Helene Dauerty, Bass Bone

Hometown: Constantia, NY

Education: IU Bloomington (Doctoral Studies), Northwestern University (Master of Music), Guilford College (BS in Physics and Music).

Playing Experience: I play with ths South Bend Symphony and other orchestras in the area.  I also play opera and musicals for Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College.  I have played for the Spoleto Festival and Ohio Light Opera.

Career Highlights: Music has been so rich and wonderful to me, it is hard to choose.  A jazz highlight: I spent two weeks in Monaco playing with the likes of Louie Bellson, Dave Brubeck, Betty Carter, John Faddis and Jimmy Heath while with the Spera band from IU Bloomington.  Belson and Brubeck were particularly generous to the backup bands.

Why do I play in Truth in Jazz: Dave asked.  I like to play in big band, so I said “yes” to jazz.

Bart Roberts, Trombone

Hometown: Elkhart, Indiana

Education: Bachelor of Science in Music Education and Masters of Music in Conducting and Trombone from Ball State University. I am currently the band director at Dickinson Intermediate Fine Arts Academy in the South Bend Community School Corporation.

Playing Experience: Ball State University Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, Trombone Choir, Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. Member of the Elkhart Municipal Band. Have also performed with the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps, Indianapolis Brass Choir, Muncie Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Marion Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra (Texas), Houston Symphonic Band and The Texas Music Festival Jazz Project.

Career Highlights: Leading the Klein Forest HS Jazz Ensemble in a featured performance at the 2006 National School Board Association Conference in Chicago, Illinois in front of 14,000 people. Performing as an extra trombonist on numerous occasions with the Houston Symphony Orchestra. Touring Italy this past summer with the Warren Central HS Honors Band (Indianapolis, Indiana) as a guest soloist. Sharing the stage at Ball State with Jazz Artists and Trombonists: Bill Watrous, Wycliffe Gordon, Conrad Herwig, Jeff Hamilton, Byron Stripling, Pete Christleib, Bobby Shew, Chris Vadala, Abbie Conant, M. Dee Stewart. Have studied Trombone with: John Seidel (Ball State University), Steve Wolfinbarger (Western Michigan University), Arnold Jacobs (Chicago Symphony), Alan Barnhill (Houston Symphony), David Waters (Houston Symphony), Ron Wilkins (San Antonio, Texas), and Freddie Mendoza (Texas State University).

Why I Play With TIJ: It’s a wonderful opportunity to keep playing my instrument and I enjoy working with such a great group of people!

Bill Troutman - Guitar

Sean Patrick - Bass

Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN

Education: BA :Ball State University, 2008. Grew up in Fort Wayne, attending Northrop High School being active in Jazz Bands, Marching Band, Pep Band, Orchestras, Show Choir back up bands, and String Quartets.

Playing Experience: 10 Years playing in various ensembles including the following: 4 years in Ball State University Jazz Lab Ensemble, 11 years in various jazz combo settings, 2 years playing with the Cory Hill Band, 2 years in the Ball State Wind Ensemble, 3 years in the BSSO.

Career Highlights: Although I am just getting started in my career some highlights at this point include getting to play with some great jazz artists such as: Joe Beck, Matt Harris, Ted Nash, Dick Oats, Steve Houghton, and Wayne Bergeron.

Why I Play With TIJ: I love to play big band jazz music. I am glad that there is high quality big band in the Elkhart area and consider myself extremely lucky to be able to play in the group.

Jim Catalano - Drums

Hometown: Meadville, PA.  Moved to Michiana in 1975.

Education: BA & BM:  BS Music Education / Percussion – Indiana University of Pennsylvania – 1975
MM Music – University of Notre Dame – 1977
(Served as Graduate Assistant Band Director at Notre Dame from 1975 – 1977)

Playing Experience: Drummer – Truth in Jazz Big Band – 1999 – Present
Drummer – Jazz Assemblage Big Band – 1985 – Present
Drummer – Renown Sound Big Band – 2003 – Present
Percussionist – South Bend Symphony – 1978 – Present
Percussionist – Elkhart Symphony – 1978 – Present
Percussionist – Keystone Wind Ensemble – 1994 – 2002
Percussionist (Sub) – Elkhart Municipal Band
Snare Drummer – Erie Thunderbirds Drum & Bugle Corps. 1969 – 1972
Vibes – VibeNation Jazz Combo – 1993 – Present
Freelance Drummer, Vibes, Latin Percussion

Career Highlights: Graduating from Notre Dame and working with the ND Band. Performing at the Elkhart Jazz Fest.   I had an opportunity to fill in on drums with area guests artists such as:  Doc Severinsen, Marian McPartland, Boston Brass, Byron Stripling, Bill Watrous, and Frank Mantooth.

Why I Play With TIJ: I love to make music.  My absolute favorite thing to do is to DRIVE a Big Band on Drums.

Gordon Holley - Piano

Hometown: Battlecreek, Michigan

Education: Attended Western Michigan University

Playing Experience: Pianist – Jazz Assemblage Big Band – 1975 – Present
Pianist (sub) – 2006 to Present
Present Pianist – Truth in Jazz 2008 to Present
Leader and Pianist – A Cut Above, 7pc band 1990 to Present
Organized & Directed Marching Band, Michigan Air National Guard
53 years of playing in night clubs, theater and concerts, stage shows with such entertainers as ; Betty hutton, Bob Cummings, “Boots’ Randolph, Clark Terry, Dick Contino, Ira Sullivan, Scott Hamilton, Lou Soloff, Jerry Murad and the Harmonicats, Pee Wee Hunt, Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates, “Stepin Fetchit”, Tommy Newsom.

Career Highlights: Playing at the Elkhart Jazz Festival, June 2000 with tenor jazz great Scott Hamilton and trumpeter Ira Sullivan. Playing at the Elkhart Jazz Festival with my 7 piece band “A Cut Above two different years and having written over 500 arrangements for my band.

Why I Play With TIJ: I enjoy the association with many great local musicians and sharing my love for many genre of music. It’s a real kick to play with TiJ in a concert setting and please so many lovers of good music and giving back to the community.

Brian Frederick – Trumpet

Hometown:  Etna Green, IN.  Now living in Nappanee, IN.

Education:  Music Performance, Grace College, Winona Lake, IN.

Playing Experience:
1989-1991: Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps, Bloomington, IN; Lead Mellophone.  Performed with Canadian Brass.
1991-1995: The Commandant’s Own Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, Washington DC; Section Leader for High Brass.
1996-1998: Grace Brass, Touring and Performing
1996-1999, 2006-Current: Grace Wind Ensemble
1999-2000: Blast!  Professional group on stage in London, England at the Hammersmith Apollo Theater.  Lead Trumpet and Piccolo Trumpet with the original cast.
2002-Current: Star of Indiana Alumni
2005-2006: Nostalgia Band, Big Band and Swing Music
2005-Current: Star United, Indianapolis, IN; Lead Trumpet.
2007: Elkhart Symphony Orchestra, Elkhart, IN.
2007-Current: Truth in Jazz

Career Highlights: Winning the DCI Championship with Star of Indiana in 1991 as lead Mellophone player was an amazing experience.  In the Commandant’s Own, I was able to perform for President Clinton’s inauguration and Colonel Powell’s retirement, while also performing with Lee Greenwood and Niel Diamond.  I played the bugle calls for the 8th&I barracks, as well as Taps at Arlington Cemetary, which were great experiences.  Performing on stage in London for a year with Blast! was also a major highlight, being a soloist and lead trumpet and piccolo for a Tony and Emmy award winning show!  I also opened for Sawyer Brown at the West Baden resort with Star United, with whom I play lead trumpet.  Star United is the current DCA Mini-Corps Champion, having the championships New York the last three years running.

Why I Play with TiJ: Truth in Jazz allows me the opportunity to continue performing locally with a great group of talented and dedicated players.

Micah Niespodziany - Trumpet

Hometown: North Liberty, In.

Greg Smucker - Trumpet

Hometown: I grew up in Columbus, Ohio. I have lived in Goshen for 29 years.

Education: Attended Fort Hayes Career Center for the Performing Arts in Columbus, Ohio.  Music and business degree from Goshen College

Playing Experience: Maple City Chamber Orchestra, Elkhart Symphony, More With Brass Quintet, Maple City Jazz Quartet

Career Highlights: Touring with Maple City Jazz Quartet, performing at the Elkhart Jazz Festival with TIJ

Why I Play With TIJ: The band is made up of some very fine musicians. That makes for very productive rehearsals. It also motivates me to improve as a musician. The band members are also great people to be around.