Byron Stripling

 

 

With a contagious smile and captivating charm, trumpet virtuoso, BYRON STRIPLING, has ignited audiences internationally. As soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra, Stripling has performed frequently under the baton of Keith Lockhart, as well as being featured soloist on the PBS television special, "Evening at Pops," with conductors John Williams and Mr. Lockhart. Currently, Stripling serves as artistic director and conductor of the highly acclaimed Columbus Jazz Orchestra.

Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops, STRIPLING has become a pops orchestra favorite throughout the country, soloing with Boston Pops, National Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, Seattle Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Utah Symphony, and The American Jazz Philharmonic, to name a few. He has been a featured soloist at the Hollywood Bowl and performs at jazz festivals throughout the world.

An accomplished actor and singer, STRIPLING was chosen, following a world wide search, to star in the lead role of the Broadway bound musical, "Satchmo." Many will remember his featured cameo performance in the television movie, 'The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles," and his critically acclaimed virtuoso trumpet and riotous comedic performance in the 42nd Street production of "From Second Avenue to Broadway.'

 

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Jason Nicholoson

 

Dr. Jason Nicholson, Assistant Professor of Percussion, received a Doctor of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas. From 2005 – 2008, he was a Graduate Teaching Fellow in percussion at UNT where he taught applied lessons, percussion methods and percussion ensemble. Jason was also a featured soloist with both the Graduate Percussion Ensemble as well the Wind Symphony (under the direction of Eugene Corporan), performing at the 2006 PASIC alongside Keiko Abe and the UNT Percussion faculty. In 2006, Jason was honored with the award for The Most Outstanding Graduate Student in Percussion and also served as the principle percussionist with the UNT Wind Symphony.

 Prior to his studies at UNT, Jason was a Lecturer in Percussion at Winthrop University where he taught applied percussion, drum set, percussion methods, percussion ensemble and African drumming. He simultaneously served as the Director of Percussion Studies at Rock Hill High School where he coordinated percussion activities between the high school and the two feeding middle schools.

Jason has been an active performer in orchestral, jazz, chamber, solo, pop and world genres throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami and Charlotte metropolitan regions. He has performed with notable groups such as the Charlotte Symphony, the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra, the Charlotte Repertory Big Band, the Charles Craig Jazz Trio and the Dallas Wind Symphony. In addition to his training on traditional Western percussion instruments, Jason has extensive experience in Afro-Cuban drumming and African Drumming.

Jason received his undergraduate degree in Music Education from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. He then completed a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL. Some of his teachers include: Dr. Michael Williams, Dr. Robert Schietroma, Ed Soph, Rick Dior, Mark Ford, Christopher Deane, Keith Aleo, Ed Smith, Jose Aponte and Poovalur Sriji.

 

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Jack Wilkins

 

 

Jack Wilkins is the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of South Florida in Tampa. An accomplished jazz saxophonist, Jack has 2 CD’s out as a leader and appears as a sideman on a number of other jazz and commercial recordings.

Jack’s latest CD, Ridgelines, is on the Clavebop label and has been selected to be featured on the JazzSouth Radio program which focuses on southern jazz artists and is heard on over 70 radio stations in the US and abroad. Jack Wilkins has also been selected as a member of the International Association for Jazz Education Resource Team, providing expert advice and counsel to the 10,000 plus members of that association. In addition to his teaching at USF, Jack Wilkins serves on the Faculty of the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops, teaches at the Jazzwise Summer workshops in London, and is a Selmer Instrument Company Artist/Clinician.