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The Jazz Education Network is dedicated to
building the jazz arts community by advancing education,
promoting performance, and developing new audiences.

Board of Directors: 2011-2012

	Rubén P. Alvarez Rubén P. Alvarez is a Chicago based Latin percussionist, drum set artist, author, composer, and educator. His performance credits include movie soundtracks, radio and television jingles and performances and recordings with a variety of musical artists and styles including jazz artists Patricia Barber, Dave Valentín, Slide Hampton and Grammy and Latin Grammy nominees Arturo Sandoval, Chuchito Valdés, Ramsey Lewis, Guitarra Azul and Sones De Mexico. He currently performs Chicago’s premier Latin jazz ensemble Chévere, and is the leader and musical director the Raices Profundas Latin Music Ensemble. Rubén serves on the faculties of Northwestern University, Roosevelt University, and Columbia College Chicago, and has been a featured presenter at national and international educational music education conferences including the Illinois Music Educators Association, the Percussive Arts Society’s International Convention, the Jazz Education network, and the South African Jazz Educators Conference. Rubén is a founding member of JEN is a current member of the Board of Directors of The Jazz Education Network, the Board of Governors of the Chicago Chapter of the Recording Academy and Vice President of the Illinois chapter of the Percussive Arts Society. He endorses Tycoon percussion, Remo percussion. Vic Firth sticks and mallets, and Zildjian cymbals.
	Paul Bangser Paul Bangser has a dual career as a musician/music educator and practicing lawyer, dividing his time between the two professions. As a music teacher, he has spent time as director of guitar studies at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Washington D.C.’s performing arts high school, where he taught guitar, theory, and arranged for and led the school’s guitar ensemble. He currently runs a private teaching studio. As a performer, he has led his own jazz quintet at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage and has performed over many years at various Washington D.C. venues. Paul has also been a practicing lawyer for over 25 years. Starting his career at law firms in Boston and Washington, DC, he represented clients in real estate, regulatory, and litigation matters. Later he moved to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at its DC headquarters, where he currently serves as a senior attorney handling regulatory and litigation matters. Mr. Bangser is a graduate of MIT and Boston College Law School.
	Caleb Chapman As the President of Caleb Chapman Music, Caleb directs over 150 of Utah's most talented young musicians in six elite ensembles, including the Crescent City Super Band, which has frequently been hailed as one of the finest youth big bands in the world. Caleb's bands have been featured at may of the world's most prestigious jazz festivals including North Sea (Netherlands), Montreux (Switzerland) Vienne (France), Umbria (Italy), and Puerto Vallarta (Mexico). Most recently, the Crescent City Super Band was featured with Toshioko Akiyoshi at the Telluride Jazz Festival in Colorado. Caleb's bands have also performed with nearly 200 guest artists, including Randy Brecker, Joe Lovano, Christian McBride, Peter Erskine, Kurt Elling, Wayne Bergeron, Dave Weckl, Jon Faddis, Kirk Whalum, Stefon Harris, Nicholas Payton, Wycliffe Gordon, Lenny Pickett, Jeff Coffin, Greg Osby, and Bob Mintzer. Additionally, his bands have been featured on the Sirus XM "Real Jazz" CHannel and released 8 albums on the Big Swing Face label. Caleb's students have been honored with 4 DownBeat Awards, including "Best Performing Arts High School Big Band" (2007 & 2010). The band has also won 5 consecutive "Best of State" Awards for Utah and the prestigious Best of State Statu Award identifying the program as the top organization in Arts and Entertainment in Utah, beating out every other professional music, arts, and film organization in the state for the honor. In 2011 Caleb received the John LaPorta Educator of the Year Award, presented in tandem by the Berklee College of Music and the Jazz Education Network. In 2007 Caleb was the inaugural inductee into the Horne School of Music Hall of Fame and received the "Superior Accomplishment Award" from the Utah Music Educators Association. He is the 2006 recipient of the KUER FM90 "Voice of Jazz Award". Additionally, Caleb serves on the Executive Board of JazzSLC, presenters of the Salt lake City Jazz at the Sheraton Series. Caleb is featured clinician and sponsored performer for Yamaha Saxophones and Rico Reeds.
	John Clayton The talents of John Clayton as bassist/composer/arranger/conductor are always in demand within the jazz industry. He graces the cover of JazzTimes Magazine in April, 2009 touting his skills as an arranger. John has written and arranged music for Diana Krall, Natalie Cole, Nancy Wilson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Milt Jackson, Michael Buble, Regina Carter and others. He received a platinum record for his “The Star-Spangled Banner” arrangement sung by Whitney Houston during the 1991 Super Bowl, and has won numerous awards. John has received seven Grammy © nominations and in 2008, he received a Grammy © award for his arrangement of “I’m Going to Live Til I Die” featured on Queen Latifah’s CD “Travlin Light”. John serves as the Artistic Director for the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival, which received the National Medal of Arts in 2007. He is also the Artistic Director for the Port Townsend Jazz Camp and the Vail Jazz Camp. John co-leads the Grammy © nominated Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with brother and saxophonist Jeff Clayton, and drummer Jeff Hamilton. John and Jeff also co-lead the Clayton Brothers Quintet. Both groups are actively touring and recording. Clayton began his study of the double bass at 16 when under the tutelage of the famous Ray Brown. His discography includes more than 60 titles.
	José Diaz José Antonio Diaz is the Director of the MacArthur High School Jazz Ensemble and Artistic Director for Diaz Music Institute in Houston, Texas. During his tenure, the group has garnered many first place awards in local, regional, and national level jazz ensemble competitions and has performed with such artists as Eddie Palmieri, Jon Faddis, Poncho Sanchez, Dave Valentin, and Arturo Sandoval, to name just a few. Diaz's groups have performed twice for IAJE and five times for the Midwest Clinic. Diaz's success with the MacArthur High School Jazz Program was the subject of a featured cover story in SBO Magazine and Band Director's Guide Magazine. He received a Down Beat Magazine Award for Achievement in Jazz Education and was selected by FOX 26 and Univision Television stations as a Hispanic Hero. Recently, Diaz was inducted into the Texas Christian University Band of Fame. In June 2008 Jose received the prestigious Jefferson Award for his work with Diaz Music Institute. Diaz is Past-president of IAJE-Texas Chapter, past member of the Da Camera of Houston Teacher Advisory Board and the Midwest Clinic Advisory Panel, co-author of Middle School Music Expressions™ and Jazz Expressions™ (Alfred Music Publishing) and is an active composer, arranger, and clinician.
	Dr. Lou Fischer Dr. Lou Fischer is co-founder, Past President, and membership manager of JEN. A Professor of Music, Lou acts as Jazz Studies Chair/Graduate Coordinator, jazz ensemble director at Capital University. A member of the UNT One O’Clock (‘71-‘74), Fischer holds a BM and MA from the University of Denver, and a Doctor of Arts from Ball State University. As current jazz division head for Music For All, Lou’s forty-five year career represents a Who’s Who in Music, including composing and/or performing studio work, Broadway Shows, and extensive touring with The Crusaders, Red Rodney, Airto, Charlie Byrd, Andy Williams, Emmy Lou Harris, Woody Herman, Louis Bellson, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Bill Watrous and Bobby Shew. Recordings include Beaux J Poo Boo All Things Are New; Steve Houghton’s Gershwin: The Manne We Love; Bill Watrous’ A Time For Love & Bone-i-fied; Shelly Berg’s The Joy; Frank Mantooth’s A Miracle; and Sunny Wilkinson’s High Wire, among others. A Yamaha Bass Artist Representative, clinics/concerts include Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan, Korea, Great Britain, Scandinavia, Mexico, and three hundred+ institutions across the U.S. Published by Hal Leonard, Walrus, and Alfred, Lou has directed All State Ensembles in Texas, North Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Louisiana.
	Darla Hanley Dr. Darla S. Hanley is Dean of the Professional Education Division at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts (which is comprised of 5 departments: Music Business/Management, Music Education, Music Therapy, Professional Music, and Liberal Arts). She is a former Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Professor of Music Education at Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. She is also the former director of the Shenandoah Singers, a vocal jazz/show choir that performed internationally, in several states within the United States, and regularly on campus. Dr. Hanley received both a Ph.D. and a Master of Music in Music Education Research from Temple University and a Bachelor of Music Education and Vocal Performance from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. Dr. Hanley is an active clinician, conductor, and adjudicator. She has presented numerous workshops and lectures on the topics of vocal jazz, elementary and middle school general music, educational assessment, and creative movement including presentations at international, national, regional, and state conferences, and individual school district in-service meetings. Dr. Hanley was a final educational adjudicator/reviewer for Parent's Guide to Children's Media, an organization that recommends educational resources for parents, teachers, and librarians and has awarded such artists as Sweet Honey in the Rock, Hap Palmer, and Phil Rosenthal. On campus she serves as a Chief Adjudicator in the Vocal Jazz category for the annual Berklee High School Jazz Festival. Dr. Hanley is a contributing author to MENC publications: Strategies for Teaching K-4 General Music and Strategies for Teaching Middle Level General Music. She was a member of the Steering Committee to revise the Standards of Learning (SOL) for elementary/general music in the Commonwealth of Virginia and a member of the VMEA Notes Editorial Board. Dr. Hanley is one of the primary authors of the elementary general music series, Music Expressions, by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc (formerly Warner Bros. Publications). Her articles entitled, Comfort in Knowledge: Preparing Students for Success in a Vocal Jazz Choir and Take the Repeat: Creative Reinforcement of Student Learning in K-5 General Music, were recently published in the Massachusetts Music News. Dr. Hanley is a member of the American Conference of Academic Deans, the National Association for Music Education: MENC, the Massachusetts Music Educators Association, the Jazz Education Network (JEN), the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the Massachusetts ACE National Network of Women Leaders (NNWL) and Pi Kappa Lambda (MUsic Honor Society).
	Monika Herzig In 1987, the pedagogical institute in Weingarten, Germany awarded a scholarship for a one-year exchange program at the University of Alabama to one of their students, jazz pianist Monika Herzig. Together with her partner and guitarist Peter Kienle, she arrived in the States on a one-way ticket, with one suitcase of belongings and one guitar in August 1988. Since then she has completed her Doctorate in Music Education and Jazz Studies at Indiana University, where she is now a faculty member teaching courses in Music Industry, Community Arts Organizations, and Creative Thinking Techniques. As a touring jazz artist, she has performed at many prestigious jazz clubs and festivals, such as the Indy Jazz Fest, Cleveland’s Nighttown, Louisville’s Jazz Factory, the W.C.Handy Festival, Jazz in July in Bloomington and Cincinnati, Columbus’ Jazz & Rib Fest, to name just a few. Groups under her leadership have toured Germany, Italy, Japan, opened for acts such as Tower of Power, Sting, the Dixie Dregs, Yes, and more. Recently, Herzig has been signed to the Owl Studios label and released the holiday CD “Peace on Earth”. A CD/ DVD combo entitled “Come With Me” is set for publication in Spring 2011. Her previous releases have received rave reviews. Thomas Garner from Garageradio.com writes, “I was totally awed by the fine musicianship throughout”. As a recipient of the 1994 Down Beat Magazine Award for her composition “Let’s Fool One” and with several Big Band Arrangements published with the University of Northern Colorado Press, Herzig has also gathered international recognition for her writing skills.
	Willard Jenkins Willard Jenkins is an independent arts consultant/producer, writer and broadcaster under his Open Sky banner. Willard Jenkins’ current activity includes concert, festival, and concert series planning/development, artistic direction, consulting, music journalism, teaching, and broadcast work. From March 1989-November 1994, Jenkins was executive director of the National Jazz Service Organization (NJSO) in Washington, DC. During his NJSO tenure Jenkins directed every NJSO operation, including technical assistance & re-granting programs, publication services, and supervised a professional staff. In 1990 Jenkins was an architect of the pioneering Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest National Jazz Network (receiving an unprecedented – for jazz -- initial funding allocation of $3.4M), a network of presenting organizations and regional arts organizations. Willard Jenkins is a successful fundraiser, securing or assisting in grant allocations from numerous public and private sources. These have included: the National Endowment for the Arts; numerous local, state, and regional arts agencies; Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund; Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; AT&T Foundation; Ford Foundation; Pew Charitable Trusts; Jim Beam Brands; Cleveland Foundation; Gund Foundation; Kulas Foundation, etc. Willard has been appointed to the Board of Directors to complete the term of Paul Chiaravalle who resigned January, 2011.
	Rick Kessel Founding publisher of JAZZed magazine as well as SBO - School Band & Orchestra, and Choral Director magazines. Rick Kessel serves as publisher for Symphony Publishing's music education group of magazines which include, JAZZed, SBO - School Band & Orchestra, and CD - Choral Director magazines and also as associate publisher for MMR - Musical Merchandise Review. Rick grew up in central New Jersey and holds a bachelor's degree in music and audio technology from Indiana University and an MBA from Clark University in Massachusetts. Rick has over twenty five years experience in the magazine publishing field and was responsible for launching SBO magazine in 1998 and Choral Director Magazine in 2004, and JAZZed in 2006. As a staunch advocate for music education, Rick has continually encouraged support for music in the schools in his numerous magazine editorials. Rick's extensive background as a professional clarinetist and teacher has included performances with Luciano Pavarotti and Henry Mancini. Rick is currently the principal clarinetist for Symphony Pro Musica in central Massachusetts, and is an active member of the American Bandmasters Association, MENC, and is a member of the board of directors of the Jazz Education Network. Rick resides in Worcester, Massachusetts with his wife Cynthia and sons Samuel and Nathan.
	Mary Jo Papich Mary Jo Papich, known for her avid support and leadership in jazz education, is Past President and Co-Founder of the Jazz Education Network (June 1, 2008). Serving public school education for 30+ years, she is currently Interim Director of Fine Arts Curriculum for the Niles District 219 (Niles North and Niles West High Schools) in Skokie, Illinois. District 219 has been recognized as one of the most outstanding Fine Arts programs in the nation winning the prestigious Kennedy Center Award. She served 8 years as Fine Arts Chair at Highland Park High School (IL) and coordinated FOCUS ON THE ARTS festival, working with 400+ volunteers and 270 artists. Her leadership positions in addition to JEN include: Founder of the Puerto Vallarta Jazz Festival via HP Sister Cities Foundation, serving on the Artistic Access to Excellence Panel for the National Endowment for the Arts and as a member of the Quincy Jones Consortium, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Advisory Board, past Illinois Music Educators Association state board, International Association for Jazz Education Executive Board of Directors, and Highland Park Cultural Arts Commission. While the district Fine Arts Coordinator of 35 schools in the Peoria Public School System #150 (’92-’01), she founded and directed the Peoria Jazz All Stars whose performances included Montreux, North Sea, and Umbria Jazz Festivals, IMEA Conference, American School Board Association Conference and many other state and local events. Prior to her administrative position, Mary Jo was an award winning band director at Peoria’s Woodruff High School (‘82-’92). Under her leadership the WHS Marching and Jazz Bands performed at the Florida Citrus Bowl, Georgia Peach Bowl, Chicago Holiday Parades, Macy’s in New York and many other competitions, festivals, and civic events. While at WHS, she was responsible for bringing in many jazz greats, including: Claudio Roditi, Red Rodney, Ron Modell, Arnie Lawrence, Marvin Stamm, Maynard Ferguson, John Fedchok, and many others. Before leaving Peoria in 2002, she founded a District Preparatory Arts School at Peoria High School. Mary Jo’s recent honors include Patrons of the Arts annually awarding a Highland Park High School student the M.J. Papich Leadership Scholarship, the Arts Inspiration Award from The Art Center, Superintendent’s Recognition Award, Character Counts Award, Huespid Distinguido from the Mayor in Puerto Vallarta and the Prestigious Women in Jazz Award from the Chicago Jazz Ensemble. Former awards include: Tri-County Outstanding Educator Award, PPS Superintendent's Award, and YWCA Leader in the Arts Award. Mary Jo, a graduate of Truman State (MO) and Bradley University (IL) was raised in South Central Iowa; graduating from Albia Community High School she began her teaching career in Moulton-Udell and Ottumwa (IA). Her many presentations include: Midwest Clinic, IAJE Conferences, Siena Jazz Foundation (Italy), South African Jazz Conference (2008/2010) at the University of Cape Town, Brubeck Institute at the University of the Pacifics. Other university presentations include: University of Illinois, Bradley University, University of Wisconsin, Capital University, University of Illinois Chicago, Columbia College Chicago and many state/area music conferences and festivals. Her professional affiliations include IMEA, MENC, ASCD, Illinois Arts in Education Alliance, International Women in Jazz and NARAS. Papich's vision is that all children will know and appreciate their musical heritage of jazz in the U.S.A. and as a global music. Her goal is for JEN to be the vital jazz resource today and for JENerations to come!
	Bob Sinicrope Bob Sinicrope, a consummate educator and accomplished bassist, is the inaugural recipient of the John LaPorta Jazz Educator of the Year (2007). For forty years Bob has taught in diverse settings. In 1974, he founded the Milton Academy Jazz Program, which he continues to direct. The program has won numerous national and regional awards and produced outstanding graduates including Aaron Goldberg and Steve Lehman. He has also taught in the Peace Corps, for Jamey Aeberold’s Summer Jazz Workshops since 1981, and presented workshops at conferences and schools on six continents. Bob is a highly respected bassist in the Boston area and has performed worldwide. Bob has forged special connections with South Africa. He has toured there seven times with Milton Academy students performing nationally and delivering nearly $100,000 worth of donated materials to needy African music programs. He has also traveled to South Africa to teach, perform and serve as an educational consultant. His five decades of organizational leadership, the breadth of his teaching experience and knowledge, and his forward-looking vision afford him a unique perspective on jazz education. He has a gift for making global connections and forming coalitions with jazz educators, music industry leaders and musicians.
	Terell Stafford Known for being a gifted and versatile player with a voice all his own, Stafford combines lyricism and a deep love of melody with a spirited, adventurous edge. Since the mid-1990’s Stafford has performed with in groups with Benny Golson, McCoy Tyner, Kenny Barron, Frank Wess, the Jimmy Heath Big Band, and the Jon Faddis Orchestra. Currently, he is a member of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Matt Wilson’s “Arts and Crafts” and Alvin Queen’s “Alvin Queen and the Organics.” Stafford has recorded five albums as a leader and is heard on over 40 albums as a sideman. An educator as well as a performer, Stafford currently holds the positions of Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at Temple University and is a clinician for the prestigious Vail Foundation in Colorado Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Program. He has also served as a member of the faculty for the Juilliard Institute for Jazz Studies in New York. Stafford was born in Miami and raised in Chicago and Silver Spring, Maryland. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Maryland and a Masters of Music from Rutgers University.
	Andrew Surmani Andrew Surmani is a native of Oakland, California who now resides in Los Angeles. He played trumpet in the California All-State Honor Band, the McDonald's All-American Marching Band and Jazz Band, and the Walt Disney World All-American College Jazz Band. Andrew attended California State University, Northridge where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Trumpet Performance. While at Northridge he played with the CSUN Wind Ensemble, Orchestra and Jazz "A" Band. He has toured throughout the USA, Europe and Japan, and performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York. After playing lead trumpet in shows at Walt Disney World, Andrew returned to southern California to pursue his MBA degree and began working for Alfred Music Publishing. Andrew is currently the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Managing Director, School and Church Publishing. He is co-author of Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory, along with his wife Karen Farnum Surmani, a former LA Unified School District music educator, and Morton Manus, President of Alfred Music Publishing. Andrew is the founder and Past President of the MATES Foundation, is on the curriculum committee for the Masters in Music Industry Administration degree program at California State University, Northridge and is on the Music and Arts Technology Industry Advisory Board at Indiana University/Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Andrew currently serves as the President of the Jazz Education Network. To view an alphabetical list of the Board click here.