As the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Southern Maine Osher School of Music, Dr. Christopher Oberholtzer heads a program that is recognized as being one of the leading college jazz programs in New England. Chris also enjoys serving throughout the country as a freelance trombonist, guest clinician and guest director with numerous high school and college jazz ensembles around the country.

Chris also maintains a busy schedule as a freelance trombonist. He has performed, toured and recorded nationally, and abroad with many groups including the Artie Shaw Orchestra, the Smithsonian Masterworks Jazz Orchestra, Ringling Brothers Circus, Tony Bennett, Claudio Roditi, Wayne Bergeron, the New York Voices, Bob Mintzer, Bucky Pizzarelli, the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, the Benny Goodman Orchestra, Aaron Neville, Roberta Flack and the Temptations.

Serving as Musical Director of the Portland Jazz Orchestra, Chris is quite busy with the details of leading a regionally active big band.  As a clinician for the United Musical Instrument/Selmer Corporation, Chris performs on Bach trombones.

Jaimie Appel is a vocalist and music educator who has been performing professionally on stages since childhood. A Midcoast Maine native, she earned her degree in Music Education from the University of Southern Maine Osher School of Music, where she studied saxophone and was heavily involved in the vocal jazz program. Jaimie currently performs with the Portland Jazz Orchestra, 13-piece funk band, Funkationland and the Jimmy Macisso Trio. When she’s not performing, Jaimie teaches elementary music, sharing her passion for music with the next generation of musicians.

Ben received his bachelors degree from the University of Southern Maine Osher School of Music, where he studied saxophone performance. For over a decade Ben has had a very busy music calendar, performing regularly with Rolling Stone's highly reviewed Spencer and the Walrus, the Portland Jazz Orchestra, the Fogcutters Big Band, the Four Tops, and most recently the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. 

Staying busy both musically and socially, Ben lives in Topsham, Maine with his incredibly talented wife and their two boys. 

Brad began playing drums about the time he started school and his professional playing career started at the age of fourteen. He has played throughout the North East sharing the stage with local, regional and national artists. Brad has appeared on stage with jazz greats such as Clark Terry, Mel Torme, Bob Mintzer, the Sammy Kaye Orchestra, the New York Voices, Wayne Bergeron, Conrad Herwig, Eric Marienthal, David Crosby of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, comedian Joan Rivers, as well as performing for President Bush and the first family just to name a few.

Since then, he has continued to evolve and develop as one of the first-call drummers in New England.  Often traveling out of his native state of Maine, Brad holds down a busy playing schedule. He appears regularly with the Portland Jazz Orchestra, Funkationland (a Tower of Power Band cover band), the Chris Oberholtzer Quintet, the Strangely Possibles (a Rock-a-delic band), on numerous stages and in musical theater pit orchestras.When not busy with these groups, Brad enjoys an active freelance career throughout New England, including commercials, albums and music publisher demo recordings.

In addition to his performing career, Brad is a published composer of music for school wind bands and jazz bands. He has numerous compositions with KJOS, Alfred, FJH, Keiser, Doug Beach Music, Excelsior and Kendor publishers.

Brad plays DW and Yamaha drums, Remo heads, Zildjian cymbals, and Vic Firth drum sticks and is a Vic Firth Endorsed Educator as part of the Vic Firth Education Team. Fink out more at Brad’s web site bradcmusic.com.

Dr. Nathan Jorgensen is Director of Jazz Studies at the University of New Hampshire, where he teaches saxophone, directs jazz ensembles, and is dedicated to cultivating expressive, curious, and artistically grounded musicians. A versatile saxophonist, he moves fluidly across musical styles and settings and has performed with artists and groups including Patti Austin, Terell Stafford, Bobby Watson, The Temptations, Dick Oatts, Bobby Shew, Ken Peplowski, Carmen Bradford, Alexa Tarantino, Gary Foster, Bob Sheppard, Marshall Gilkes, the Kansas City Symphony, and the South Dakota Symphony, among others.

Jorgensen is the coordinator of the Clark Terry Jazz Festival at UNH, the largest educational jazz festival of its kind in New England. Each year, the festival brings more than 65 ensembles to the University for performances, clinics, and educational opportunities with some of the leading artists and educators in jazz. He is also the curator and producer of the UNH Traditional Jazz Series, which brings nationally and internationally recognized jazz artists to the Seacoast for performances that connect the university, the broader community, and generations of jazz listeners.

In 2015, Jorgensen established the Seiler Commissioning Series at UNH, an annual composer residency and commissioning project that honors his predecessor, Dave Seiler. Each year, a prominent composer writes a new composition specifically for the UNH 3 O’Clock Jazz Band and joins the ensemble on campus to rehearse and premiere the piece. The series has commissioned works from some of the most respected voices in contemporary big band writing, including John Clayton, John LaBarbera, Dan Gailey, Steve Owen, Bob Washut, Greg Yasinitsky, Annie Booth, Mike Conrad, Michele Fernández, Steve Guerra, Paul McKee, and Craig Skeffington.

Jorgensen maintains an active performance career throughout New England and is a Selmer Paris Performing Artist.

Chris Marsh is a graduate of South Portland High School and the Berklee College of Music. He has a diverse musical background in performance, education, composition and arranging.

Chris has had the pleasure of playing with a number of local groups, including the Portland Jazz Orchestra, the Seacoast Big Band, the Terry White Big Band, the Red Light Revue, the Manhattan Nine, Fly Spinach Fly, Lestah Polyestah and has played on a few cruise ships.

Chris lives in Kennebunk. Maine with his wife Lori, and their daughter, Ella.

Mark Manduca holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree from the University of Maine at Orono and a Master of Music in Trombone Performance degree from Boston University. His teachers were Gregg Magnusson, Fred Heath, and Ronald Barron, principal trombone (retired) of the Boston Symphony. Mark is a member of the Portland Symphony Orchestra, Portland Brass Quintet, The Portland Jazz Orchestra, Five Cylinder Jazz, and he freelances with numerous jazz and classical groups.

Mark has played for many pop and jazz artists including Barry Manilow, Anne Murray, Johnny Mathis, and has worked with the Guy Lombardo Orchestra. His jazz group, Five Cylinder Jazz has appeared as soloists in two shows with the Portland Symphony Orchestra, featuring the music of Duke Ellington and Count Basie.

Mark has taught low brass, theory and music history, and conducted

jazz and concert bands at Bates College, Bowdoin College and the University of Southern Maine. He adjudicates at festivals and has conducted at concerts and festivals throughout the country. He is a member of the International Trombone Association. He is the retired Music Director at Old Orchard Beach High School where he conducted concert band, jazz ensembles, and chorus. While at OOBHS, Mark directed a marching band which earned 15 gold medals in 21 seasons. In 2014 he was featured as one of the 50th best band directors in the USA.

Mark writes and edits music for Manduca Music Publications. He lives in Portland, Maine with his wife Elizabeth and enjoys

carpentry, reading, travel, golf and basketball.

James Robins holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts Degrees in Music Education from the University of New Hampshire. He has been director of bands at Hampstead Middle School in Hampstead, NH since 2000 where he directs 3 concert bands, a jazz band and teaches classes in guitar and general music.  Under his direction, the HMS ensembles have performed to high acclaim at state and regional festivals perennially earning rave reviews from adjudicators.

Jim is a frequent faculty member at the Summer Youth Music School (SYMS) held each summer on the campus of the University of New Hampshire.  Frequently called to hear jazz trombone auditions at the high school camp, he has directed all three levels of jazz bands at the middle school camp, conducted brass and percussion sectionals, and offered trombone master classes at both the middle and high school camps. He has taught beginning trombone, beginning jazz improvisation and computer-based music notation.

Jim is an active adjudicator and trombone clinician throughout New Hampshire and Southern Maine.  He is an active member of the NH Music Educators’ Association as the current Middle School festival chair and has served as band manager for the Jazz All-State Festival, as well as coordinator for the Southeast District Middle School Festival.  He has also frequently been called to hear trombone auditions for both Jazz and Classical All State.  As a member of the NH Band Directors’ Association, Jim is one of the coordinators for the Middle Level Honor Festival.  He is also a member of the National Band Association, the New Hampshire Band Directors’ Association and a life member of Kappa Kappa Psi – National Honorary Band Fraternity.

Performing frequently on trombone throughout New England, Jim is currently a member of the Durham, NH based Seacoast Big Band and the Portland (ME) Jazz Orchestra and can be found on the stages of weddings and corporate functions as part of the horn section Brass Attitude. Jim has performed with notable jazz musicians, including Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Bob Wilber, Louie Bellson, Phil Wilson, Ingrid Jensen, Bud Shank, Richie Cole, Jay Ashby and many others. As a 10-year member of the regionally popular show band Groove Alliance, Jim had the opportunity to travel to Baghdad, Iraq for a week in 2007 to perform for US troops and workers in the Iraqi capital. 

Edward Mitchell is a trumpeter, educator, and performing artist with an active career spanning live performance, music education, theater, and the broader music industry. A versatile musician, Edward maintains an active schedule as a professional freelance musician. In addition to his work in the jazz idiom, he regularly performs throughout the Seacoast area with theater companies. Edward also performs at weddings and private events with Groovin’ You Entertainment, bringing his experience as a versatile live musician to a wide variety of celebrations and events.

Edward works professionally in the music industry as a School Service Representative with David French Music. In this role, he works directly with music programs and educators across Maine, helping schools manage instrument rental programs, coordinate repairs and service, maintain accounts, and ensure students have access to the instruments and resources they need.

As an educator, Edward currently serves as the Trumpet Instructor at Berwick Academy, where he works with students to develop their technique, musicianship, and confidence as performers. Dedicated to fostering the next generation of musicians, Edward emphasizes a well-rounded approach to musical development and encourages students to explore different musical styles and find their own musical voice.

Edward’s artistic development has been shaped by the mentorship of distinguished educators including James Clark, Chris Klaxton, Betty Rines, and Dr. Ryan Noe. Their guidance has helped shape his appreciation for the many different styles of music that continue to influence his work.

Whether performing, teaching, or supporting music programs throughout Maine, Edward is passionate about continuing to grow as an artist while helping create opportunities for the next generation of musicians.

Tom Michaud is an original member of the Portland Jazz Orchestra Tom received his musical education at the University of Southern Maine, the University of Northern Colorado, and DePaul University. He currently performs regularly with various freelance ensembles including the Portland Jazz Orchestra, Opera Portland, the Pine State Trombone Choir and the Maine Brass Collective, where he also serves as Artistic Director.

A native of Western Massachusetts, Mike is a saxophonist, composer, and music educator who performs, records, and presents clinics throughout New England.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts in Music Education and Performance, as well as a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media from the Eastman School of Music.  He has studied saxophone with Lynn Klock and Raymond Ricker, improvisation with Yusef Lateef, and jazz composition and arranging with Fred Sturm.

Before settling in New Hampshire Mike was Associate Professor of Music at Washington & Jefferson College (PA). Currently, he is the arts department chair at Fryeburg Academy, in Fryeburg, ME, where he directs the instrumental ensembles and teaches courses in music theory, guitar, and jazz improvisation.  Mike also serves as a guest artist and clinician at music festivals throughout the country.  In 2017 he received the Maine Music Educators Association “Music Educator of the Year” award, presented at the Maine All State Conference. 

As a saxophonist he has performed, recorded, and toured with the Phoenix Jazz Project and the Traverser Saxophone Quartet, in addition to being a regular member of the Portland Jazz Orchestra. As a member of the Portland Jazz Orchestra Mike has had the opportunity to solo with vocalist and saxophonist Darmon Meader, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, and saxophonists David Demsey and Jeff Coffin, and trumpeter Bijon Watson.  His compositions for the Portland Jazz Orchestra can be heard on their latest releases, “Generations” and “Live at One Longfellow Square”. Mike recorded recently with the Detroit-based Ellen Rowe Quartet. Their release, titled “Vinton’s Cove” is available on all platforms.

Since 1974 bassist, guitarist and composer Sam Sherry has played concerts on both coasts and in eight countries. Sam has performed and recorded with jazz notables including Jerry Bergonzi, Alex Foster, Curtis Fuller, Steve Grover, Jimmy Heath, Mark Kleinhaut and Billy Pierce.   As a member of Portland Jazz Orchestra Sam has also performed with artists including Jeff Coffin, Wycliffe Gordon and Eric Marienthal. Sam has released two CDs as composer and bandleader and has side-player credits on over a dozen discs ranging from jazz to singer-songwriter and traditional folk-music works.  He studied jazz with Michael Moore, Jaki Byard, Cecil McBee and George Russell, and classical music with Leland Tolo and Gary Karr.  Sam works regularly on bass as a member of the Portland Jazz Orchestra and on bass and guitar with Tom Porter & amp; Friends.

Craig Skeffington has been an active New England composer, arranger and educator for three decades with music in the jazz, marching and wind band genres. A high school band director since 1992, Craig was the 2003 MMEA Teacher of the Year.   His published pieces with the Neil A. Kjos Music Company, Alfred/Belwin Jazz, Kendor Music and CL Barnhouse have appeared in the Jazz Education Network (JEN) and NYSSMA manuals and consistently receive “Editor’s Choice” in the JW Pepper music catalog.   His music has been performed frequently at the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Ill.   He is both a past president of the Maine Band Directors Association and jazz activities chair for the Maine Music Educators Association.  Craig has also served MMEA as the instrumental jazz chairperson and at the national level with NAFME as the Eastern Division representative.   In 2020 Craig was inducted into the Old Town High School Hall of Fame and in 2024, the Maine Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.

As a trumpet player Craig has played with Barry Manilow, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Natalie Cole, Johnny Mathis, Colin Raye, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra from Washington D.C., Kris Berg and the Metroplexity Big Band (from Dallas TX) and toured nationally with the Artie Shaw Orchestra. As a soloist, he has appeared with Grammy award winning artists Wayne Bergeron, Eric Marienthal and Bob Mintzer as well as Grammy nominated artist Bobby Shew.

Locally, he works with the Seacoast Big Band, the Portland Jazz Orchestra, the Al Corey Big Band and “Funkationland.”   Craig lives in South Portland, Maine with his wife Carrie.   His music can be found on the Portland Jazz Orchestra’s latest CDs – “Nor Easter”, “Generations” and “Live at One Longfellow Square” - available on iTunes and CD baby.

Jake Sturtevant has been music teacher in Maine for 20 years, and currently is the Instrumental Music Director at Falmouth High School. He has had the opportunity to be a teacher leader with the Maine Arts Education Partners in Leadership, and has taught a variety of workshops and graduate level courses. He has a Bachelor's degree in Jazz and contemporary Music from the University of Augusta, and a Masters in composition from the University of Minnesota. 

He also continues to be a prolific composer/arranger and performer. He plays piano and writes for many groups, including the Portland Jazz Orchestra.

www.jakesturtevant.com

Larry Williams is a native of Maine. He received both his Bachelors Degree in Music Education and Masters Degree in and Jazz Studies from the University of Southern Maine. Larry has been teaching music in public and private schools for 38 years, He is the director of instrumental  music at Poland Regional High School and Whittier Middle School in Poland, Maine, a position he has held for 28 years. He also directs the Jazz Band at Bates College. Larry leads his own show and dance band, The Larry Williams Band, and performs regularly with Funkationland.   Although saxophone is his main instrument, he is equally proficient on electric bass.