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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.

Executive Committee 2012-13

	Andrew Surmani - President Andrew Surmani, JEN's current President and a Founding Board Member of the organization is a native of Oakland, California who now resides in Los Angeles. Andrew is currently the Senior Vice President and Managing Director, School and Church Publishing for Alfred Music Publishing. Additionally he is also an Assistant Professor, Music Industry Students for the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communications at California State University, Northridge and is the Academic Lead for the Masters in Music Industry Administration program. 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 has performed in the Istanbul (Turkey), Juan les Pins (France), Umbria (Italy), Wigan (England) and the Lake Biwa (Japan) jazz festivals. He has also performed in the concert halls of Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher and Alice Tully Halls at Lincoln Center, Fumon Hall in Tokyo, and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. After playing lead trumpet in shows at Walt Disney World, Andrew returned to southern California to complete his MBA degree and began working for Alfred Music 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 current choral director in the Conejo Unified School District, as well as Morton Manus, President of Alfred Music Publishing. Andrew is the Founder and Past President of the MATES Foundation and is also on the Music and Arts Technology Industry Advisory Board at Indiana University/Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).
	John Clayton - Vice President 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 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.
	Monika Herzig - Secretary 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.
	Rick Kessel - Treasurer 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.
	Bob Sinicrope - President-Elect 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.
	Dr. Lou Fischer - Past President Dr. Lou Fischer is Professor of Music, Jazz Studies Area Chair, jazz ensemble director at Capital University. A member of the UNT One O’Clock Lab Band (‘71-‘74), Fischer holds a BM (Magna Cum Laude '91), and MA (with Honors '92) from the University of Denver, and a Doctor of Arts from Ball State University (Pi Kappa Lambda '99). Dr. Fischer acted as jazz division head for Bands of America/Music For All for 10 years and was a faculty member at the summer camp for 17 years. Lou’s forty-eight year career represents a veritable Who’s Who in American 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 to name just a few. Selected recordings include the latest trio project by the group 'Three As One' titled Decisions on Summit Records; 'Beaux J Poo Boo' All Things Are New; Steve Houghton’s Tribute to Shelley Manne titled 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 many others. A Yamaha Silent Bass Artist Representative, clinics/concerts include Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan, Korea, Great Britain, Scandinavia, Mexico, and three hundred+ institutions across the United States. Lou has directed All State Ensembles in Texas (two levels), North Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wisconsin, Louisiana, and South Carolina, and the National Honors Jazz Band of America in 2010 and is scheduled again in 2013. With compositions and textbooks published by Alfred, Kendor, Hal Leonard, and Walrus, Lou has also been a contributor to JAZZed, the International Association for Jazz Education's Journal and Band Director Magazines. His latest textbooks are Jazz Solos,Bass Vol 2 and Rhythm Section Workshop for Jazz Band Directors, a complete set including a Director’s Manual, DVD, play-along CD and Five workbooks. co-authored with Shelly Berg (piano), Steve Houghton (drums) and Fred Hamilton (guitar). A collection of etudes titles Stylistic Etudes in the Jazz Idiom remains a top seller for Hal Leonard after 25+ years of publication. Having served IAJE in many capacities for thirty plus years, Lou was formerly the United States Representative. Lou is a co-founder, along with Mary Jo Papich of the Jazz Education Network.