NORTH SHORE JAZZFEST <strong>2011</strong> 23
The 34 th Annual North Shore <strong>Jazz</strong><strong>Fest</strong> Judges and Clinicians Joe Lill (Judge/Auditorium) Joe is one of the most versatile trumpeters in the Chicago area; it's not uncommon for him to perform with a jazz group, an orchestra and/or his dance band, Six of One, within a period of a few days. He is the Director of Bands at North Park University in Chicago, where he conducts the Concert Band, directs the <strong>Jazz</strong> Ensemble and teaches trumpet. He holds a B.A. from Northeastern Illinois University, an M.M. from DePaul and a D.M. in Trumpet Performance from Northwestern University, where his primary teacher was Charles Geyer. Joe has been featured as a soloist in both the jazz and classical arenas with numerous Chicagoland ensembles, and is also an active guest conductor and clinician. John Cooper (Judge/Auditorium) John is a jazz artist, composer and Director of <strong>Jazz</strong> Studies at Western Illinois University. He received his Bachelor’s degree in <strong>Jazz</strong> Studies from Wayne State University, Master’s degree in Music Composition from Bowling Green State University and Doctor’s degree in Music Composition from New York University. John performed with the Johnny Trudell Orchestra as well as with many jazz artists including Jon Faddis, Carl Fontana, Jim McNeely, James Moody, and other national touring acts including Aretha Franklin, Mitzi Gaynor, Rosemary Clooney, Jerry Lewis, The Temptations, The Four Tops and Lou Rawls. Currently, along with his position at Western Illinois University, John is a member of the Hopper Faculty <strong>Jazz</strong> Sextet, an active composer/arranger and a published reviewer of new music for the International Association of <strong>Jazz</strong> Educators. Chris Madsen (Judge/Auditorium) <strong>Jazz</strong> saxophonist and composer Christopher Madsen has made impressive accomplishments during his musical career. He serves as <strong>Jazz</strong> Faculty member at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, Director of <strong>Jazz</strong> at Midwest Young Artists in Highwood, IL, and has coordinated the <strong>Jazz</strong> program for the National High School Music Institute in Evanston since 2009. Madsen is an in-demand figure in the Chicago jazz world, actively performing, writing, and teaching in multiple contexts and venues. After graduating from DePaul University in Chicago with a B.M. in <strong>Jazz</strong> Studies, Madsen auditioned for the then-relatively new Juilliard <strong>Jazz</strong> Studies program. He was accepted to the program in 2003 and moved to New York City to complete this two-year post-bachelor’s program. Chris spent 3 years in New York working with several different jazz musicians including Wynton Marsalis before moving back to Chicago in 2006. Jeff Ford (Clinician/Auditorium) Jeff has been the Instructor of Woodwinds and Director of the <strong>Jazz</strong> Ensemble at Waubonsee Community College since 1984. During this time the jazz ensemble has performed at jazz festivals and conventions throughout the United States including performances at the North Texas University <strong>Jazz</strong> <strong>Fest</strong>ival, Eau Claire <strong>Jazz</strong> <strong>Fest</strong>ival, Wichita <strong>Jazz</strong> <strong>Fest</strong>ival and this year our second performance at the Reno <strong>Jazz</strong> <strong>Fest</strong>ival. In addition to his obligations at Waubonsee, Jeff maintains a busy performance schedule. He has performed in 27 states, Europe, Canada and Mexico with many jazz artists and entertainers including Richie Cole, Eddie Daniels, Arturo Sandoval, Don Menza, Bob Hope, Red Skelton and Micky Dolenz. Jeff is also a published composer who's music and playing can heard on i-tunes. Nick Drozdoff (Clinician/Auditorium) Chicago area trumpeter and Maynard Ferguson Orchestra alum, Drozdoff has been a fixture in Chicago’s jobbing arena for many years since he left Maynard Ferguson’s band in 1981. After many years running his own contracting business and completing his masters in classical trumpet, he began leading a double life in 1991 when he took on a “day gig” as a high school physics teacher. Drozdoff has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, allowing him to easily slip into a high school physics class. Drozdoff currently teaches physics and APB physics at Winnetka’s New Trier High School. He has been leading a double career existence, garnering awards as a high school science teacher and developing endorsement deals as a jazz trumpeter at night. Drozdoff currently endorses the New York Trumpet Company Stage 1 series of trumpets and plays their California model. 24
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