With a trumpet sound possessing a "beyond-category beauty” (Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz), Australian-born trumpeter/composer Nadje Noordhuis’ deeply-felt, clarion tone and evocative compositional gift meld classical rigor, jazz expression, and world music accents into a sound that is distinctively her own.

Noordhuis is a member of the Maria Schneider Orchestra, Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, the Anat Cohen Tentet, and leads her own ensembles. She has played on two GRAMMY-winning recordings, and seven GRAMMY-nominated albums across a variety of musical genres. She was a semi-finalist in the 2007 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition and the 2010 National Jazz Awards in Australia. Noordhuis is the Professor of Trumpet at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Rick Hirsch (b.1970) is an award-winning composer, arranger, saxophonist and educator who began his career as a personal music copyist for Toshiko Akiyoshi and Bob Mintzer. Hirsch has written music for jazz icons Yusef Lateef, Tito Puente, Eddie Henderson, and the Yellowjackets; the Capitol Quartet; and dozens of school ensembles nationwide.

Hirsch’s music has been performed by the US Navy Commodores, the Birdland Big Band, the Sydney Jazz Orchestra and countless others around the world. His jazz and saxophone ensemble music has been featured numerous times at JEN and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Over one hundred of his works are published by Alfred Music, HirschMusic, FJH and others.

Yamaha Performing Artist Tom Brantley has served on USF’s Music Faculty since 1999 as Professor of Trombone, where he emphasizes both Classical and Jazz Trombone in his applied lessons. Brantley also leads the USF Jazz Ensemble I, Trombone Octet, Trombone Choir, and Bone Band I and II.  

From 1995 to the present, Brantley toured, performed, and recorded with Rhythm and Brass, an internationally regarded chamber ensemble. As a soloist and with Rhythm and Brass, he has performed all over the world, including extensive tours of Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. With Rhythm and Brass, he recorded three CDs and published a chamber music book for Universal Publications entitled Team Play. Brantley’s solo recordings include Boneyard on the Summit Record Label. He has two additional recordings – collaborating with colleagues in small groups to create the CDs Confluences and Obsessed with Treasure.

Jazz pianist and vocalist Kate Skinner maintains an active performing, composing and teaching career in the western United States. A native of Ogden, Utah, Skinner pulls influences from the bluegrass and classical roots of her childhood into both her songwriting and performing as a jazz musician. In her teenage and college years, Kate delved into R&B, funk, and hip hop, genres that also continually find their way into her musical explorations helping to create her own unique voice. Part of this unique voice is an obsession with alternative keyboard instruments and a study of the great keyboardists of jazz, rock and funk.

As a pianist, Skinner is in demand in a variety of performance styles and has performed with the Downbeat-award-winning jazz band from the University of Northern Colorado, Jazz Lab Band I among many other established large and small jazz ensembles. Her work as a vocalist has seen much success among a wide audience of listeners across genres. Kate’s compositions and playing have won multiple awards, including a Downbeat award for Outstanding Vocal Performance and a Jazz Education Network award for composition.

Reuben Rodriguez is a passionate musician with over 20 years of diverse performance experience. They studied Music Education at Northern State University, where they cultivated a strong foundation in teaching and musicianship. Further honing their craft, Reuben pursued Music Performance at McNally Smith College of Music, immersing themselves in various genres and styles. This extensive training has allowed them to excel in performing everything from classical to contemporary music. With a commitment to artistic expression and a love for connecting with audiences, Reuben continues to share their musical journey, inspiring others through the universal language of music. Whether on stage or in the classroom, they embody the spirit of creativity and dedication.

Daniel Heier is a passionate drummer and teacher based out of Sioux Falls, SD. As an accomplished musician in jazz and commercial music, his talents have taken him on regional, national, and international tours. He is a member of the JAS Quintet who just released their second album, Bird Ritual Interrupted, and the Jazz Curators. Daniel has also shared the stage or studio with the Hegg Brothers, Jami Lynn, The Psalms Project, Geoff Gunderson, Phil Mattson, The South Dakota Symphony, The Diamonds, and many more. Daniel currently serves with the 147th Army Band in Mitchell, SD.

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Joel is an active freelance saxophone player and educator based in Sioux Falls, SD. As an artists he regularly composes, arranges and performs with many groups in the region, as well as groups of his own creation. As an educators he has a large private studio, teaches at various camps and clinics bands around the area. He has had the pleasure of performing with Wayne Newton, Les Browns Band of Renown, Tim Ries of the Rolling Stones, Debbie Duncan, Matt Wallace, The South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and many others. He also performs regularly with The JAS Quintet, The Hegg Brothers, The Jazz Diversity Project, The Jazz Curators, Habeas Porpoise, Jami Lynn, Holiday Jam and many other groups in the area.

Jim Speirs plays trumpet throughout the region and resides in Sioux Falls. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University and is the Executive Director of South Dakota’s statewide arts advocacy organization, Arts South Dakota.. Performance credits include multiple performances on the main stage at the Sioux Falls JazzFest, two live state-wide broadcasts on South Dakota Public Radio, web broadcasts for the Argus Leader, regular gigs at area live music venues, and performances around the region with the JAS Quintet. Jim also performs with the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society’s touring jazz education program the Jazz Diversity Project, the Sioux Empire Brass Society, Main Avenue Warehouse, and several jazz ensembles. He is a member of the SFJB’s education committee, teaches trumpet.

Reuben Rodriguez is a passionate musician with over 20 years of diverse performance experience. They studied Music Education at Northern State University, where they cultivated a strong foundation in teaching and musicianship. Further honing their craft, Reuben pursued Music Performance at McNally Smith College of Music, immersing themselves in various genres and styles. This extensive training has allowed them to excel in performing everything from classical to contemporary music. With a commitment to artistic expression and a love for connecting with audiences, Reuben continues to share their musical journey, inspiring others through the universal language of music. Whether on stage or in the classroom, they embody the spirit of creativity and dedication.

James (Jim) McKinney holds the title Professor Emeritus of Music from South Dakota State University. Mr. McKinney has spent over 60 years promoting Jazz Education! He has worked tirelessly advocating Jazz through Clinics,Workshops,Tours,Summer Camps and Festivals. Jim is a widely respected musician performing on Drum Set and Jazz Vibraphone. He has been a staff clinician for the Premier and Ludwig Drum Companies. McKinney’s publications on Jazz have appeared in Drum World,The Instrumentalist,The School Musician and South Dakota Musician Magazines.

Jeremy grew up just north of Sioux Falls in cozy Dell Rapids. He graduated from Augustana College and now teaches at the new Augustana University School of Music. Early on Jeremy became fascinated with complex musical arrangements featuring many layers, especially the addition of horns. This helped lead to the 9 piece horn band Spooncat! that has played throughout the region since late 1996. The opportunity to create a holiday ensemble in a similar fashion was too hard to resist. His early days of playing led to fun opportunities to back up legendary performers such as Smokey Robinson and Chuck Berry among notable others. In 2003 he received the Mayor’s Award for Performing Arts. The arranging bug isn’t just for his own projects as he’s been the pen behind numerous high school marching band shows and collegiate and professional ensembles. He has composed pieces for symphonic band and did a commission from the Omaha Symphony in memorial of the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Recently he was awarded the inaugural Outstanding Musical Alumni award along with fellow Holiday Jammers, brother Jon and Andrew Reinartz.

Ken grew up in Northwest Iowa and began playing trombone at the age of ten. Educated at the University of South Dakota in music, he played full time for eight years with national and regional acts such as The Fabulous Flippers. Grown weary of the road life and travel, he received a degree in accounting and
settled in Omaha in the early eighties. While in Nebraska, Ken developed a passion for jazz and played with Resurrected Swing, the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra, the Gulizia brothers and others
while keeping is R&B roots with the Mighty Jailbreakers. Ken has
played for such nationally known artists as Sammy Davis Jr., Paul Anka, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Gladys Knight ant the pips, Bill Watrous and Wayne Newton.

We pride ourselves on bringing in top-notch quality artists from not only around this area but all over the country! Professional jazz artists have honed their craft through years of training and experience. By exposing high school students to these accomplished musicians, they get to witness firsthand the highest level of musical proficiency and artistry. This exposure can inspire students and set a standard of excellence to strive for in their own musical development.

Professional jazz artists possess a wealth of knowledge and expertise that they can share with high school students. They can offer insights into jazz theory, improvisation techniques, stylistic nuances, and the history of the genre. Students have the opportunity to learn directly from these masters, gaining valuable guidance and mentorship that can accelerate their musical growth.

Our clinicians provide valuable insights into the music industry and the realities of pursuing a career in jazz. They can share their experiences, challenges, and advice for navigating the professional music world. This information can be especially beneficial for high school students who are considering pursuing jazz as a future career path.

Non-competitive jazz festivals provide a platform to celebrate the art form of jazz. They showcase the diverse styles and interpretations of jazz music, allowing both seasoned professionals and emerging artists to share their talent and creativity with a wider audience.

Non-competitive festivals focus on the artistic expression and musical exploration inherent in jazz rather than “winning a trophy”. They create an environment where musicians can freely express themselves, experiment with new ideas, and collaborate with other artists without the pressure of competition. This fosters creativity and pushes the boundaries of the genre.

Non-competitive festivals bring together jazz lovers, musicians, and the local community. They create a sense of community and camaraderie, fostering connections among musicians and fans. Festivals often provide opportunities for networking, collaboration, and mentorship, which contribute to the growth and development of the jazz community.

Listening to jam sessions allows students to witness the improvisational and collaborative nature of jazz firsthand. They can observe how musicians communicate, react, and build upon each other's ideas in real-time. This observation helps students understand the principles of improvisation, melodic development, rhythmic interplay, and the overall dynamics of a live jazz performance.

Jam sessions often bring together musicians from various backgrounds and experiences. Students can expose themselves to a wide range of playing styles, techniques, and interpretations of jazz music. This exposure helps broaden their musical horizons, enhances their appreciation for different jazz sub-genres, and expands their improvisational vocabulary.

Listening to skilled musicians in a jam session setting can be inspiring and motivating for students. It exposes them to the possibilities and potential of their own musical journey, pushing them to practice, explore, and develop their improvisational skills. Witnessing the energy and excitement of a jam session can ignite a passion for jazz and encourage students to continue their musical pursuits.