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OCTOBER 16, 2011 7 p.m.
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TJ Arts is Keeping the Music Alive Sweetly!
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Proud supporter of TJ Arts and sponsor of tonight’s performance.
Joe and Julie Kuchta
We salute TJ’s musicians and vocalists!
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Sweet Sweet Jazz Sponsors
Our Event Starring Sponsors Prints Charming
Eric Berman PNC Bank, Southland
Our Event Supporting Sponsors Dr. Derrick Fluhme Joe and Julie Kuchta
Dawn Walters
Our Dessert Starring Sponsors Altman‟s
Panera Bread, South Park Panera Bread, Southland
Michele Stoicovy and Intro to FCS Class South Hills IGA Craig Conaway
Steel City Chocolates Desserts at Large
Eat‟n Park Blvd. Cafe
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Mark G. Brody, DMD
83 Old Clairton Rd.
Pleasant Hills, PA 15236
(412) 655-2112
Our Ticket Auction Supporting Sponsors Old Allegheny Shoppe Dupree‟s Olive Garden at Century III Denny‟s at Century III Francesco‟s Trax Brass Rail T. C. Customized Primanti Bros. on Rt. 51 Breugger‟s on Rt. 51 Baltimore House My House to Yours Banana Peppers Pizza Hut at Century III Salon Eclip‟s Dairy Queen at Finleyville Monkey Bar Le Mont Blue Flame Morgan‟s Pub Breugger‟s on Rt. 51
Allegheny Massage Therapy Beer-n-At, Diamond D Distributing Meders Nursery Rebecca Klavon, thirty-one gifts Nancy Will Our Ticket Auction Starring Supporters Dawn Walters Valerie DiPietro Practice Tee Mary Culbertson-Stark Allegheny Physical Medicine Our Door Prize Sponsors Denny‟s Morgan‟s Pub Italian Village Eat‟n Park South Park Clubhouse Primanti Bros. on Rt. 51 Breugger‟s on Rt. 51
Our Dessert Supporting Sponsors Pastries a la Carte Kribel‟s Bakery
McGinness Sisters on Rt. 51 Giant Eagle at Century III
Giant Eagle South Hills Market District Foodland on Curry Hollow Road Shop ‟n Save at Century Square
Sweet Sweet Jazz Sponsors cont’d
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Pewter Membership Below $50
Molly Alvord
Tom and Christine Bodner
Carol Boehm
Maureen Boeltz
Carolyn Bourgeois
Rege and Dorothy Brown
Elizabeth and Terry Caywood
Alyssa Cole
James Collins
Deb Dansevicus
Cynthia-Grace Devine-Kepner
Lauri Drnach
Karen Dryer
Ronald and Stefanie Ebert
Rosann Elinsky
Helen Fallon
Kathleen Froncek
Angie Gaitaniella
Deborah Hayden
Kathy Hornyak
Barbara Karge
Mr. and Mrs. Steven and Fran Kayatin
Kilmer Family
Kevin Kindlin
Kuskil Family
Max Leake
Steve and Evelyn Madar
Naomi Mattarock
William McAuley
Edward and Virginia Monaghan
Elaine Moore
Amy Oriss
Helen Peconi
Paula Rigo
Katie Sauter Conaway
Roberta Schiegg
David Shearouse
Harry and Susan Tkach
Janet Van Bibber
Carleton Young
CORPORATE GIVING
Diamond Membership $1,500 plus
N/A
Platinum Membership $1,000-$1,4999
N/A
Gold Membership $500-$999
PNC Bank
Silver Membership $100-$499
Costanzo Financial Group
Prints Charming
Bronze Membership Below $100
N/A
Our Donors (cont’d)
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INDIVIDUAL GIVING
Diamond Membership $1,000 plus
Eric Berman
Keith Cecotti
Joseph and Juliana Kuchta
Karen and Jay Suszynski
Platinum Membership $500-$999
N/A
Gold Membership $250-$499
Kevin Cecotti
Dayna DiRienzo
Marcy Robinson
Nicole Stout
Dawn Walters
Silver Membership $100-$249
Sandy and John Barker
Linda Blonde
Tom and Mary Burich
Ben Cantley
Jane Check
Mary Culbertson-Stark
Jim Currie
Chad and Amy Heathcott
Dent and Carla Holden
Robert and Connie Hornyak
Georgia Hurlston
Jan and Tom Kennedy
Dottie Kutscher
Michael and Charlie LaBarbera
Liberati Family
Deneen Loughran
Jerry and Diane Peconi
Rebecca Redshaw
Holly Rolla
Christopher and Michele Stoicovy
Bill Stoops
Julia Suszynski
Lana and Robert Timmins
Bronze Membership $50-$99
Carla Liberati Brandon
Joseph Brandt
Junemarie Brandt
Mark and Nancy Cifrulak
Nick Consoli
Randy and Sharon Eschliman
F. Richard Hinkle ad Leslee Mills-Hinkle
Mark and Anne Kuchta
Pamela and Kevin Kuhn
Anthony Liberati
John Lozosky
Teri McIntyre
Sherry Meucci
Harold and Ruth Ohm
Patricia O‟Kelly
Cathy Ondis
Lin and Mark Plumb
Paul Poulin
Sandra Rotthoff
Carolynn Schrading
Joe Sikora
Theodora Walters
Patty and George Wilson
Sarah Zabielski
Our Donors
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Alto Saxophone Eric Banas* Santino Napolitano * TJ Mordecki* Bari Saxophone Taylor Lawrence* Tenor Saxophone Connor Kooyers* Rachel Reyher * Denotes Seniors
Trumpets Benjamin Grassi* Christopher Bredel Daniel Schrum Sean Birch Trombone Julia Ejzak* Carmen LoPresti James Cox Hanna Salmon
Piano Laura Andreola Hanna Salmon Bass Guitar Andrew Whitt Guitar Nicholas Simmen Drum Set Charles Benack Michael Capolupo
TJ Jazz Band II
TJ Jazz Band I
Sweet Sweet Jazz Performers
Band Leader Jim Mirabella
Alto Saxophone Matthew Brock Timothy Grassi Rachel Reyher Bari Saxophone Donald Meucci Tenor Saxophone Leah Rowan Lauren Clark
Trumpets Victoria Cotter Lauren Herazo Victoria Bachner Patrick Walsh Trombone Anna Boger Erin Lazar Emma Volk David Volk
Piano Laura Andreola Alexander Detwiler Bass Guitar Andrew Whitt Guitar Nicholas Simmen Drum Set Noelle McCormick
Band Leader
Jim Mirabella
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Sweet Sweet Jazz Performers
Saxophones Benny Benack Jr. „74 Eric DeFade „83
Clarinet Benny Benack Jr. „74 Bass Rich Loose „82
Piano Max Leake „76 Drums Flip Benack „78
Saxophones Benny Benack Jr. „74 Eric DeFade „83 Jim Germann „74 Terry Harr „68 John Thatcher „74 Trumpets Flip Benack „78 Vince DiAntonio „78 John Greenwald „71 Joe Herndon Cathy Witters Stewart „82
Trombones Bill Balas „73 Scott Coulson „89 Nicholas Deutsch „03 Dave Hiller „84 Guitar Ken Miller „82 Mark Shuttleworth ‟73 Piano Max Leake „76
Bass Don Breneman „89 Rich Loose „82
Drums Blane Allen „81 Ray DeFade Jr. „82 John Fabian „87 Chuck LoPresti „75
Benny Benack Band
TJ Alumni Jazz Band
Mackenzie Madden „99 Molly Greiner Suhoski „03
Vocalists
Dorette DeFade Weld „91 Kevin Kindlin („82)
Accompanied by TJ Alumni Band
Band Leader Benny Benack Jr.
Band Leader Ray DeFade Sr.
Bob Studebaker, WDUQ
Emcee Co-Hosts
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Dear Friends,
We are grateful for the support that you have shown us by being in attendance tonight. Look around because the stage lights that you see tonight have been purchased through your generosity. Your efforts large and small have made this night possible and have given TJ some permanent lighting fixtures that will enhance our student and community performers in years to come.
We are also grateful for the amazing talents of our musicians, vocalists, and co-hosts, all TJ graduates who have come back to their alma mater for a musical reunion and an opportunity to give back to an arts program that meant a great deal to each of them when they were beginning their careers. Ray DeFade stands as a giant among many of these performers as one of their first jazz teachers who inspired them to love this music.
TJ Arts would like to acknowledge the WJHSD Board of Directors for maintaining and supporting all of the arts programs within our district at a time when so many other districts are facing cutbacks in the arts.
Finally, I want to thank the ten TJ graduates and WJH residents who serve on TJ Arts Board of Directors. These individuals have given tirelessly of their time and talents to promote the arts in their hometown. Over half of them no longer live within the district which makes their commitment all the more remarkable.
What we all share within our hearts is the belief that the arts can make a profound difference in the quality of our lives. We can hear that difference tonight.
Karen Suszynski, TJ „68, Chair of TJ Arts
A Word from TJ Arts
Julia Suszynski, TJ‟05, Secretary
Eric Berman, TJ „79, Treasurer
Joe Brandt, TJ „78
Dayna Liberati DiRienzo, TJ „79
Amy Alvord Heathcott, TJ „90
Dottie Yardas Kutscher, TJ „78
Marcy Davidson Robinson, TJ „79
Bob Timmins
Lana Timmins
Dawn Walters, TJ „79
TJ Arts Board of Directors
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REAL ESTATE, CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION
& CORPORATE LAW
Our family helping yours.
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Saxophones Benny Benack Jr. „74 Eric DeFade „83 Jim Germann „74 Terry Harr „68 John Thatcher „74 Trumpets Flip Benack „78 Vince DiAntonio „78 John Greenwald „71 Joe Herndon Cathy Witters Stewart „82
Trombones Bill Balas „73 Scott Coulson „89 Nicholas Deutsch „03 Dave Hiller „84 Guitar Ken Miller „82 Mark Shuttleworth ‟73 Piano Max Leake „76
Bass Don Breneman „89 Rich Loose „82
Drums Blane Allen „81 Ray DeFade Jr. „82 John Fabian „87 Chuck LoPresti „75
TJ Jazz Band II I Get A Kick Out Of You Words and music by Cole Porter Alto Saxophone solo: Timothy Grassi Arranged by Dave Wolpe Trombone solo: Erin Lazar Blowtorch By Les Sabina Alto Saxophone solo: Matthew Brock
TJ Jazz Band I
Mr. Lucky By Henry Mancini Alto Saxophone solo: Eric Banas Arranged by Mark Taylor Limehouse Blues Arranged by Paul Clark Soloist: TBA
Dorette Weld
Mercy By Duffy/Booker Sunday Morning By Maroon 5 True Colors By Steinberg/Kelly
Benny Benack Band Playing a selection of jazz tunes as inspired...
INTERMISSION
Kevin Kindlin Sister Moon By Sting It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing By Ellington Here's to Life By Molinary/Butler
Alumni Jazz Band Big Band Classics Arranged by Ray DeFade April In Paris Vernon Duke/Jeff Hest Phantom of the Opera Webber/DeFade Time Richie Powell/DeFade Mercy, Mercy Zawinul/Wilson The Lady is A Tramp Rodgers/Wolpe Vocalist Kevin Kindlin Tin-Tin-Deo Pozo/DeFade Monk's Dream Monk/DeFade Freedom Jazz Dance Harris/Stapleton Cottontail Ellington/LaBarbera West Side Story Bernstein/Rich
Musical Numbers
Artistic and Technical Staff
Director and Arranger Ray DeFade Producer Karen Suszynski Marketing and Publicity Dayna DiRienzo Amy Heathcott Dottie Kutscher Julia Suszynski Karen Suszynski Program/Ad Design Dayna DiRienzo Program Production Dottie Kutscher Karen Suszynski Local Planners Karen Suszynski Dawn Walters Dottie Kutscher Molly Suhoski Lana Timmins Darlene Hoffman Carolyn Bourgeois June Brandt Linda Rodman Ken Miller Naomi Mattarock Mary Byrne
Ticket Auction Karen Suszynski Valerie DiPietro Dottie Kutscher Nancy Will Sound Tim Milko Nick Deutsch Stage Manager Jess Peconi Lights Crew Lauren Clark Elizabeth Mulenga Elise Meszaros Kate McIlwain Emily McClymonds House Managers Dottie Kutscher Sandy Barker Ushers and Dessert Servers TJ Theatre students Videography Chuck LoPresti, Jr. Photography/Videography Bob Timmins
Day of Event Coordinators Dawn Walters Dottie Kutscher Julia Suszynski Jay Suszynski Juliet Tipton Kelly Miller Joe Brandt Finance Eric Berman Karen Suszynski Development Marcy Robinson Eric Berman Joe Brandt Programming Amy Heathcott Karen Suszynski Other Helpers Tom Sharkey Judy Kaufmann Jessica Peconi Sandy Barker Julie Tipton Kelly Miller Julie Lucci Jim Mirabella Ben Cantley Mackenzie Madden Janice Kennedy
Bill Balas Teddy Walters
TJ Arts Board of Directors Laura and Jim Boltz, Minuteman Press, Cranberry Rick Altman, Altman‟s Restaurant Bob and Lana Timmins, Bob Timmins Photography Tim Milko and Nick Deutsch, Gitano Productions Julie Tipton, Kelly Miller, and TJ Theatre students Sandy Barker, TJ English and Theatre Department chair
Dr. Tim McNamee, former WJHSD Superintendent WJHSD Board of Directors Tim Haselhoff, TJ Principal Dennis Sobczak, WJHSD Maintenance Supervisor Adam Koe Leong, Integrated Theater Systems Jim Mirabella, TJ Jazz Band Director TJ Band Parents Office Depot at Century Square Myrna‟s Catering, Inc. John Rambo Jay Suszynski
Special thanks to...
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1981-1992, when he decided to retire from music performance. He currently is a real estate developer in the area and was recognized by the West Jefferson Hills Chamber of Commerce with their Economic Development Award in 1993. John and his brother are second-generation district students; his father was a 1934 graduate of Clairton High School, TJ‟s predecessor high school, and his children represent the third generation of TJ graduates. His sons Michael (2002) and Brian (2004) are serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and his twin daughters Kristen and Karen (2006) are fifth-year pharmacy students at Ohio Northern Uni-versity. Dorette DeFade Weld, TJ Class of 1991, had taken a 15-year break from music where she only sang at the occasional wedding for a friend since performing in high school musicals and such. For the past two years, Dorette has been singing with Dan Kirouac (acoustic guitar), covering songs from the '70s to current hits sung by Sheryl Crowe, Colbie Caillet, Carrie Underwood, along with some country selections. They play every weekend, and some weeknights as well. The duet‟s latest endeavor was recently finishing an original song in the studio entitled "By My Side" (written by Dan). Cathy Witters-Stewart, TJ Class of 1982, played trumpet for the band and the Jazz En-semble, participating in the PMEA District Bands, the PMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble, Mid East Instrumental Conference, Volkwein‟s NAJE All-Star Jazz Ensemble, Duquesne Univer-sity's Summer Jazz Workshop. She received a scholarship to Duquesne University's music program, graduating in 1986 with a bachelor‟s in music education. Now she is an instructor, songwriter, recording artist and video production assistant. In addition to trumpet, she also plays guitar, bass, keys and is a vocalist a la Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks. Her trumpet-playing can be heard on Mark Eddie's "Dahntahn" song. She has released two EP's of original music, EP1-Originals and This Beggar's Ready to Ride, which include the talents of many popular local musicians including Eric DeFade. She also appears on the Pittsburgh Songwriter's Circle 2007 compilation CD, and co-produced and appears on Music That Mat-ters-Pennsylvania, a CD/DVD produced by country music artist Wayne Warner to aid in adoption awareness. She is involved with creative projects by JFK Lancer, with whom she is conference media coordinator, including singing the National Anthem at Dealey Plaza in Dallas at their annual memorial to John F. Kennedy. She has also performed the national anthem for the Altoona Curve Baseball Organization. Cathy currently is working with David and Joey Granati (G Force-Granati Brothers) on multiple projects, and is an instructor at For Those About to Rock Academy in Ambridge. She will be teaching a Guitar 101 course starting this winter at Sweetwater Center for the Arts in Sewickley, and can be found performing solo acoustic, as well as duo, trio and band shows all over Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. She also co-hosts an acoustic open stage at Sing Sing in the Waterfront on Wednesday nights. Cathy has a daughter, Brianne (16), who is an aspiring photographer, artist and poet/lyricist. She wishes to thank the great band program and teachers like Ray DeFade, John Slate, Tom Ward, Jim Tucci, Denny Cameron and Norman Sellaro in the WJHSD in the '70s and '80s for a life filled with the greatest joy of all–the joy of creating and performing music. It‟s a continuing honor to be a part of the Alumni Jazz Ensemble and Sweet Sweet Jazz.
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Mackenzie Madden, TJ Class of 1999, was actively involved in the band program while in high school. She served as a four-year member of Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, performed annually in the pit during musical productions, and served her junior and senior years as drum major. Her involvement and exposure to leadership roles within the music program supported her decision to enter business as a profession, where she currently works as a project manager for Thermo Fisher Scientific. Despite her busy professional career, Mackenzie remains active with music, performing for weddings, cocktail parties and other events. Ken Miller, TJ Class of 1982, graduated magna cum laude before receiving his bachelor‟s in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 1986, master‟s in chemical engi-neering from West Virginia University in 1988 and PhD from the University of Florida in 1991. After working in various locations across the country doing pharmaceutical R&D (really), Ken currently works for Mylan Technologies in Morgantown, W.Va. Now back in TJ country, he plays the occasional coffee house or pub on the weekends and records in his private studio. Ken was active in Theatre Arts, but never played with the band while a stu-dent. He would like to thank Ray DeFade for taking a bigger risk than he might have hereto-fore realized, and Jimmy Frazier who couldn‟t be here tonight. ;-) Mark Shuttleworth, TJ Class of 1973, lives in Dormont with his wife, Sara, a Shih-tzu named Jackson, and a cat named Molly! His three children, Ambriel, Jesse and Carl, are all grown. He has lived in Massachusetts, Florida, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. Since high school, Mark has stayed active in music by playing guitar in bands, duos, solo performances and for church groups. He also has taught guitar off and on throughout the years and recently began playing mandolin as well. Currently Mark performs solo (guitar and vocals; or just solo guitar), in several different duos, and as a trio under his own name. Mark‟s full time job is with the Pittsburgh Penguins as director of amateur hockey. Bob Studebaker, longtime WDUQ jazz host, is once again the emcee for our Sweet Sweet Jazz concert. Bob has produced award-winning documentaries on Pittsburgh's musical tradi-tions and has led classes on Pittsburgh jazz history. He currently hosts jazz on Saturday nights on 90.5 FM and produces programming for JazzWorks (which began in 1999 by WDUQ and continues today under the station‟s new ownership). JazzWorks is heard in about 30 different cities throughout the United States. Molly Greiner Suhoski, TJ Class of 2003. During her time at TJ, Molly participated in the marching and symphonic bands as well as the jazz band. Many of Molly's fondest memories from high school were from her times in band. Molly currently teaches Pre-K in the West Mifflin Area School District. John Thatcher, TJ Class of 1973, was in the TJ Jazz Ensemble from 1969-1973. As a mem-ber of the American Youth Studio Band out of Wilmington, Del., he toured six countries in Europe in the summer of 1973. John was a member of the Jazz Ensemble at Lehigh University from 1973-1977, and the director of that band from 1975-1977. After receiving his bachelor‟s degree in mechanical engineering, he moved to California to work in Exxon Co. USA‟s oil refinery in Benicia (part of the San Francisco Bay area). There, he became a member of the Napa, Calif., Community College Jazz Band from 1977-1981, playing at numerous wineries and concert halls around northern California wine country. John returned to Pittsburgh in 1981 to take over a family real estate business, and performed in the Benny Benack Band from
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at eight years old when his parents bought him a drum set, one piece at a time. Chuck went on to graduate from Duquesne University and then the Duquesne School of Law. He played the drums in the TJ Band and Stage Band (jazz band) under Ray DeFade, and was band presi-dent with the distinction of dancing with the head majorette on the field to Disney‟s “Rock Around the Clock.” After law school, he worked at the District Attorney‟s Office as a prose-cutor and then started his own firm in the early 1990s. Chuck still plays the drums today and has a couple sets in his music room. He is married to his best friend, Kathy, who has co-chaired the Band Festival with him for the last two years (she actually does all the work), and she has run the entire operation of the law firm for many years now. They have three sons, two of whom were and are in the TJ Band and Jazz Band, and two who attend Duquesne Uni-versity currently. Unlike most of the Sweet Sweet Jazz band, he is not a professional and consid-ers it an honor and privilege to have been asked to do a couple numbers among such awesome talent. He also wants to send out a shout of thanks to all the TJ Band patrons, students, spon-sors and Mr. James Mirabella who support the band, as well as TJ Arts for their support of the music program. Chuck also wants to thank Ray DeFade for being one of those milestone peo-ple that you meet along the way that help shape the way you approach life. He certainly was that, along with Jim Tucci, John Slate and Norm Sellaro. “Yes gentlemen, it‟s you I blame for how I am. Thank you for a lifetime of sweet sweet jazz….” Max Leake, TJ Class of 1976, began his musical training at age six. By the time he was 15, he was working with local Pittsburgh bands and backing up national acts in local supper clubs. By 18, Max was traveling around the country with acts such as the Ink Spots and the Marcels. Max spent time playing in show bands in the Catskill Mountains of NY backing up variety acts, comedians and singers. He also cruised around the Western hemisphere as house pianist in the show bands on many different Princess Cruise ships. In 1985, he released his self-produced album Buns in the Sun on Visionary Records, a record label started by Max and Mike Hurzon (owner of the Tracking Station, an independent record promotion company). Max has gone on to produce, compose for and record with dozens of other artists including Tim Eyermann and East Coast Offering, Kenny Blake, Salsamba, Billy Price and the Balcony Big Band. Max has been recording, composing, arranging and performing for 35 years with some of the best jazz and blues artists in the world. He was voted "Best Jazz Keyboardist" in the In Pittsburgh Music Awards in 1989, 1991 and 1995, and most recently has been inducted into the Pitts-burgh Jazz Hall of Fame. Max then began composing and performing music for websites, vid-eos, planetarium shows and CD-ROMs for various advertising and multi-media production companies with his own home-based music production company. He currently is working for UPMC at the WISER Institute, is an independent IT and multimedia consultant, and actively performing, composing, arranging and producing for live performance, multimedia and re-cordings. Go to www.maxleake.com for more information. Rich Loose, TJ Class of 1982, received a bachelor‟s in music performance from the Univer-sity of Miami School of Music in 1986. He played in numerous musical groups there, includ-ing the UM Concert Jazz Band. He lived and worked in Miami for several years after gradua-tion, working with many South Florida Latin, jazz and Caribbean musicians, including mem-bers of the Miami Sound Machine, Weather Report, and Blood Sweat and Tears. Rich re-turned to Pittsburgh in 1990 and has been working here with many great local musicians, including Joe Negri, Roger Humphries, Benny Benack and, of course, Ray DeFade, who gave him his first gig in ninth grade!
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South Park, Pa. Terry is so pleased to contribute to the second annual Sweet Sweet Jazz event. The music faculty at TJ always encouraged him to express himself musically–something he carries with him to this day. Terry‟s early mentors/teachers included: Jim Tucci, Dick Hiller, Ray DeFade, Tom Ward, Ted Zack, Henri Aloisi, Benny Benack and Lou Valle. Without the guidance and encouragement from these dedicated professionals, he never would have accom-plished anything in the arts. “Dedication to the arts has become a tradition at West Jefferson Hills,” Terry is pleased to say. Proof of that is the outstanding talent displayed on October 16 at Sweet Sweet Jazz. Terry thanks Ray for allowing him to participate. Joe Herndon holds degrees in music performance and music education from Slippery Rock University, as well as a master‟s degree in music from Duquesne. He is a 1995 graduate of Bradford Area High school (but we won‟t hold that against him.) Joe is one of the most in-demand trumpet players in the Pittsburgh area. He has performed with Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Frankie Valli, Bernadette Peters, The Four Tops, Little Anthony and the Imperi-als, among others, and performs regularly with the Temptations. Locally, Joe performs regu-larly with the Pittsburgh Broadway Series Orchestra, Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh Musical Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, the Billy Price Band and the Three Rivers Jazz Orchestra, as well as with national touring acts that pass through the region. He is also the bandleader for Azúca, a salsa band. Dave Hiller, TJ Class of 1984, went on to Duquesne University, where he majored in music education and met his wife, a fellow music major. He came back to TJ in January 1989, teach-ing band at PHMS and TJ for 13 years (about half of those years with Ray DeFade). Dave also played trombone professionally around Pittsburgh with a variety of groups for 14 years. After earning a secondary mathematics degree at Point Park College in 2002, Dave began teaching eighth grade math at PHMS, where he just started his 23rd year. He has somewhat abandoned his music career and has been having a great time in the classroom and happily raising a family in Pleasant Hills ever since. Kevin Kindlin, TJ Class of 1982, is an artist and a marriage and family therapist currently residing in New York City. He has sung in cities around the country and appeared on stages in Los Angeles and New York, as well as in film, on television and in commercial roles. He en-joyed the gathering of fantastic talent for the concert last fall and was happy to join the cause again this year. Recent roles for Kevin include the West Coast premiere of The Libertine and roles with the Los Angeles Theater Company. He was also executive producer of the award-winning national tour of Rain Pryor‟s Fried Chicken and Latkes. He is a member of The Screen Actors Guild and The Stage Actors Guild, Equity. Kevin utilizes his skills in NYC for clinical outreach on behalf of the most clinically sophisticated wilderness program in the country, Second Nature. He also recently served as the adolescent chair for the Los Angeles chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Kevin received his bachelor‟s degree in fine arts theatre from the University of Pittsburgh and holds a master‟s in clinical psychology, marriage and family psychotherapy from Phillips Graduate Institute, Encino, Calif. Kevin encourages every young musician and artist at TJ to continue doing what they do best. He would like to thank the tireless efforts of the board chair of TJ Arts, Karen Suszynski, for her love and support, as well as Carolyn Bourgeois, who is still his favorite sister for the second year in a row and a school board member who supports TJ every day. Charles R. LoPresti, TJ Class of 1975, was born the son of a poor sharecropper (just kid-ding). Actually, growing up in Jefferson Hills with great parents, he began to play the drums
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Tuesday Night Big Band, City Heat Band, The Temptations, The Spinners, The Lettermen, Al Martino and The Four Lads. He resides in Jefferson Hills and enjoys traveling, gardening, hunting and fishing. John Fabian, TJ Class of 1987, was a member of the TJ Band from 1983-1987 under the direction of Ray DeFade. John studied percussion with John Fisher and Lenny Rogers at Duquesne University throughout high school. During the summer months, John attended the Duquesne University and Carnegie Mellon University summer jazz camps and was also a member of the District and Regional Honors Band. Upon high school graduation, John audi-tioned and was accepted into the U.S. Army Band program. John attended the United States Element School of Music in Little Creek, VA, from 1987-1988. John was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division Band, Wurzburg, Germany. Other Army Band assignments included: 77th Army Band, Ft. Sill, Okla.; 8th Army Band, Seoul, Korea; V Corps Band, Wiesbaden, Ger-many; and the 101st Airborne Division Band, Ft. Campbell, Ky. After 10 years of service, John decided to leave the Army Band program to pursue a college degree in Computer Sci-ence, receiving a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2004. John still plays with jazz and show bands throughout the state, and is a big fan of computer-based electronic music. Jim Germann, TJ Class of 1974, attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., graduating in 1977. He has toured with the Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman and Al Hirt Bands. Jim is currently co-owner of Hollis and Germann Music in Castle Shannon. John Greenwald, TJ Class of 1971, began his musical career at Lincoln Elementary School in West Elizabeth, Pa.,under the tutelage of Tom Ward. During his youth, he was fortunate to study under the great TJ music staff of Dick Hiller, Norm Sellaro, Jim Tucci, John Slate and Ray DeFade. His fondest memory of high school took place in his senior year, when TJ won the Mid-East Jazz Band Contest. John went on to major in music at Duquesne Univer-sity, where he played lead trumpet with the DU Jazz Band and began to play professionally with Benny Benack and The Dodge Kids. He was also a pit musician for many Pittsburgh shows. After leaving Robert Morris University as its music director, John made a career change and is now president and owner of Mechanical Operations and Consulting, Inc., which manages and maintains the largest ENERGY STAR-rated buildings in Pittsburgh along with the first ENERGY STAR-rated data center in the United States. John is thrilled to be playing again this year with some of his classmates and former students and would like to express his gratitude to Terry Harr for replacing him as the oldest member of the band! Many thanks, also, to Ray DeFade for enriching their lives with music and enabling them to enjoy second childhoods. Terry Harr, TJ Class of 1968, has been involved in the music business for 42 years as a performer, music arranger and composer. Most recently, Terry was in Miami recording with writer/performer Mickey Carroll for famed producer Howard Albert at Audio Vision Stu-dios on Mickey‟s new release. Currently residing in the Orlando area, he has performed on saxophone and keyboards for many top popular artists on TV and radio, in clubs and on the concert stage. He has produced more than 2,600 published arrangements for some of the most successful musical artists in the business. With a bachelor's degree in music education from Duquesne University in 1973, Terry has taught History of Jazz, Performance and Jazz Vocal as an adjunct instructor at area colleges. As a composer and producer, Terry recently released his latest smooth jazz recording, At the Grove, published by MHM Productions,
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recording sessions from 1987 through 1992. In the mid-1990s, Ray played drums in the Pittsburgh-based band The Gathering Field, recording two albums, including Lost in America for Atlantic Records. Ray has performed and recorded with many Pittsburgh artists, includ-ing Brad Yoder, Tony Janflone, Shari Richards and many others. Ray DeFade, Sr. received a bachelor‟s in music education and a master‟s in composition/theory from Duquesne University. He was a music teacher in the West Jefferson Hills School District for 28 years. Ray organized and directed the first Duquesne University Jazz Ensem-ble from 1960-1971, and served as interim jazz ensemble director at CMU and director of the Mellon Jazz Festival All-Star High School Jazz Bands in the '70s and '80s. He has toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra with Buddy DeFranco, The Bobby Vinton Orchestra and the Dick Clark Show. He played lead alto sax in the Holiday House Supper Club Band, the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra under Nathan Davis, and led a jazz group at the Gaslight Club; he also spent many years as an entertainer at Bimbo's in Mt. Lebanon. He has written many arrangements for various singers, bands and orchestras including orchestra arrangements for “The Mister Rogers Show” and recently arranged for the Soiree Band, Roger Humphries Big Band, the Latshaw Pops Orchestra and the McKeesport Symphony. Ray has arranged for and conducted recording sessions for Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners, Donna Bailey, a doo-wop compilation album and the Soiree album Nobody Claps for the Low Notes. He continues to perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (Pops), Pittsburgh Musical Theater, the Latshaw Pops Orchestra, the Soiree Band, the Steel City Stompers (comedy), Jimmy Beau-mont and the Skyliners, the Temptations and many other groups. Nicholas Deutsch, TJ Class of 2003, began studying euphonium in fourth grade with “Matty” Shiner and started trombone lessons in middle school. In high school, he participated in Jazz Band and Symphonic Band, and recorded and produced his own album for his gradua-tion project. Nicholas was the only euphonium player to have ever made the PMEA All-State Band. He credits the WJHSD staff as having an enormous impact on his musical career, espe-cially Dave Hiller, Michael Cenna, Cecilia Cicco and Todd Stefan. Nicholas went to Slippery Rock University and majored in music education. He was a member of the Marching Pride Band, played trombone in the trombone choir and euphonium in the brass ensemble, was first chair in the University Wind Ensemble, played in Jazz Ensemble I, and played lead trombone his final two years. While in school, Nicholas was featured on a Wind Ensemble album and two jazz ensemble albums, and he was part of the first album of original jazz com-positions produced by a Slippery Rock University Jazz Combo, titled One in Seven. He also performed at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival, where he received an outstanding solo award by world-renowned trumpeter Jon Faddis. In 2006, Nicholas and the University Jazz Ensemble I played at the two most prestigious jazz festivals in the world: the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands. Nicholas also has performed with artists such as Bob Mintzer, Conrad Herwig, Gary Smulyan and Dave Samuels. Nicholas was an associate producer on the album We Three, The Next Generation, featuring the Pitts-burgh Italian-American band We Three, under the direction of Vito DiSalvo of MHM Pro-ductions. Their music can be heard on the HBO series The Sopranos, in the independent film The Bread, My Sweet, and in the motion picture Eat, Pray, Love. Currently, Nicholas is an assis-tant marching band director at West Mifflin, a brass technician at Moon Area, a freelance musician and DJ, and a live sound and recording engineer for Gitano Productions. Vince DiAntonio, TJ Class of 1978, attended Duquesne University, receiving a bachelor's degree in music education and a master's in Jazz Trumpet. He has been a music educator for 20 years and a freelance musician on trumpet from 1982 to present day. Vince has per-formed with names such as Benny Benack Jr., Joe Campus, Pittsburgh Legends Big Band,
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staged and produced events across North America and Europe for the past 17 years. Flip married Sandy Gurecka (TJ Class of 1982) in 1988 and they have two children, Nikky (senior) and Jake (sophomore). Their kids love music and are in the band (Nikky on trumpet and Jake on drums – did you expect anything else??) and play sports. Both kids play for TJ (Nikky, fast-pitch softball; Jake, baseball and golf), and their dad has also been coaching base-ball for the past 10 years. Donald F. Breneman, TJ Class of 1989, is originally from Pleasant Hills where he grew up with his parents, Don and Betty, his sisters, Carrie and Cathy, and his brother, Matt. He was a Carnegie Mellon All-Star Jazz Award recipient, bassist in the TJ Jazz Ensemble and goalkeeper for TJ Varsity soccer. Inspired by his older sister, Cathy, he loved music and played in many bands both throughout and after high school and was one of the founding members of Goon, the first and last punk band to ever play at TJ. He also played in Physical Plant, MWC and several other local bar/college party bands in and around Pittsburgh. Don attended West Virginia University and Slippery Rock University and is employed as a re-gional business analyst for Juniper Communities. He lives with his wife of 15 years, Lori, in Sharpsville, Pa., with his wonderful children, Madeline (10), Donnie (9) and Michael (6); and crazy dog, Clarion. Scott Coulson, TJ Class of 1989, played in the TJ Marching Band and Jazz Band. He cur-rently plays trombone in the band The Businessmen, which has raised more than $250,000 for Pittsburgh charities. He works at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing and is pursuing his doctorate in education. Scott lives in Plum with his wife, Gina, and sons Noah (12) and Reed (10). Eric DeFade, TJ Class of 1983, with more than 30 years of professional experience, is in demand as a performing artist and studio musician. Few musicians enjoy a schedule as de-manding or varied. Eric is a soloist for the “My Music” series on PBS. This program is inter-nationally broadcast and features such artists as Patti Labelle, Isaac Hayes, The Temptations, Robert Goulet, Wild Cherry, The Platters and The Commodores, to name a few. Eric has played with music greats Rosemary Clooney, Josh Groban, The New York Voices, Gary Burton, John Scofield, Dave Liebman, Buddy DeFranco and has toured internationally with The Artie Shaw Band and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Eric has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show accompanying legendary jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson. A McDonald‟s All-American and multi-instrumentalist, Eric received a scholarship to study jazz performance at the University of North Texas and was the lead tenor saxophonist with the Dallas Jazz Or-chestra. After working extensively in the Dallas club and studio scene, Eric relocated to To-kyo to lead his own jazz combo. Upon returning to Pittsburgh, he began freelancing on the East Coast and works with The Salsamba Latin Jazz Group, Roger Humphries, The Benny Benack Band, Billy Price, The U.S. Touring Orchestra of Patrizio Buanne, Lilly Abreu, The Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra and many others. Most recently, Eric was an onstage performer for the Civic Light Opera production of Swing. With dozens of recordings to his credit, most notably with Nancy Wilson and New York Voices, Eric has played on two Grammy-winning projects and has won an Emmy for his work on the music special, “Live From Studio A.” In addition to a busy performance schedule, Eric is an artist/lecturer in jazz studies at Carnegie Mellon University, visiting artist at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center and a clinician for the Pennsylvania Arts on Tour program. Ray DeFade, Jr., TJ Class of 1982. Shortly after graduating, Ray began working with jazz saxophonist Eric Kloss. He later moved to Nashville and worked as a drummer in shows and
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Blane Allan, TJ Class of 1981, and drummer/percussionist, has spent the past 25 years on the production side of the film and entertainment industry here in Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Wilmington and Raleigh, NC. Currently, Blane is completing his MBA at Point Park Univer-sity and due to graduate in December 2011. Blane wishes to thank Karen Suszynski and Ray DeFade for their efforts in making Sweet Sweet Jazz a success and for continuing to be a positive influence in the lives of so many. Bill Balas, TJ Class of 1973, is a graduate of Duquesne University, with a bachelor's in mu-sic, 1977. He was a chef for 25 years and is currently the assistant business manager for the Georgetown Centre in Pleasant Hills. He is really excited to be involved in this worthwhile endeavor for the second year. Bill is a member and principal trombonist for the West Hills Symphonic Band, and is also a member of the Washington County Jazz Society Big Band, Pittsburgh‟s Big Band Legends, Tony Dianni‟s Back Dock Big Band and Ron Levi‟s Mon-Valley Jazz Orchestra. He has also performed in the past year with the Washington (Pa.) Sym-phony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Philharmonic Orchestra of North Hills and the Metropolitan Italian Symphonic Band. Bill would like to thank Ray DeFade for allowing him the honor and privilege of being included in this very talented group of musicians and for being such an amazing teacher and role model. Looking back on his life, Bill considers his participation in the music program at TJ a critical component in helping him to become a well-rounded, edu-cated and successful adult. With all of the recent tightening of state and federal funds for edu-cation, it seems arts are the first programs to be cut. Bill thinks it is incumbent on us all that we take it as a personal responsibility to do whatever we can to support the arts in our schools. His hope is that through everyone‟s efforts, we can contribute to help create for to-day‟s students the same opportunities to participate in the arts that we had as students at TJ. Finally, he wishes that these events also honor the memory of Jim Tucci and John Slate. Benny Benack Jr., TJ Class of 1974, has created one of the most popular jazz band sounds in the Pittsburgh area. From Big Band to Bourbon Street and Bebop to Blues, the Benny Benack Band gives each its own swingin' sound! Benny Jr. has continued in the footsteps of his father, Benny Sr., in leading the Benny Benack Band to greater heights. Benny Jr. fronts the band on clarinet and sax, while brother Flip kicks it on drums. The band‟s debut recording Carryin' On speaks to the tradition of great jazz music but also shows what a good time the band has performing. As testimony to his contribution to the Pittsburgh jazz scene, last year Benny Jr. and his father were both inducted into the Pittsburgh Jazz Hall of Fame. Flip Benack, TJ Class of 1978, graduated from Carnegie Mellon in 1982 with a business degree and from Computer Tech in 1984 with a computing degree. In 1988, he got his teach-ing certification from the University of Pittsburgh, and he became a substitute math teacher for WJHSD from 1988-90 and then taught geometry at TJHS from 1990-91. In eighth grade, Flip started working for Benny Benack Productions (his father‟s band) as a “roadie” and sound-man and eventually played lead trumpet in the band before switching to drums in the early 1980s. He taught himself how to play enough to get through a gig! He respects professional musicians for their incredible talents and would never consider himself a professional drum-mer: “I just play the drums!” Flip started a sound and DJ business, Benack Sound Productions, around 1980 while he was in college, and the business grew over the years. He got into the corporate market around the same time he was teaching and expanded his company into light-ing and video production as well. Incorporating in 1994, Benack Sound Productions, Inc., has
Performer Biographies
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