Karen Johnson is an Eau Claire area native now hailing from Lake Mills, WI. She was the director of bands at Denmark High School for 34 years. Though she retired in 2012, she remains an active player in the world of music by performing in church and community organizations. Johnson earned a bachelor of music education, instrumental music degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1978. Immediately after, she began teaching music at Denmark High School. During her tenure there, she developed the jazz program to include jazz ensembles and combos, which earned multiple top honors at UW Jazz Festivals held at Green Bay, Eau Claire and La Crosse. As an educator, Johnson was an active member of the Wisconsin School Music Association, including as state honors saxophone coach, rhythm section coach, jazz ensemble coordinator, and the high school honors project chair. She continues to work as an adjudicator and clinician.

Canadian jazz musician Pamela York is a pianist, vocalist, and composer. A native of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Pamela graduated from The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and Berklee College of Music in Boston. Pamela uses vehicles for musical expression as varied as the blues, traditional hymns, and lesser known standards. In 2007, she won the Great American Jazz Piano Competition. In addition to appearing on numerous recordings as a side artist, Pamela boasts three albums of her own as a leader. Her first two CDs Blue York (2001) and The Way of Time (2006) showcase several original tunes, as well as her interpretations of celebrated jazz standards. Her 2012 release, Lay Down This World: Hymns and Spirituals, was a 2013 Downbeat Magazine editor’s pick. She tours nationally as a performer, clinician, and guest artist. Among her performances with dozens of jazz greats, Pamela has shared the stage with Conte Candoli, Joe LaBarbera, John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton, Lynn Seaton, Roseanna Vitro, Diane Schuur, and Andre Hayward. In 2020 Pamela moved to the Chicago area.

Laura Caviani is the Jazz Area Director for Carleton College, based in Northfield, Minnesota. Her thirty–year career includes such highlights as touring Japan with Grammy nominee Karrin Allyson, teaching jazz in Argentina, recording many albums as both leader and side–person, and adjudicating for many jazz festivals across the country. Recent collaborations include her project Tableau with Dr. David Milne, her trio recordings Mysterious Thelonious and Confluence with Dave Schmalenberger and Chris Bates, two recent commissions: Physics Lessons (ANCIA Saxophone Quartet) and Cordoba (FOUR VOICES STRING QUARTET), and choral works for Vocal Essence and Great River Chorale. As a dedicated church musician, Ms. Caviani arranges new works every Sunday for her trio to play at Plymouth Congregational Church in downtown Minneapolis. Please visit www.cavianilaura.com to stay in touch.

Brent Turney is an active cross-genre soloist and ensemble player throughout the country. His diverse musical background encompasses a range of styles and experiences. Brent is a sought after classical soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player, small & large jazz ensemble recording artist and performer, and commercial performer and recording artist.

Ryan Korb teaches Jazz Percussion and Jazz Studies at the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point. A native of Billings, Montana, Ryan won the 1990 Governors Scholarship to attend the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan.

Myles Boothroyd is a performing artist dedicated to promoting the versatility of the saxophone across traditional genre boundaries. Comfortably “at home in [the] classical and jazz realm” (Grand Traverse Insider), Boothroyd maintains a commitment to diverse programming as a soloist and chamber musician. He is alto saxophonist for the East End Quartet, an award-winning ensemble founded at the Eastman School of Music.