Creative Music Adventures

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Creative Music Adventures Staff

Craig Flory - Sax, Flute and Clarinet

Forrest Giberson - Bass, Rock Classes and Jazz Combos

Elliot Gray - Piano and Rock Class

Dan Kramlich - Piano and Jazz Combos

Michael Stegner - Piano, School Outreach and Clinics/Workshops

Zach Stewart - Guitar and Studio Ensemble

Steve Treseler - Sax, Clarinet and Jazz Combos

Andrew Vait - Voice

Denali Williams - Drums

April Wolfe - Administration

Ken Elia - Guitar and Studio Rhythm Class

Craig Flory - Sax, Flute & Clarinet

Craig Flory has been playing woodwinds (clarinets, saxophones and flute) since 1969 when he was in the 5th grade and has been playing, composing, arranging and recording professionally since the age of 18 with many great artists including:
Tex Williams, Julian Priester, Ruth Brown , Howard Tate, Wayne Horvitz, Mick Taylor (formerly of The Rolling Stones), Butch Morris, Tuatara, Baby Gramps, Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet, Bonnie Raitt, Eyvind Kang, Mdeski, Martin and Wood, "Reptet", Casey MacGil And The Blue 4, Del Rey, Joey Arias, Meschia Lake, Steve Cropper (of Booker T and The MGs), Pearl Jam and with his own band "Combo Craig" featuring Ron Weinstein, Mike Stone and Tim Young . Artists he has sat in with include Sex Mob (with Roswell Rudd), Bo Grumpus and Les Claypool . He has also composed, arranged and/or recorded for The Long Winters, Jesse Sykes, MUZAC, Teo Macero and MudHoney. He was a featured artist at the 2009 International Bohém Ragtime & Jazz Festival in Kecskemét, Hungary.

Craig's teaching method focuses on all aspects of woodwind technique (traditional and extended), the reading of notation, music history & appreciation and, if the student is interested, jazz theory and improvisation.

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Forrest Giberson - Bass

Forrest Giberson loves music. Born and raised in a family of musicians and music fanatics in rural Washington state, Forrest was exposed to a vast range of musical genres at an early age. This upbringing has given him a unique place from which to explore not only the mechanics, but the cultural and social aspects of music worldwide.

By the time Forrest was given his first electric bass at the age of 14, he had tried his hand at a variety of instruments, ranging from accordion to saxophone. He became fascinated by the sounds of both the electric and string basses and focused most of his high school years on learning to play them. He further studied the instruments and expanded his knowledge of theory, composition, and recording techniques while earning his B.M. in Studio Music and Jazz Performance at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fl.

His performances with a variety of rock and jazz groups while living in the Miami area did not go unnoticed and he found himself performing and/or recording with internationally recognized artists such as Joe Henderson, Ira Sullivan, Maria Schneider, Chico O'Farril, and Gerry Mulligan.

Even during his busiest years as a performer, Forrest continues to make time to pass along his musical knowledge to students of all backgrounds and ages. He believes that many students lose focus of creating music that affects people, and too many musicians get immersed in merely showcasing their technical abilities. It is Forrest's hope that he may continue using his love and understanding of music to help his students gain an appreciation of a wide range of musical styles.

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Elliot Gray - Piano & Rock Class

Elliot Gray is a current student at the University of Washington and is pursuing both a Jazz Studies and Music Education degree. Today he is involved in a number of different groups and ensembles, which genres include jazz, dark jazz, nu-jazz, funk, R&B, pop/rock and folk/indie. His funk band, The Fabulous Party Boys, released their first live album in 2009, and his band “Great Waves” won Sound Off!, EMP’s Battle of the Bands competition in March 2010, along with releasing three EP's over the last year.

Along with performance, Elliot is an avid music educator. Currently he is the Jazz 2 coach at Ballard High School, which he rehearses, directs, and performs with. Through the UW, Elliot has taught in a variety of schools both within Seattle and abroad. His coursework has brought him out to the Yakima Valley, where he taught at a dual-language school and the Yakima Nation Tribal School.

Throughout the years, Elliot has studied with Ginny Gray, Michael Stegner, Jake Bergevin of Edmonds-Woodway High School, acclaimed Seattle musician Marc Seales, New York legend and a past member of the Pat Metheny group Cuong Vu, and music educators Dr. Steven Demorest and Dr. Steven Morrison.

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Dan Kramlich - Piano

Pianist Dan Kramlich returned to Seattle in 2004 from Western Michigan University, where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies. While in Michigan, he studied with Fred Hersch, Billy Hart, and Dr. Steve Zegree. Dan currently performs in many bands, including the Javatown Swing Orchestra, the Jim Sisko Quartet, The New Four, and his own piano trio. He has performed with such jazz greats as Slide Hampton, Randy Brecker, David Sanchez, and Bob Mintzer, and has performed in master classes for Rufus Reid, Eric Reed, Jim McNeely, and Clare Fischer.

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Michael Stegner - Piano

Michael Stegner was born and raised in Kentucky where both his parents were active music educators. Throughout middle school and high school, he was able to study jazz and classical piano at Morehead State University and perform in the student ensembles. During this time, Michael maintained a classical piano repertoire winning several regional piano competitions.

In 1993, Michael was accepted to attend the prestigious University of Miami jazz program. While attending the University of Miami, he participated in many of the top ensembles and performed regularly in the Miami area. Two of his ensembles won the annual Downbeat magazine college awards. He also attended master classes with Kenny Werner, Branford Marsalis, Bill Frisell, Pat Metheny and Bruce Hornsby. Michael and four of his classmates formed a band called The Jongleurs and started an independent recording label while in Miami. They released three CD’s and toured the U.S. for three years during and after college. Michael served as one of the chief composers of the band and their music has been used in independent movies and international web features. Upon finishing their travels in 1999, he moved to Seattle where he began performing at local venues and radio stations. Michael’s numerous musical projects include his solo piano works, electronic music improvisations and various jazz and rock ensembles. Since living in Seattle he has performed and collaborated with Michael Shrieve (Santana), Lee Oskar (WAR), Reggie Watts (Maktub), Kevin Sawka (KJ Sawka), Aiko Shimada, John Wicks (Skerik's Syncopainted 'Taint and Money Mark) and Alan White (Yes and John Lennon).

Michael has become a resource for many of the area piano teachers and students. He was a featured clinician at the 2007 and 2008 National Music Teachers Association Conferences as well as the 2002 and 2004 W.S.M.T.A. (Washington State Music Teachers Associations) conventions as well as several local chapters. Michael has also received grants from the Kentucky school districts and arts councils to lecture students on developing the creative process through music.

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Zach Stewar - Guitar and Studio Ensemble

Zach Stewart is a guitarist, composer and improvisor who makes his home in Seattle Washington. He is one of the founding members of the avant/jazz/rock/electro trio, Goat(w/ Greg Sinibaldi and Denali Williams) as well as a member of the improvising collective, Headlock. He also heads up his own group, the Skiff Feldspar Band.

Zach migrated to Seattle in 2000 in order to further his musical endeavors. He attended Cornish College of the Arts where he studied jazz music. He also joined the jazz/rock/funk outfit, Beecraft before the group disbanded in 2003. After a brief stint of freelancing work, Zach was asked to join the popular Northwest jam/rock band, Flowmotion. He toured extensively and recorded 3 records with the band before departing in 2007 to persue new musical endeavors.

Zach has performed throughout the U.S. and Canada including Folsom Prison and the High Sierra Music Festival. He shared the stage with such diverse players as Mike Dillon, Tony Furtado, Jessica Lurie, Vicci Martinez, Gerry Granelli, Briggan Krauss, Steve Kimock, Greg Campbell, The Staxx Brothers, and American Idol star, Blake Lewis. He is also a recipient of the 2008 Jackstraw Artist Support residency.

Zach's approach to teaching music focuses on the strengths of the individual and helping them reach their potential through efficient practice techniques, with an emphesis on creativity.

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Steve Treseler - Saxophone and Clarinet

After graduating with a Jazz Performance degree from New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, saxophonist and clarinetist Steve Treseler has returned to Seattle.

While attending Meadowdale High School in Edmonds, he won first place in the tenor saxophone division at the 1999 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and at the State Solo and Ensemble Contest. He was also selected to participate in the All-Northwest and All-State Jazz Band.

Steve continued his education on scholarship at New England Conservatory where he studied with jazz legends Jerry Bergonzi, Bob Brookmeyer, George Garzone, and Steve Lacy. He graduated in May, 2003 with academic honors and distinction in performance. In 2003, he was named "Outstanding Collegiate Soloist" by Down Beat magazine.

He is a member of Jim Knapp Orchestra, Emerald City Jazz Orchestra, Jeremy Jones Xtet and leads the Steve Treseler Group. He is recording his debut album this summer.

Steve works with students of all abilities, and as a saxophone and improvisation clinician for schools throughout the region.

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Andrew Vait - Voice

Andrew Vait is a recent Cum Laude graduate of the University of Miami Frost School of Music, where he received a Bachelor’s of Music in jazz vocal performance and was named the Outstanding Graduating Senior in jazz voice. At UM, he studied with world-renowned vocal and instrumental instructors on alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, flute, clarinet, and jazz piano. He sang in award-winning jazz vocal and chorale ensembles and was cast in numerous musical theatre productions in the Miami area, including Hair, Company, Baby, and Elegies For Angels, Punks & Raging Queens. Andrew has played across the United States in rock bands that have toured the Northeast and the Pacific Northwest; he has independently released two CDs; and he has composed and arranged music for saxophone quartets, big bands, jazz vocal ensembles and popular music horn sections.

Andrew now lives in Seattle and works as a private instructor, professional singer/songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist.

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Denali Williams - Drums

Denali's "formal" music education culminated in a Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Eastern Washington University where he studied performance techniques from orchestral, percussion ensemble, jazz, West African, and Brazilian traditions while taking a keen interest in performing today's music through improvising or performing new works.

Denali continues his foray into new music as a member of the Seattle Percussion Collective since its debut in 2009 performing works by composers such as Stuart Saunders Smith, Mauricio Kagel, Milton Babbitt, and John Cage to name a few. His past performances include those with New York's Loop 2.4.3, Montreal's <i>Quasar Quatuor du Saxophones </i>, Seattle Chamber Music Society, Spokane's ZEPHYR new music series, and Tacoma New Music.

After graduating from college Denali accepted a percussion-section position in the Tacoma Symphony and reguarly performs masterworks of the symphonic repertoire and backs artists which have included Ray Charles, Wynonna, and Ronnie Milsap.

Denali's "informal" (and continuing!) music education has involved playing in quite literally dozens of groups ranging from funk big bands to rock, jazz, blues, and country rhythm-sections.

He has been drumming with the up-and-coming national rock act The Staxx Brothers since 2006 sharing the stage with groups including Soulive!, members of The Meters, and Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk. He is featured on the band's second record We Are the Blaxstonz and the soon-to-be-released third album Jungle Cats.

He has been drummer with the edgy-sounding Uncle Pooch since its inception in 2007 and can be heard on their debut album Conduct Unbecoming.

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April Wolfe - Administration

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Ken Elia - Guitar

Ken earned his B.A. in music at the University of North Dakota in 2003, his areas of study including classical and fingerstlye guitar. His performance experience includes solo fingerstlyle guitar and rock ensemble concerts.

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