Ravinia Steans Music Institute 2019

16 RAVINIA’S STEANS MUSIC INSTITUTE Felix Allen , drums Felix Allen is a drummer from Raleigh North Carolina. The music of Art Blakey and James Brown inspired Felix to study music, and his experiences in his high school jazz combo introduced him to small group playing. Felix obtained a B.M. in music performance at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he studied Jazz music with Dan Davis and Juan Alamo. He was an active performer in the Raleigh-Durham area with jazz, hip-hop, rock, and latin groups as well as a teacher at the Chapel Hill School of Rock. He is currently a master’s student at Florida State University, where he studies under Leon Anderson and teaches applied lessons and a jazz combo. Felix is an active performer in Tallahassee, where he has played with groups such as the Scotty Barnhart quintet. For Felix, one of the most enriching parts of studying at FSU is having the opportunity to teach younger musicians. Dakota Austin , saxophone Dakota Austin, hailing from Burlington, Connecticut is a particularly profound, cultured, multi-faceted thinker, who applies his intelligence to all things musical that he takes on. His playing reflects the intense mentoring that he received from Rene McLean, Jimmy Greene, Kris Allen, Andrew Beals and many other key figures over the years. While attending the Litchfield Jazz Camp/Festival, he had the opportunity to share the stage with the illustrious composer, Dave Brubeck, at the age of 12. A few years later, Dakota traveled to the White House in Washington, D.C. to perform for then First Lady of the United States of America Michelle Obama, as a part of an ensemble from The Artists Collective in Hartford, Connecticut. Recently graduating from Western Connecticut State University, Dakota continues to further his education at, The Hartt School, and develop a musical voice that is truly his own, both as a saxophonist and composer. Alan Blanchard , trumpet A recent graduate from the Master of Music in Jazz program at Florida State University, Alan Blanchard is a sought- after trumpet soloist and music educator. Through his study with Jon Faddis, Scotty Barnhart (of the Count Basie Orchestra), Leon Anderson, and Nick Finzer, Alan has developed a reputation for his warm sound and strong connection to the jazz tradition. Blanchard currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida, where he leads an active performance career in addition to maintaining a private trumpet studio, conducting clinics at local schools, and serving on the faculty of several summer jazz programs. In the summer of 2018, Alan was selected to participate in the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Academy Big Band under the direction of Christian McBride. Alan also serves as Project Manager with Outside in Music, a jazz record label and media company based in New York City. Joe Conticello , piano The Ann and Bruce Bachmann Family Fellowship Joe Conticello is a growing pianist and composer from the small town of Burlington, Connecticut. He studied music at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts in Hartford for two years before moving on to Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) in Danbury. This has given him the privilege to study under great musicians and educators such as Jamie Begian and Jimmy Greene, and has also had the opportunity to perform very regularly throughout the western and central Connecticut area. Furthermore, his involvement and hard work in the Jazz Club at WCSU has allowed him to meet and play with professionals such as Orrin Evans, Gerald Clayton, Stefon Harris, Russell Malone, and Ron Carter. Recently, Joe has been focusing a lot on his composing and is eager to begin graduate study in jazz composition at William Paterson University in the Fall of 2019. Saul Dautch , baritone saxophone Saul Dautch was born on Long Island, New York and was raised in Palm Beach, Florida. After finishing at Atlantic Community High School, he moved to Orlando to attend the University of Central Florida as a jazz studies major where he received his bachelors in music. Saul has performed with many world class big bands including: The Flying Horse Big Band, The World-Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra and The Orlando Jazz Orchestra. He also works as a freelance woodwind doubler and instructor and has shared the stages with the likes of Jeff Rupert, Harry Allen, George Garzone, Dan Miller, Gary Smulyan, and Veronica Swift amongst others. Saul is currently completing his masters in music at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Ari Giancaterino , bass A native of Southern California, Ari Giancaterino continues to gain reputation in the L.A. jazz community as an outstanding performer, exceptional bassist in multiple idioms, and creative composer. After graduating with honors from Los Angeles County High School for the Arts music program in 2012, Ari was accepted into the Thornton School of Music of the University of Southern California on a full-tuition scholarship. Here he received his Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies (Upright Bass) in 2015. In 2016, Ari was recruited as the bassist for the Bennie Maupin Ensemble by legendary, award-winning and world-renowned multi-instrumentalist and composer Bennie Maupin. In 2017, Ari began his studies at the California Institute of the Arts (CALARTS) where he plans to receive his MFA in Jazz Bass- Performance and Composition in 2019. He is incredibly grateful for the honors he has been bestowed and is incredibly excited for new and expanding opportunities. Jordan Goldblatt , drums Jordan Goldblatt is a national award winning drummer, composer and pianist. From 2013- 2017, Jordan performed with The American Music Program Pacific Crest Jazz Orchestra, led by Portland, OR’s own legendary Music Director Dr. Thara Memory. In 2015, Jordan placed 1st at the Charles Mingus big Band Jazz Competition at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, as well as won a soloist award for drums. At the PDX Jazz Forward Competition at Portland State University Jordan placed first in the big band division and in the combo division with the Alan Jones Academy of Music (AJAM). At the Next Generation Monterey Jazz Competition, Jordan placed 2nd with the Big Band, and 1st in the combo division. As part of the American Music Program Big Band, Jordan placed 1st at the Essentially Ellington Competition at New York’s Lincoln Center—one of the most prestigious competitions for high school jazz bands worldwide. When not playing jazz, Jordan enjoys martial arts, acting, modeling, boxing and basketball. Walter Gorra , piano Walter Gorra is an award-winning pianist, composer/arranger living in the New York area. Originally from Colorado, Walter earned a Master’s in Jazz Composition and Arranging at William Paterson University. He graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2017 with a BS/MS in Structural Engineering and a BM in Jazz Piano. In 2018, Walter released his debut album “In Due Time” to critical acclaim. He has performed with Paquito D’Rivera, Ingrid Jensen, Jimmy Heath and the William Paterson Jazz Orchestra, the Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra, and others. Walter has performed at Dizzy’s Club, the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Festival, the Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Festival, and the Telluride Jazz Festival. A student of Jim McNeely, Cecil Bridgewater and Pete McGuinness - two of his compositions received recognition. “Jazongo” earned the ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer’s Award, and “Bandwidth” earned a Downbeat Student Music Award for small group original composition. Eli Heath , bass Eli Heath is an emerging American bassist, composer, and musical director. Currently located in Cleveland Ohio, he performs frequently throughout the Midwest in diverse musical settings and has appeared at festivals and venues across the United States, Canada, and Brazil. Eli co-leads contemporary jazz octet, Frisson, and has performed as a sideman with artists including Charles Neville, Dominick Farinacci, Nicole Henry, Erik Lawrence, Jamey Haddad, and Harvey Wirht. In 2019, Eli graduated from Oberlin College and Conservatory with a BM in Jazz Performance and a BA in Africana Studies. This summer he will perform across the US with Frisson and travel to Chicago for a fellowship at Ravinia’s RSMI JAZZ FELLOWS