Directors
Aaron Broadus, Music Director, is a native of the Washington DC area, and a rising talent in the music industry. Aaron is a professor of music at Georgetown University, accomplished writer, producer and recording artist. He holds a Bachelor of music from George Mason University and a Master of music from Howard University. When he's not in the recording studio, or classroom you may find him directing the Georgetown Jazz Ensemble, or Pep Band at local games and NCAA tournaments. Mr. Broadus has been interviewed on WPFW, WHUR, im4radio.com and featured in the August 2006 edition of Washingtonian Magazine. His performing credits include Pattie LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Al Jarreau, Common, Marlina Shaw, The Temptations, Hug Masikala, Theloneous Monk Jr, and the late Ray Charles just to name a few. Currently Aaron is working on his new solo project showcasing his abilities as both a trumpeter and vocalist.
Jeff Cummins, Artistic Director, is a local composer, teacher and performer. He has founded and directed two non-profit arts organizations, and has directed instrumental music programs at Independent Schools in both Maryland and Virginia over the past 30 years. He is a past recipient of the McLean Community Arts Award for Outstanding Contribution. He has been recognized by the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, Virginia; the City Council of the City of Los Angeles; the Ministry of Tourism of Nassau, The Bahamas; the U.S. Consul General and the Mayor of Beyoglu District, Istanbul, the Republic of Turkey; and the Nagano Friends Society of Nagano, Japan.
Over the past 30 years his student groups have toured extensively throughout the US, Europe, Australia, South America, Asia, and the Caribbean. They have performed by invitation at such prestigious venues as Wolf Trap, the Kennedy Center, the National Theatre, Blues Alley, and World's Fairs in Knoxville and New Orleans. They have also performed and volunteered community service hours for dozens of non-profit organizations in Virginia serving youth, the homeless, the hungry, and the elderly. Mr. Cummins has been interviewed on WMAL and WDCU Radio, and has been featured on local PBS and Fairfax County Cable Access programs.
His composing credits include jingles, themes for public television programs, music for local musical productions, as well as a recorded collection of original compositions. He served as orchestrator and arranger for the musical Vodu which enjoyed a 4 week performance run as part of the 2004 Harlem Repertory Theatre inaugural season. He performs both as a solo artist and as a member of the Summit Trio..
A Native of Northern VA, Music Director Jon Laine has a Bachelor's of Music degree from George Mason University and a Master's in Music from Howard University. He has performed with artists including Aretha Franklin, Phife from A Tribe Called Quest, Dwele, El DeBarge, Erykah Badu, Common, Steve Coleman, Meshell N'Degeocello, Dwele, Louie Bellson, Charlie Byrd, Fred Wesley, Frank Wess, Jimmy Heath, Yusef Lateef and was the drummer for OMAR's "Sing...if you want it" national tour.
In addition to performing with local Washington DC artists including Wes Felton, Justin Jones, and SITALI, Jon Laine has traveled internationally to Paris, the 2007 Moers jazz festival in Germany and the 2008 Sons d'Hiver jazz festival in Paris with Opus Akoben.
His name has become synonymous with other well-respected producers in the DC area. He has released quite a bit of music in 2009, most of which are available on tastefullicks.com. In addition, he is touring the U.S. with country singer Justin Jones. He is currently an artist on Tasteful Licks records and has 4 albums available on iTunes and amazon.com.
Jon Laine is the music director for Annual J Dilla memorial concert in DC, dedicated to his favorite producer. The concert features well-known singers, lyricists, and world reknowned platinum artists.
Steve Lovecchio, Assitant Director, originally from Rochester, NY, received his Bachelors of Music Education at George Mason University. He has been teaching and performing in the DC/Northern Virginia area for the past 10 years. Trained in saxophone, flute, and clarinet and well versed in many different playing styles, his performances have taken him all over the country as well as the Caribbean and Mexico. He has studied with many jazz artists including Pete Christlieb, Jim Caroll, Mike Tomaro, Bob Florence, Jiggs Whigham, Steve Houghton, Rick Baptist, and Shelly Berg. Steve was fortunate to be a part of Chuck Magione’s "The Hat is Back" New York tour in 1994. Locally, he has also studied with Dale Underwood (saxophone), Judy Lapple (Flute), and Sharon Bonneau (Clarinet). He currently teaches in Fairfax County Public Schools and maintains a small private studio.
Clinicians
Breezy, bright and deserving of wider recognition, Christina Crerar certainly knows the tradition but is more than willing to inject her own spirit and inspiration into the familiar as well as rarely heard gems. While she is steeped in the rhythms, melodies and lyrics of the 1920s – 1950s, Crerar is not about to neglect modern tunes that sing true to her.
As a vocalist, Christina Crerar's resume brims with versatility – she blends influences from her performances with jazz groups of all sizes and traditions, musical theatre, contemporary opera, pop and cabaret into her unique sound, creating a presence that seems magically familiar but unquestionably her own. She has toured the US, Far East and Netherlands, performed at countless major venues in the Washington DC area including the Kennedy Center, Blues Alley, Mandarin Oriental, Strathmore, Carlyle Club, Glen Echo Spanish Ballroom, BlackRock Center for the Arts (and many, many more) and recently headlined as the opening act for the Bob Newhart Show.
Natalie Hill, a native of Fairfax, VA, received her BM in Music Education from George Mason University with the departmental award for outstanding professional preparation. During her education at George Mason, Natalie served as principal trumpet in the jazz band, wind symphony, and the symphony orchestra. Natalie has lead an active career as a performing musician as well as a music instructor. In the fall of 2008, Natalie toured over 20 different cities in Japan as a featured trumpet soloist with the music motion theatre production "Odyssey"/"Brass Angels" sponsored by the MinOn Concert Association. Natalie can also be heard on Alfred Music Publishing's 2009-10 marching band demo recording. Aside from her continuing performing career, she has been a summer instructor for Vienna Band Camp as well as the Franklin Band Camp. In addition, Natalie maintains private trumpet studios in various locations across Northern Virginia. She has studied trumpet with Mr. Dan Smith and Dr. Dennis Edelbrock of the U.S. Army Band as well as Dr. Stan Curtis of the U.S. Navy Band.
Rob Holmes has been playing the saxophone professionally for more than twenty years and is currently based in the Washington, DC area where he has been in great demand as a freelance performer, educator, and composer/arranger. Rob attended the highly acclaimed University of Miami, FL School of Music earning his bachelors degree in jazz saxophone performance in 1989. In 1992, Rob received his Masters degree in Music Composition from Virginia Commonwealth University. Highlights of Rob's career include performing with renowned vocalist Joe Williams, saxophonist Bob Mintzer, and trumpeter Lew Soloff as a member of the Aspen Jazz Ensemble in 1991 and 1992; pianist Kenny Werner and his trio at the Blue Ridge Music Festival in Lynchburg, VA in 1991; as the saxophonist/arranger for the house orchestra aboard Premier Cruise Line's "Starship Oceanic" in 1993; trumpeter Jon Faddis with The Great American Music Ensemble at the Kennedy Center in 1995; Regis Philbin's show on location in Norfolk, VA in 1997; pianist Mulgrew Miller at Blues Alley in 2002; saxophonist, Chris Potter in 2007; and clarinetist Eddie Daniels in 2008.
Rob has recorded three of his own CD's. His first effort, "The Looking Glass" was released on the Resurgent Music jazz label and received national distribution. The City Paper's, Christopher Porter wrote: "Saxophonist Rob Holmes's "The Looking Glass" provides more than its share of interesting reflections and soul balladry, blues and swing." Mike Joyce from "The Washington Post" had this to say about his second CD, "The Write Time". "Chances are good you'll find "The Write Time" moving in the right direction. No stranger to Washington jazz fans, tenor saxophonist Rob Holmes emphasizes his considerable skills as a composer and arranger on this recording in a variety of settings that range from three to eight pieces." His latest effort, "Turnstyles", showcases his contemporary jazz side and features 12 brand new compositions that are "strong on melody, elegant in presentation, and suggest a hint of classic, urban R&B."
Rob currently records with critically acclaimed smooth jazz guitarist and composer, Ken Navarro and appears on four of his most recent CD's. Rob can be heard performing regularly with his own groups;Dr. Cleve Francis and Friends; "The Eric Felten Jazz Orchestra"; percussionist/composer Lex O'Brien and his quintet, "Complex Blue"; pianist Dan LaMaestra and his quartet, "One Step Up"; The Great American Music Ensemble; and as the baritone saxophonist with the United States Navy Band Commodores Jazz Ensemble. Rob has contributed more than twenty original compositions and arrangements to the Commodores music library and produced the Commodores CD, "Three Shades of Blue," which features three of his original compositions and one arrangement.
Rob is an alumni of VMA's predecessor program McLean Jazz Workshop.
Marshall Maley, the PASIC ‘97 Chapter President of the Year, is an active percussion instructor and working musician in the Washington, D.C. area. In 2000 and 2002, he received the Governors’ School Outstanding Teacher Award, presented by the Virginia Department of Education. He teaches at the University of Mary Washington, Prince Georges’ Community College, and Northern Virginia Community College. He taught at George Mason University from 1986 to 2006. In 2007 and 2008, he taught at the Goucher College Drumset and Percussion Camp. As a professional musician in the D.C. area, Marshall’s work spans commercial, jazz, rock, show, and classical fields. He has worked with the Baltimore Symphony, Eugene Fodor, Hour of Power Orchestra, Patti Lupone, the Sesame Street Show, and Yakov Smirnoff. For eleven years, he worked in and led the big band at Andrews Air Force Base Officer’s Club. Additional studio/media performances include the sound track for television’s “America’s Most Wanted” and WMAL radio appearances. Besides university teaching, Marshall has written for and instructed a number of Northern Virginia high school marching drum lines and concert percussion sections. He owns and manages Maley’s McLean Music in McLean, Virginia. Marshall serves Percussive Arts Society in a number of capacities. He is the President of the VA/DC Chapter, and participates on the Education Committee. He presented a Fundamentals Accessories clinic at PASIC 96, Drum Set clinics at PASIC 2001 and 2004, and he has published articles in Percussive Notes. In addition to a B.A. and M.A. from George Mason University, Marshall has studied corps style marching, show design, and drum line at West Virginia.
A native of Fairfax, VA, Jake McCray is a member of The United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C., as a member of the Concert Band. He joined the USAF Band in 1998 after 2 years at George Mason University, where he was studying music education. In 2007 he graduated with a B.A. in Music Performance. As a member of the The United States Air Force Concert Band and USAF Saxophone Quartet, Jake has toured throughout 46 states within the country, performing at major music conventions, some of the nation’s most notable and revered halls, and has performed with numerous world-famous guest artists. Jake currently lives in Burke, VA where he maintains an active private teaching studio.
A resident of Fairfax Virginia, Ricky Parrell recently completed his master’s degree in saxophone performance at the University of North Texas with a related field of jazz studies. He also holds a bachelors degree in music education from George Mason University. Comfortable in all performing styles Mr. Parrell may be seen frequently in the Washington D.C area working as a freelance musician and sideman. He has appeared at such notable venues as The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center (Dallas, TX), The Eisemann Center (Dallas, TX), and Wolf Trap (Vienna, VA). His past teachers include Eric Nestler, Dale Underwood, Rick Parrell, Jim Carroll, and Ed Freadrich.
Al Williams was born and grew up in Philadelphia, PA where he attended the Philadelphia Musical Academy (PMA).
One of Al's early recollections was being invited to rehearse with one of the early incarnations of "Return to Forever." The band was Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Earl Klugh, and Lenny White, with Al and Joe Farrell on saxes, flutes, oboe and bassoon.
Al later had opportunities to perform with Cuban percussionist Mongo Santamaria, touring the US, Canada and South America, and recording five albums including, "Amanacer," which won a Grammy for best Latin album. AL has performed with Stanley Clarke and the "School Days Band, and with Jeff Beck and Simon Phillips. He recorded three albums with Stanley Clarke: "Modern Man," "I Want to Play for You," and "Stanley Clarke Live, '76, '77."
Mr Williams toured Japan with The Nighthawks and again with singer Amy Keys, recording a one-hour concert on BET as a member of the Grant Geisman Band, and recorded a movie soundtrack with Nils Lofgren. He also performed for a period of time with bassist Keeter Betts (Stan Getz & Ella Fitzgerald). Al currently performs on a fairly frequent basis Scott Ambush (Spyro Gyra) and Gary Grainger (John Scofield). Recent concerts have included major jazz festivals in Nashville, TN, and Fez, Morocco.
AL has recorded three CD's under his own name as well, "Never Too Late," See for Yourself," and "Heart Song." His latest project "Heart Song" is the winner of the "Washington Area Music Association" Award for "Best Jazz Recording of 2008".
It also marks the continuation of a decade long collaboration and friendship with singer/composer/producer John Stoddart.
Al shares "I look forward to experiencing and learning more and about this wonderful human expression of music and the crazy, wonderful people who make it!"
Interns
The Raymond P Rogers Internship was created by VMA in 2008 to provide a promising future music educator the opportunity to work within his or her field to gain experience while also contributing energy to VMA students and diversity to the staff. The internship is named after Raymond P Rogers, retired Fairfax County Public Schools Band Director who was middle school teacher and mentor to both Artistic Director Jeff Cummins and Music Director Aaron Broadus in their formative years as well as being a supporter of the organization at its inception.
James E Ottaway, IV is a 2007 Honors graduate of Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. After studies at the prestigious Peabody Conservatory Mr. Ottaway is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education at George Mason University. He has studied with Trombonist James Olin (Associate Principal Trombone, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra) and Bass Trombonist Matthew Neff (Bass Trombonist, United States Navy Band). Mr. Ottaway is a two time Virginia District Band member, was recognized by the Big Band Society with an Outstanding Soloist Scholarship at the 2007 Chantilly Jazz Invitational Festival, and received the 2007 Louis Armstrong Jazz Award from Great Bridge High School.
Support Staff
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