MUSIC
The Western Michigan University Jazz Quintet
A hard bop ensemble made up of advanced jazz students and members of the jazz area faculty at WesternMichiganUniversity. The group fuses the bebop tradition with contemporary and dance band influences to create deep swinging grooves, dynamic group interaction, and exciting improvisations. Keith Hall is internationally acclaimed touring artist and clinician of the highest caliber, having performed with Marcus Belgrave, Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Luciana Souza, and Terrell Stafford amongst many others. Nich Mueller is a pianist, vocalist, composer, arranger, producer, and entrepreneur who recently received a DownBeat magazine award for his debut album, All In A Day. Andrew Rose has become one of the busiest musicians in the Kalamazoo area, having proven himself to be the quintessential adroit bass player; perfect for every kind of jazz, funk, avant-garde, blues, and pop ensemble. Eric Bowman is a truly versatile trombonist who has received top accolades from DownBeat as a jazz improviser and the International Trombone Association as both a jazz and classical soloist. Trumpeter Jon Ailabouni had the opportunity to perform at the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago, Jazz at LincolnCenter in New York City, the Detroit International Jazz Festival, the Jazz Educator's Network Conference, and the Monterey Jazz Festival NextGen Competition. All musicians are educators or students at WesternMichiganUniversity
The Bard Owls
The Bard Owls are a group of East Lansing college students who love to play traditional, folk, and the occasional bit of classical. Several of these students have studied the music of Appalachia through an MSU immersion program in West Virginia. Meredith Brown plays fiddle/violin, Chris Foster plays Mandolin and cello, and Emily Nott plays guitar and banjo. Sarah Denick sings during vocal sets, and the Bard Owls often enjoy the company of guest instrumentalists. "They are thrilled to be here at a wonderful event for a wonderful cause!"
Aaron Perry
I am a musician with a wide-ranging repertoire, vocal ability,and tastes in many genres that are varied and eclectic. I am not a professional musician. I am a full-time middle school social studies teacher with a passion for working with, teaching, and molding young adolescents. First and foremost, I am a husband and father to my beautiful wife Stephanie and the other love of my life, my four year-old daughter Brynnlee.
I chose not to pursue music as a career because I knew that I wanted my wife and my family and my teaching career to be my focuses. In high school I was classically trained and won many singing competitions as a soloist, and spent a few summers on scholarship in the competitive vocal program at the Interlochen Performing and Visual Arts Academy. I even took a short turn at majoring in vocal performance at MSU before realizing that it would do little to nothing for my career and also realized that working with kids was my passion. I have a done a few coffee shop/bar gigs, sung at countless weddings and funerals, and performed the national anthem at various amateur and professional sporting events, but never pursued it steadily as a career.
I play and sing for my students and my family, and for myself when I have the time, but that's pretty much the extent of it. And, as my students always coax me to do and to their frustration, I am too old for American Idol ( I will be 35 by the event date) : ). It is an honor to be performing for such a necessary and respected charity event. Thank you for your time and the opportunity.
MC FOR THE EVENING
Bob Hoffman
Bob Hoffman is a motivational speaker and coach, but you probably know him best from his role as public relations director at Wharton Center or his tenure as an anchor at WLNS TV-6. For the past decade Bob has been a mainstay in the media; you hear him on most of the mid-Michigan radio stations promoting upcoming Wharton Center attractions, in Wharton's TV and radio commercials and as host of Wharton Center TV specials. Bob's often called to anchor themagazine show COMCAST newsmakers on CNN; or maybe you've met him when he's been the master of ceremonies for many charity events.
January of 2009 Bob had epiphany that brings him closer to what his true passion is; helping people realize their potential. He started his own non-profit called ePIFanynow, "Pass it Forward;" an organization promoting the concept of doing something nice to someone and asking that person to do the same. Since its conception close to a thousand people have been impacted by ePIFanynow and Bob is in high demand as a speaker and lecturer sharing how it all started. For further information about ePIFanyNow, contact Bob Hoffman at 517-230-8807 or info@epifanynow.org or visit: http://www.epifanynow.org.
Evan Pinsonnault
Evan Pinsonnault, your morning and noon anchor at WLNS TV-6, grew up in the Berkshires of western, MA before heading to Washington, D.C. for college at GWU. He left our nation’s capitol with a degree in Political Science and Theatre (what a combo, right?), and then went to Syracuse, NY for his Master’s in Broadcast Journalism at the prestigious S.I. Newhouse School of Communication. From there, it was off to Macon, Gawhere Evan worked as a reporter and fill-in anchor for the CBS affiliate in town. He now calls Lansing his home, and has been proudly telling the stories of-- and bringing the news to-- the great people of Mid-Michigan for the past year and a half at TV-6. When not on the desk or in the field, you can find Evan at the Riverwalk Theatre acting in various musicals and productions, on the golf course (depending on the weather), at the downtown Y, or sleeping, which he barely finds time to do with all of his commitments and causes he supports! He’s excited to be a part of this year’s event as your co-EMCEE and hopes you’ll continue to support LAP respite services throughout our communities.