2011 Jazz Fest Program - Glenbrook

The 34 th Annual North Shore JazzFest
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 Jazz 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 Jazz Studies at Western Illinois University. He received
his Bachelor’s degree in Jazz 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 Jazz Sextet, an active composer/arranger and a published reviewer of
new music for the International Association of Jazz Educators.
Chris Madsen (Judge/Auditorium)
Jazz saxophonist and composer Christopher Madsen has made impressive accomplishments during
his musical career. He serves as Jazz Faculty member at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois,
Director of Jazz at Midwest Young Artists in Highwood, IL, and has coordinated the Jazz 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 Jazz Studies, Madsen auditioned for the
then-relatively new Juilliard Jazz 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 Jazz 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 Jazz
Festival, Eau Claire Jazz Festival, Wichita Jazz Festival and this year our second performance at the
Reno Jazz Festival. 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.
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