2011 Jazz Fest Program - Glenbrook

The 34 th Annual North Shore JazzFest
Judges and Clinicians
Rich Corpolongo (Judge/East Cafeteria)
Rich played solo clarinet under Tom Fabish at St. Mel High School, DePaul University Concert Band, and
Chicago's C. Y. O. Band. His formal training continued at Roosevelt University where he acquired a Bachelor
and Master of Music Composition degrees. His private studies included: saxophone improvisation with Joe
Daley; clarinet with Joe Daley and Walter Wollage; flute with Ralph Johnson; composition with Karl Jirak and
Robert Lombardo; arranging with Lane Emery; and electronic composition with Don Malone. Rich has
performed with many of Chicago’s top jazz musicians and groups including the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra, the Civic Opera House Orchestra, the Grant Park Orchestra and the Auditorium Theatre Orchestra.
Rich’s jazz group has played extensively around the Chicago area, and has been showcased at most all of the
Chicago Jazz Festivals starting with 1983 and finishing most recently in 2006.
Ken Kaiser (Judge/East Cafeteria)
Ken is Director Emeritus from Naperville Central HS and School District 203, a band director for 35 years. He
played professional woodwinds for 25 years and is presently advancing his trumpet performance skills. Ken
earned his B.A. in Music Education from Illinois State University and M.S. from VanderCook College of Music.
He served several years as IMEA district jazz chairperson and IAJE Secretary. Ken presently has a lesson
studio at Ellman’s Music Center in Naperville.
Ken Ebo (Judge/East Cafeteria)
Ken Ebo, a very talented jazz trombonist and vocalist, is a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, and has his own
big band. He has sponsored the Toys For Tots Concert at Christmas time for several years for the U.S. Marine
Corps Reserve. He is currently a music instructor for the Marines at the School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia.
Jim Guter (Clinician/East Cafeteria)
Retired Fine Arts Department Chair and Director of Bands, Jim has been active in music education in Illinois,
Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, and Connecticut as a Band Director and Supervisor. He belongs to
many state and national music educators’ professional associations. He is a Sinfonian and was a charter
member of Lamda Mu Chapter. He was selected as an Outstanding Young Man in America, Outstanding Jazz
Educator from NBA, and received a Citation of Excellence for Outstanding Contribution to Bands and Band
Music from the National Band Association. He has performed with Bill Watrus, Kenny Malone, Doug Beach,
Rob Parton, Tom Fox, and a variety of Big Bands and smaller jazz and dance ensembles all over the U.S. Jim
has produced and operated music festivals throughout the United States and is sought after as a consultant,
clinician, conductor, and adjudicator.
Nic Meyer (Clinician/East Cafeteria)
Nic Meyer attended DePaul University on a saxophone performance scholarship and received his B.M. in
Music Education. Nic is currently the Director of Jazz Ensembles at New Trier High School, as well as, the
Jazz Program Director at Midwest Young Artists (MYA). He maintains private saxophone studios at New Trier
High School and the MYA center in Fort Sheridan. In 2008, he received his M.A. in music pedagogy at
Northwestern University. In addition to his busy teaching schedule, Nic performs regularly in the Chicago
area, appearing at Pete Miller’s, Martyrs, The Park West, The Green Mill, The House of Blues, and other local
venues with different groups including Soulio, a jazzy, bluesy, funky style quintet.
Paul Wertico (Judge/Orchestra Room)
Paul is hailed by the press as “One of the most versatile and musical drummers in music today” and gained
worldwide recognition as a member of the Pat Metheny Group from 1983 to 2001. During his time with the
group, John won seven Grammy Awards, numerous magazine polls and received several gold records.
Besides his numerous performances and recordings, Paul is the Assistant Professor and Head of Jazz and
contemporary Music Studies at Roosevelt University. Before his position at Roosevelt, he served on the
wind & percussion faculty of Northwestern University for 16 years, and also taught for several years at the
Bloom School of Jazz. He has also written many educational articles for several magazines including Modern
Drummer and Downbeat, and serves on the advisory board of Modern Drummer.
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