National Advisory Board

David Arch

former CEO of Blistex, Trustee of Invesco Quality Musicipal Income Trust, jazz bass player, and philanthropist​​ 

Orbert Davis

Chicago Jazz Philharmonic,

Artistic Director, CEO, DMDL, Inc; Emmy awarding winning composer, trumpet player, and educator

Ron Harrigan

Award-winning music educator, Director of Bands at Southland College Preparatory High School, and VanderCook alumnus

Joseph Jefferson

Director of Jazz Ensembles at St. Olaf College and 2022 Ellis

Marsalis Collegiate Jazz

Educator of the Year

Bernard Loyd

President and Project Leader of Urban Juncture and former partner at McKinsey and Company consulting

Shameka Nash

Director of Bands and Fine Arts Chair, Morgan Park High School, and Orchestra Director, Sistema Ravina

Rex Richardson

Yamaha Performing Artist, acclaimed soloist and educator, and Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University

Byron Stripling

Yamaha Performing Artist, Count Basie Orchestra member and Principal Pops Conductor of the Pittsburg Symphony Orchestra

Zara Zaharieva

Jazz violinist and clinician who has performed with Dionne Warwick, Jennifer Hudson, Arturo Sandoval, and countless others