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All-State Jazz Ensemble Concert
m i c h a e l
n e s t o r
all-state jazz organizer
J I M
C U L B E R T S O N
all-state jazz conductor
t r a v i s
d o w n s
band division chair
Jim Culbertson is celebrating his 43rd year serving as the Music Director and Conductor for the Decatur Municipal Band and has continued to present high level band literature to the Decatur audience through vision and expertise. Jim continues his long-held philosophy of developing programs for the muni that are both entertaining to the audience and musically rewarding to the musicians.
Jim is recognized as one of the foremost music educators in the state of Illinois with a lifetime of experience as an elementary, secondary, college and adult instructor. Jim enjoyed a long and successful career as a high school band director in Decatur IL., both at Stephen Decatur HS (1972-1978) and MacArthur HS (1978-2011) where he developed well-balanced programs of concert, marching and jazz bands. Jim has been a national leader in the field of jazz education supported by 38 Downbeat Student Music Awards in an assortment of categories, garnering the top spot as the “Best High School Jazz Band” in the U.S. four times (1989, 1991, 1992 and 2002) and best jazz combo twice (2002 & 2008) all during a 39-year career. The MacArthur HS Jazz Band traveled extensively, including six summer concert tours to Tokyo Japan, the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands and Jazz Festivals in Montreux Switzerland, Umbria Italy, and Vienne France. Culbertson has served as Vice-President of the Jazz Division of the Illinois Music Educators Association and is the past Vice-President of the Illinois unit of International Association of Jazz Educators. Jim was a featured writer, reviewing new jazz band publications for The Instrumentalist magazine 1990-2005. he was National Band Association jazz chair from 1999-2003 and served as the coordinator and director of the NBA All- American Jazz Band for the 2000 convention in San Antonio. Jim was a member of the Resource Team for the International Association of Jazz Educators, 2000 – 2008 communicating through email info regarding jazz instruction with teachers from across the globe. Teacher & leader of the “Bands of America Summer Symposium” 1994-2005. Jim has been guest All-State Conductor for the following All-State conventions: Louisiana 1991, Florida 1992, Illinois 1997 & 2011, Nevada 2008. Jim was a teacher, director and performer for “Birch Creek Music Center” Egg Harbor Wisconsin, summer sessions 1983, 1985, 1987. Jim has been guest All-State jazz band director for the following All-State conventions: Louisiana 1991, Florida 1992, Illinois 1997 & 2011, Nevada 2008. Jim has been very active as a professional trumpet player, starting back in 1965 where he joined the Springfield Municipal Band, (the youngest ever to join at age, 14). Jim had a long stint in the late 60’s, 70’s, 80’s & 90’s of playing lead trumpet in the house bands for the annual Peoria IL County Fair and the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. The house band played behind many national acts touring the summer fair concert circuit. Jim was principal trumpet in the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (1975-1981) and was also featured on trumpet with one the finest show-bands’ in the Midwest, “Alive Again” from 1978-1983. Jim founded the “Decatur Big” in 1975, a contemporary big band that features the best jazz musicians in central Illinois, playing once a month at LSB and VFW in Decatur (1975-present day). Jim served as contractor and leader of the State Farm orchestra that was featured behind such international stars as Shirley Jones, Tony Bennett, Steve Allen, Susan Anton, Gloria Loring and others (1983-1989). Jim was a member of the touring band for smooth jazz star, Brian Culbertson, performing over 300 shows in major market cities across the country (2003-2008), with 18 special performances as the opening act for the “Barry Manilow Show”. JC was also a member of the October 2009 BC Tour of Japan and a member of the UK concert tour, May of 2011.
All-State Jazz Music Selections Take The “A” Train
Billy Strayhorn & Duke Ellington, arr. Don Schamber
When You’re Smiling
Shay, Fisher & Goodwin, arr. Tom Kubis
Recorda Me
Joe Henderson, arr. Eric Richards
Blackwing Blues Doug Beach
Rhyme
David Springfield
It Might As Well Be Spring
Rodgers & Hammerstein, arr. Don Schamber
All-State Jazz Participating Students Alto Saxophone Adan Mantri
LAMBERT HIGH SCHOOL
Joel Saucedo
CHATTAHOOCHEE HIGH SCHOOL
Alt: Reed Jorgensen
NORTH ATLANTA HIGH SCHOOL
Tenor Saxophone
Trumpet
Cameran Butryn
NORTH OCONEE HIGH SCHOOL
Adam Brock
CHAMBLEE HIGH SCHOOL
Kazah Dixon
MARTHA ELLEN STILWELL SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
THOMAS COUNTY CENTRAL
HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL - RINGGOLD
Alt: Anthony Hoots
ALLATOONA HIGH SCHOOL
Baritone Saxophone
Justus Smith
Matthew Seebran
WARE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Piano
Dwelle, Blake
Alex Frost
Ben Hicks
WALTON HIGH SCHOOL
Alt: Alex Logan
COMMERCE HIGH SCHOOL
HARRISON HIGH SCHOOL
Jeremy Wang
HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL - RINGGOLD
Noah Herrera
HOUSTON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Steven Li
WHEELER HIGH SCHOOL
NORTHVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
Guitar
Alt: Evan Atwell
Trombone HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL - RINGGOLD
Parker Hayen
HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL - RINGGOLD
Ben Novo
Alt: Loper, Morgan
Bass
Duncan, Will
MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Alt: Smith, JD
JACKSON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Drums
McGauley, Tyress
WARE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
WOODLAND HIGH SCHOOL - CARTERSVILLE
Aux: Johnson, Zachary
David Drennan
Alt: Lowrance, Logan
WOODLAND HIGH SCHOOL - CARTERSVILLE
Alt: Dominic Mendoza
WEST FORSYTH HIGH SCHOOL
WEST FORSYTH
LAKEVIEW-FT. OGLETHORPE HIGH SCHOOL
Vibraphone Thomas, Tessa
THOMAS COUNTY CENTRAL
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