles include
Craig Olson, Director
The Northwest College Studio Singers are a jazz based select
vocal ensemble under the direction of Craig Olson. The group
has a long history of excellence and has performed at state
and regional-level music conferences, as well as many festival
and community appearances each year. Members of the Studio
singers come from many areas of Wyoming and Montana
as well as from other states in the region. They bring with
them diverse musical backgrounds and experiences that have
contributed to the overall appeal of the group to a wide variety
of audiences. Standard and contemporary jazz arrangements
are studied and prepared as the Studio Singers bring their style
of music to schools and public performances through the year.
Rhythm Section
Amos Helvey, Guitar – Cody, WY
Colin Ingram, Bass – Cody, WY
Keller Paulson, Drums – Casper, WY
Sound Technician
Drew Brown – Hamilton, MT
nwc music department
college Wind Band, Jazz Band I & II, College Choir, Studio
Singers (vocal jazz), two jazz combos, and brass, percussion
and woodwind ensembles. Other ensembles offered
for students and community members include the Symphony
Orchestra and Master Chorale.
The music department sponsors a wider variety of yearround
music camps, festivals and clinics for junior high
through college-age students than any college or university
in the Rocky Mountain region. These include the
annual Northwest Jazz Festival, Yellowstone Jazz Camp
and the Yellowstone Summer Music Camp (for band and
choir students) in addition to numerous other clinics and
concerts. These events attract students from hundreds of
miles to Powell and the Northwest College campus each
year.
The Northwest Jazz Festival has brought to Wyoming
artists such as the Mnozil Brass, Maynard Ferguson, Clark
Terry, Benny Carter, Arturo Sandoval, New York Voices,
The Woody Herman Orchestra, Phil Wilson, Bobby Shew,
Sunny Wilkinson, Bill Watrous, Lee Konitz, Lanny Morgan,
Bob Kase, the USAF Falconaires, Gordon Goodwin’s Big
Phat Band, and the Bob Mintzer Big Band.

northwest college
Northwest College is a dynamic learning community located in Powell, Wyoming
near Yellowstone National Park. In this exceptional setting, students of all ages and
backgrounds receive personal attention from a highly credentialed faculty and staff.
Northwest’s diverse blend of academics, access to emerging technologies, and activities
equip students to think critically, to fully develop their potential, and to succeed in an
ever-changing world. Northwest’s 124-acre main campus has 57 buildings including
five residence halls and 80 apartments for 750 students and their families. Nearby are
the Equine Center, Stock Agriculture Pavilion, an observatory, and the West Campus.
Fifty miles to the west is the college’s 36-acre mountain field station, surrounded by a
national forest adjacent to spectacular Sunlight Basin. Powell has a population of about
6,300. Its economy is based upon oil, irrigated farming, livestock/ranching, tourism,
and agriculture support services. Northwest College is accredited by the North Central
Association Colleges & Schools, National Association of Schools of Music, and National
League for Nursing. The Northwest College Music Department has scholarship funds
available to high school students, regardless of college major, to participate in our
music performance programs. Due to a newly-endowed scholarship fund, we can
offer outstanding musicians a financial package that will compete with any college or
university in the region.
Northwest College, Music Department
231 W Sixth Street, Powell, WY 82435-1881
307.754.6427
or call the Enrollment Services Office 800.560.4692
or visit our Web site — www.northwestmusic.org
a special thank you to
Hill Music of Casper, WY
for providing the drumsets and amplifiers used during the festival
These drumsets are available for sale at a special festival discount.
If you are interested, please contact Hill Music, 800.442.2444.
Northwest College does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran
status in its programs and activities. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and Institution (EOE/EOI). Inquiries concerning ADAAA
and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation ACT or requests for services under these provisions should be directed to Deb Mills, Disability Support
Services Coordinator, Student Success Center, 65C Colter Hall, Northwest College, 231 West Sixth Street, Powell, Wyoming 82435-
1895, Telephone: 307.754.6227. Inquiries concerning Title IV, Title VI, and Title IX should be directed to Kim Mills, Compliance Officer
and Vice President for Administrative Services, 106K Orendorff Building, Northwest College, 231 West Sixth Street, Powell, Wyoming
82435-1895, Telephone: 307.754.6404, or the Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Federal Building, 1244 Speer BLVD
#310, Denver Colorado 80204-3582, Telephone: 303.844.5695; FAX: 303.844.4303; TDD: 308.844.3417; E-mail: OCR_Denver@ed.gov.