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March 8, 2025
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ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
Our history
The Shawano Jazz Foundation was created in 2009 by Alexandra Isaacson during her senior year at Shawano High School. Isaacson donated a $250 scholarship that she had received, and then executed initial fund-raising that provided two summer-music scholarships later that year. Thanks to strong community support, notably from founding board members Dr. Jeff and Holly Zander, the then 17-year-old Isaacson and Shawano band director Christopher Kent expanded the Foundation to include an annual weekend jazz festival in Shawano...
SHAZZ 2025 SPECIAL GUESTS
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Barb Catlin has become one of the leading jazz educators in the Southwest. After eighteen successful years in Arizona, she returned to her home state of California where she directs the jazz programs at Pomona College and the California Institute of Technology. Barb has many accolades as a jazz pianist, including being named as a Downbeat “Player to Catch”, but is equally well-known for her tenure as musical director of the highly acclaimed youth honor jazz program, The Young Sounds of Arizona, as well as her years as director of jazz studies at Mesa Community College.
Barb majored in music education on woodwinds at California State University at Fresno, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Grand Canyon University with a B.S. in Music Education, and completed and a Master’s in Music Education with an emphasis in Jazz Studies on piano from Arizona State University where she was the recipient of the William English Music Education Award.
Her enthusiasm for playing, “real-life” approach to education, and expertise in the rhythm section has made Barb a popular clinician and adjudicator at the high school and college levels. Barb has directed the Arizona All-State High School Jazz Band, the California All-State Junior High School Jazz Band, the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association’s (SCSBOA) Honor High School Jazz Ensemble, the Wisconsin All State Honor Jazz Band and many regional honor ensembles. She has been a featured clinician/guest artist at Fred Sturm’s acclaimed Lawrence Jazz Festival, Kris Berg’s Collin Jazz Festival, Paul Lucceksi’s San Joaquin Jazz Festival, Dana Landry’s Northern Colorado University Jazz Festival, ASU’s Highland Jazz Festival, the Western States Jazz festival, the Irvine Jazz Festival, the N.A.U Jazz Festival, and has presented clinics at state conferences both in Arizona, California and Wisconsin.
Barb was awarded a “Lifetime Achievement Award” by Jazz in Arizona for her outstanding contribution to jazz education in the state of Arizona and was recently named the CMEA “Paul Shaghoian” Jazz Educator Award for 2021.
Wayne Bergeron is enjoying a career as one of the most sought-after musicians in the world. Studio sessions, film dates, international touring, jazz concerts, guest appearances, and clinics keep him busy not only in his hometown of Los Angeles but worldwide.
Bergeron first caught the ear of many when he landed the lead trumpet chair with Maynard Ferguson’s band in 1986. Bergeron demonstrates daily why Maynard remarked, “Wayne is the most musical lead trumpet player I’ve had on my band.”
As a sideman, Bergeron’s list of recording credits reads like a “who’s who” in contemporary jazz and pop, running the stylistic gamut from Ray Charles to Green Day. Other names include Katy Perry, Beyoncé, Barbra Streisand, Michael Buble, Indina Menzel, Leslie Oden Jr, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Seal, Diana Krall, Christina Aguilera, Dianne Reeves, The Mars Volta, Rosemary Cloony, Diane Schuur, Barry Manilow, Kenny G., and David Benoit.
Bergeron has worked on over 500 TV & motion picture soundtracks. A partial list of film credits includes Red Notice, Turning Red, Soul, Bob’s Burgers, Ford vs. Ferrari, Toy Story 4, Frozen 1 & 2, The Lion King (2019), The Secret Life of Pets, Crazy Rich Asians, Sing 1&2, Moana, Frozen 1 & 2, Toy Story 3, High School Musical 3, Superman Returns, The Simpson’s Movie, Dreamgirls, Hairspray, Spiderman 1 & 2, Team America and South Park.
Bergeron’s featured trumpet solos can be heard on the motion pictures West Side Story (2021 Steven Spielberg),La La Land, Sing, The Incredibles 1 & 2, Rocky Balboa, The Secret Life of Pets 2, Minions, Minions 2:The Rise of Gru, Spies in Disguise, Jersey Boys, Despicable Me, Aladdin King of Thieves, and many others.
Numerous TV credits include Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, SAG Awards, NBC, ESPN & TNT sports themes, Grammy Awards, Animaniacs Reboot, Family Guy, American Dad, Simpson’s, Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Phineas & Ferb, House of Mouse, Buzz Lightyear, and Hey Arnold.
Bergeron’s greatest love is playing lead in big bands. He has recorded and played with some of Los Angeles’ most respected bands including Quincy Jones, Gordon Goodwin, Pat Williams, Sammy Nestico, Jack Sheldon, Chris Walden, Tom Kubis, and Bob Florence.
After being behind the scene for so many years, Bergeron stepped out on his own with his first solo effort, You Call This a Living? This debut project earned him a Grammy nomination in 2004 for Best Large Jazz Ensemble, as well as rave reviews from fans and press worldwide. Bergeron’s second CD, Plays Well With Others, released on the Concord Jazz label in 2007, was met with the same acclaim. Bergeron’s most current CD, Full Circle, was released in January of 2016.
Bergeron performs various events for the Hollywood Bowl summer season. He has done guest appearances with the L.A. Philharmonic, The New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Taiwan Symphony, and Tokyo Philharmonic.
Bergeron is a National Artist for the Yamaha Corporation of America and is co-designer of the YTR-8335LA trumpet and YFH-8315G Flugelhorn.
Bergeron was mentored by legends Uan Rasey, Bobby Shew, Warren Luening, Gary Grant, and George Graham. Bergeron hopes to inspire a new generation of young players and enjoys his work as a clinician and educator. “Nothing makes me feel more accomplished than hearing a young musician say that I inspired them or had a positive influence on their life. For me, that’s the real payday.
Perhaps Grammy winning composer and bandleader, Gordon Goodwin said it best, “Wayne is a once in a lifetime lead trumpet player.”
2024 Scholarship Partners
