The Lakeland Jazz Festival was founded by retired professor and music department Coordinator Charles M. Frank in 1973 and remains the oldest jazz festival in the State of Ohio. The Lakeland Jazz Festival has remained true to its original mission of instilling the excitement and magic of jazz education to the younger generation of musicians. Over 25,000 middle and high school musicians from throughout the state have participated in the festival in celebration of this uniquely American art form, jazz. The festival features two parts: serving the schools and festival artists.
This year's event will take place Friday, March 14, where local middle and high school jazz ensembles perform for adjudication between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Click here for this year's adjudication application!
2025 adjudication schedule
| Time | School | Director | Band Name |
| 9 a.m. | Bedford High School | Jennifer Shauf | Bedford High School Jazz Ensemble |
| 9:30 a.m. | Willoughby-South Middle School | Joel Tyrrell/ Josh Woodie | Willoughby Middle School Jazz Band |
| 10 a.m. | Brooklyn High School | Sean Sullivan | Brooklyn High School Jazz Ensemble |
| 10:30 a.m. | Chardon High School | Melissa Lichtler | Chardon High School Jazz Orchestra |
| 11 a.m. | Shaker High School | William Hughes | Shaker Heights High School Jazz Band |
| 11:30 a.m. | Shaker Middle School | Adrian Pocaro | Shaker 8th Grade Jazz Band |
| Noon | Willoughby-South High School | Joel Tyrrell | Willoughby South High School Jazz Ensemble |
| 12:30 p.m. | Brush High School | John Shamp | Brush Jazz Effect |
| 1 p.m. | |||
| 1:30 p.m. | Brush High School | John Shamp | Brush Jazz Ensemble |
| 2 p.m. | Eastlake-North High School | Scott Sell | North Jazz Ensemble |
| 2:30 p.m. | |||
| 3 p.m. | |||
| 3:30 p.m. |
Greg Banazak - Saxophone
Greg Banaszak, one of today's leading saxophonists, has performed with orchestras and at concert halls throughout the world. He has appeared as concerto soloist and recitalist throughout the United States, Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, including the countries of France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Aus-tria, Sweden, Belgium, Egypt, South Korea, the Dominican Republic, Finland, In-dia and Japan.
As a member of the National Academy of Arts and Sciences, Mr. Banaszak is a voting member for the annual Grammy Awards ceremony. He serves in the faculties of the Cleveland Institute of Music, and Case Western Reserve University. He is a Vandoren Performing Artist, Selmer Saxophone clinician, a Rovner Products, Key Leaves Artist and DeJacques Inc. consultant. He has performed as a saxophonist for the Cleveland Orchestra.
Mr. Banaszak is a B.M. cum laude graduate of the Hartt School of Music. He holds an M.M. degree "with distinction" from the Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw and an Artist Diploma from the Centre Musical d'Annecy in France. He cites his successful career on having studied with such prominent masters as Vincent Abato, Daniel Deffayet and jazz legend Jackie McLean, as well as David Pituch, and David Schiavone. Mr. Banaszak's former students currently hold positions as both highly acclaimed performers and educators throughout the United States and abroad. In 2021 Mr. Banaszak was recently honored with the "Distinguished Alumni of the Year" award from the Hartt School of Music /University of Hartford.
Mr. Banaszak takes great pride in educating the future generation of world class saxophonists and young artists. Hailed as a Saxophonist "Tour de Force" by the New York Times, Mr. Banaszak continues to perform world-wide.
Alfredo Guerrieri - Bass
One of the most versatile and sought after electric and double bassists in Northeast Ohio, Alfredo Guerrieri has played with an array of artists throughout his career. He has performed with The Eagles, Tony Award nominee Mary Bridget Davies, Grammy Award winner Heather Headley, Cleveland Winds, Joe McBride, Dan Wilson, and Keith McKelley. He has toured nationally and performed internationally at the Bermuda Music Festival and One World Festival in Perth, Australia. Alfredo has also performed in the pit in a number of theater productions at Playhouse Square, Great Lakes Theater, and Baldwin Wallace University.
Alfredo graduated from various institutions such as Musician's Institute (Certificate, Bass Performance), Berklee College of Music (BM), Cleveland State University (MM) and is currently pursuing his DMA at Boston University in Music Education. As an educator, Alfredo has taught a wide range of musical subjects in a variety of settings, including classical, jazz, and popular music at Cleveland State University, Lakeland Community College, Montessori High School, and The Music Settlement. Alfredo is currently a music lecturer at Cuyahoga Community College, where he runs the Jazz Studies program at the metro campus. At Tri-C metro he teaches music theory, ear training, arranging, rock and roll history, and private lessons. He is endorsed by S.I.T. Strings.
Theresa May - Trumpet
Theresa J. May (she/her) is a versatile trumpeter, educator, and advocate from Shaker Heights, Ohio. She holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Dayton. Currently, Theresa is an adjunct faculty member at Cuyahoga Community College, where she teaches Applied Trumpet and World Music.
A passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, Theresa co-founded the Chromatic Brass Collective, which champions diversity in the brass community. She is also a member of the International Society for Black Musicians (ISBM), an organization dedicated to elevating Black musicians and their contributions to music scholarship. Her dedication has earned her accolades such as the 2022 "Room in the House" Fellowship from Karamu House, supporting the production and self-release of her debut album, Renewed, under her artistic moniker, Di·zy·got·ic Energy. In 2024, Theresa was honored with the Creative Impact Fund, an unrestricted grant fostering artistic growth and regional impact.
As a dynamic performer and educator, Theresa maintains a thriving private studio and an active performance schedule. She has performed with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, an international touring band Mourning [A] BLKstar, and in the Colour of Music Festival. Highlights of her career include being a featured soloist at the 2022 International Women's Brass Conference and with the University of Dayton Wind Ensemble in 2024. She has been spotlighted in the International Trumpet Guild Journal and Noteworthy, the International Women's Brass Conference journal.
Theresa's versatility extends to national tours, including a three-month tour with the Broadway Sinfonietta for the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse live score (2023). Most recently, she performed in the Cleveland run of the Broadway production MJ the Musical.
Bettyjeane Quimby - Saxophone
Bettyjeane Quimby received her BM in music education (2005) and her MM in music performance (2012), both from Cleveland State University. During her master's degree at CSU, she won the graduate concerto competition performing a jazz clarinet concerto with the University Orchestra. For the past 21 years she has been performing locally with numerous ensembles including; Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Great Lakes Theater, Sammy DeLeon y Su Orchestra, The Lakewood Hometown Band, The Dazzle Awards and many diverse musical groups across Northeast Ohio.
In addition, she has shared the stage with The Temptations, The O'Jays and The DIVA Jazz Orchestra with the production of Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life. In 2022 she was invited to perform the Artie Shaw Concerto for Clarinet at the International Clarinet Association conference in Reno, Nevada to honor her former professor Theodore Johnson.
Currently, Bettyjeane serves as Education Program Director for Roots of American Music non-profit organization where she is crafting their education curricula, providing excellence in music education while connecting history, culture and social emotional learning through music. As a freelance musician, teacher and non-profit administrator, Bettyjeane remains active in the performance and music education community attending music conferences across the nation.
John Stebal - Percussion
John, a versatile drummer with a career spanning multiple decades, has been playing since 1971 and teaching since 1980. His professional experience encompasses performances with local bands across diverse genres including Big Band, Rock, Jazz, Salsa, and Country. Since 1979, he has appeared on numerous local TV shows and studio recordings, and in 2012 toured internationally in Germany and France with Drumplay, a "Rhythmprovisation" group. John's musical education includes studying under instructors Hank Avellone, Russ Kane, Sterling Wilson, Ed Bobick, and Bob McKee. John has been an active member of the Lakeland CC Jazz Ensemble and the Percussive Arts Society since 1992, with multiple attendances at PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention) over the years.
Dr. Stephen Stanziano is a composer, educator, and bassist and holds a Ph.D. in music theory and composition from Kent State University. His works have been performed throughout the United States and Europe including at the St. Peters Basilica in Rome by the Cleveland Chamber Collective, with the Panoramicos, by guitarist Jason Vieaux, and by members of the Cleveland Orchestra. He is a member of ASCAP and the past president of the Cleveland Composers Guild. He is currently on the music faculty of Cleveland State University, Lakeland Community College and Hiram College. He has helped co-direct the Lakeland Jazz Festival since 2009.
Over the years, Edward G. Michaels has established himself as a strong voice in the field of music education and jazz saxophone. He is well-known for his leadership in directing the annual Lakeland Community College Jazz Festival (1999-2008); the Lakeland Summer Jazz Camp; and Lakeland's all-star high school jazz ensemble, and Lakeland's Jazz Impact.
Michaels earned his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Duquesne University, in his native town of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and a Master of Music from Northwestern University, in Evanston, Illinois, where he studied saxophone with the legendary Dr. Fred Hemke. He studied improvisation with Phil Rizzo, a clinician for the Stan Kenton Jazz Orchestra.
As a tenor saxophonist, Michaels is often heard performing with the top musicians of Northeast Ohio, among them, some of his former students. He has recorded a CD as leader, entitled "Going Beyond" on the Nice Jazz Label. The list of musicians with whom he has performed include Phil Woods, Donald Byrd, Pacquito D'Rivera, Bobby Sanabria and Clarence Clemons. His quartet has played extended engagements at the Century Room of Cleveland's prestigious Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the Grille Room of downtown Cleveland's Embassy Suites Hotel, Cleveland's Fat Fish Blue, and Club Isabella. Whatever the venue, he feels a strong commitment to promoting jazz and American music; and this can especially be seen in his love for both teaching and playing.
Michaels is also a full-time faculty member of the Willoughby-Eastlake School District where he teaches instrumental music, focusing especially on the district‘s beginning band program. Among his latest accomplishments in music education was receiving an honorarium and publication from the Cleveland Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for his music appreciation lesson plan, entitled "Timbre: Identifying the Tone Color of the Saxophone Using Pop/Rock Music Examples." He was also instrumental in helping his school district receive a grant from the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, which provided new percussion instruments for his Willowick Middle School students.
- 2024 - The Three Divas
- 2023 - Dan Bruce's :beta collective, Chuchito Valdés, Cleveland State University Jazz Ensemble
- 2022 - Diego Figueiredo, Nellie McKay; Red Light Roxy, Kent State University Jazz Orchestra
- 2021 - Carol Welsman Trio
- 2020 - Festival cancelled
- 2019 - The Ralph Moore Quartet featuring Ralph Moore, tenor sax, Xavier Davis, piano, Rodney Whitaker, acoustic bass, Sean Dobbins, drums
- 2018 - The Donald Harrison Quintet featuring Donald Harrison, saxophone/vocals, Zaccai Curtis, piano, Darryl Staves, drums, Jasen Weaver, bass; East Central Jazz Educators; All Star Big Band
- 2017 - The Ernie Krivda All Star Quartet featuring Lafayette Carson, Renell Gonsalves, and Jeff Halsey; The Dizzy Gillespie All Stars featuring John Lee, Claudio Roditi, Eric Alexander, Cyrus Chestnut and Tommy Campbell
- 2016 - The Tony Monaco Hammond B-3 Organ Trio; The Kenny Garrett Quintet featuring Marcus Baylor, Rudy Bird, Vernell Brown, Cocoran Holt; Youngstown State Jazz Ensemble
- 2015 - Sammy De Leon y su Orquesta; Baldwin-Wallace Jazz Ensemble
- 2014 - Dan White Sextet; The Carmen Lundy Quartet featuring Carmen Lundy, vocals, Patrice Rushen, piano, Ralph Peterson, drums and Kenny Davis, bassist
- 2013 - Chris Potter Quartet featuring Chris Potter saxophone, David Virelles piano, Larry Grenadier bass, Eric Harland drums; Jamey Haddad All-Star Trio featuring Jamey Haddad drums, Leo Blanco piano and Robert Occhipinti bass
- 2012 - Dave Morgan and Friends; Yellowjackets; The Dave Banks Big Band
- 2011 - Organ Ism; Bobby Selvaggio's Grass Roots Movement; Kurt Rosenwinkel; Mojo: The Generations Big Band
- 2010 - T.S. Monk Sextet featuring T.S. Monk Jr. on drums, Helen Sung piano, Dan Loomis bass, James Zollar trumpet, Patience Higgins alto sax, and Michael Karn tenor sax
- 2009 - Pat Martino guitarist, Tony Monaco Hammond B-3 organ, Louis Tsamous, Drums; Helen Welch, Quintet
- 2008 - Larry Coryell, guitarist, Jeff Berlin, bass, Paul Wertico, drums, Jazz Fusion; Dave Sterner Quintet
- 2007 - Jim McNeely, piano, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
- 2006 - Bobby Sanabria, drums, Quarteto Ache, Ed Michaels, tenor saxophone, Jackie Warren, piano; Roberto Ocasio Latin Jazz Project
- 2005 - Paquito D'Rivera, clarinet, Barbara Knight, vocalist, Paul Ferguson, trombone, Ed Michaels, tenor saxophone, Dave Sterner, alto saxophone; Youngstown State Jazz Ensemble; Jazz Impact Reunion Band; Youngstown State Faculty Trio; Clinic with Dr. Bob Brown & Paquito D'Rivera
- 2004 - Barbara Knight, vocalist, Paul Ferguson, trombone, Ed Michaels, tenor saxophone, Jack Schantz, trumpet, Dave Sterner, alto saxophone; The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra; The Silky Sounds, Jazz Vocal Quartet; Youngstown State Jazz Ensemble
- 2003 - Marji Jay, vocalist, Barbara Knight, vocalist, Dave Sterner, alto saxophone, Ed Michaels, tenor saxophone, Alton Merrel Jr., piano, Dave Morgan, bass; The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra; Youngstown State Jazz Ensemble
- 2002 - Banu Gibson, vocalist & The New Orleans Hot Jazz; The Fat Tuesday Big Band featuring Susan Hesse, vocalist, Warren Vache, cornet, Dominic Farinacci, trumpet, Jiggs Whigham, trombone, Ernie Krivda, tenor saxophone, David Boeddinghaus, piano, Howard Alden, guitar, Chris Berg, bass, Jim Rupp, drums
- 2001 - Ken Peplowski, clarinet, Bucky Pizzarelli, guitar, Terry Blaine, vocalist, Mark Shane, piano, Jim Masters, trombone, Susan Hesse, vocalist, Ernie Krivda, saxophone
- 2000 - Buddy DeFranco, clarinet, Marlene VerPlanck, vocalist, Cal Collins, guitar, Gene Parker, vibes, Dave Powers, piano, Chris Berg, bass, Jim Rupp, drums
- 1999 - Terry Gibbs, vibes, Bob Breithaupt, drums, Jeff Halsey, bass, Bob Brown, piano
- 1998 - Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band featuring Jerry Gonzalez, trumpet, flugelhorn, congas, John Stubblefield, tenor, Joe Ford, alto/soprano Kenny Kirkland, piano, Steve Berrios, drums, bells, Percussion
- 1997 - Lew Soloff, trumpet, Pharez Whited, trumpet, Jeff Jarvis, trumpet, Phil DeGreg, piano, Bob Breithaupt, drums, Chris Berg, bass, Ernie Krivda, saxophone
- 1996 - Phil Woods, saxophone, Chuck Israels, bass, John Fedchock, trombone, Dan Wall, piano, Val Kent, drums, Ernie Krivda, saxophone
- 1995 - David Baker, cello, Bill Dobbins, piano, Jim Rupp, drums, Paula Owen, vocalist, Marion Hayden, bass, Erinie Krivda, saxophone
- 1994 - Chuck Findley, trumpet, John Von Ohlen, drums, Mar'shal Baxter-Beckley, vocalist, Ernie Krivda, saxophone, Marion Hayden, bass, Joe Hunter, piano
- 1993 - Louie Bellson, drums, Gary Carney, trombone, Ernie Krivda, saxophone, Bill Plavan, bass, Bob Brown, piano
- 1992 - Kenny Burrell, guitar, Nick Brignola, saxophone, Jeff Halsey, bass, Val Kent, drums, Bob Brown, piano
- 1991 - Donald Byrd, trumpet, Ed Uribe, drums, Jim Kurzdorfer, bass, Paul Ferguson, trombone, Bob Brown, piano
- 1990 - Bud Shank, saxophone, Pete Christlieb, saxophone, Kenny Davis, trumpet, Jeff Halsey, bass, Mark Gonder, drums, Bob Brown, piano
- 1989 - Conte Candoli, trumpet, Howie Smith, saxophone, Anthony Leonardi, bass, Mark Gonder, drums, Bob Brown, piano
- 1988 - The Rob McConnell Trio featuring Rob McConnell, trombone, Robert Piltch, guitar, Neil Swainson, bass; The Ernie Krivda Quartet featuring Ernie Krivda, saxophone, Chip Stephens, piano, Joe Brigandi, drums, Jeff Halsey, bass
- 1987 - Ernie Watts Quartet featuring Ernie Watts, saxophone, Pat Coil, keyboards, Bob Leatherbarrow, drums, Joel DiBartolo, bass, Mike Barone, composer/ trombone
- 1986 - The Jim Pugh Trio featuring Jim Pugh, trombone, David Ratacjzak, drums, David Finck, bass
- 1985 - The Nick Brignola Quartet featuring Nick Brignola, saxophone, Bill Dobbins, piano, John Lockwood, bass, Dave Calarco, drums
- 1984 - The Jeff Tyzik Quartet featuring Jeff Tyzik, trumpet, Brian Scanlon, saxophone, Ed Czach, piano, Dave Mancini, drums
- 1983 - Randy Purcell, trombone, Tim Eyermann, saxophone, Jack Schantz, trumpet, Tony Leonardi, bass
- 1982 - Phil Wilson, trombone, Howie Smith, saxophone, Jack Mouse, drums
- 1981 - Bob Curnow, composer/trombone, Marv Stamm, trumpet, Rufus Reid, bass
- 1980 - Rich Matteson, euphonium, Jack Peterson, guitar, Ed Soph, drums
- 1979 - Allen Vizzutti, trumpet
- 1978 - The Phil Woods Quartet featuring Phil Woods, saxophone, Mike Melillo, piano, Steve Gillmore, bass, Bill Goodwin, drums
- 1977 - Arnie Lawrence, saxophone
- 1976 - Bill Watrous, trombone
- 1975 - Curt Wilson, saxophone, James Adkins, drums
- 1974 - Al Blaser, saxophone
- 1973 - Clark Terry, trumpet
-The Yellowjackets
The Lakeland Community College Jazz Festival is dedicated to the presentation of educational opportunities for aspiring student jazz musicians of high school and junior high school age. The festival provides an educational forum for student musicians, devotees of the music field, and the public at large through clinics and performances.
This annual event has provided a stage for the performance of all styles of jazz by internationally celebrated artists as well as gifted musicians found in this area of the country.
Jazz is a unique contribution to our culture and artistic heritage. In its 52-year history (2024), the Lakeland Community College Jazz Festival has portrayed those vital qualities of style that made jazz a significant contribution to the world of art and a distinct American form of expression. Future jazz festivals will continue to include depth of educational and entertainment opportunities to enhance the cultural quality of the Lakeland vicinity.
-Carmen Lundy
To provide a learning environment that fosters aesthetic literacy and expressive capability through the cultivation of artistic techniques and skills and the exploration of creative traditions and possibilities.
-Chris Potter
"I've enjoyed being part of the Lakeland jazz festival since observing Len Orcino direct jazz impact in 1978-I was 17. Over the years, I've been a listener, performer, judge and clinician. I'm grateful for all of the experiences with the late Chuck Frank, Bob Brown, Dan McCarthy, Ed Michaels and Dave Sterner. In my view, it's several decades of fine musicianship and exceptional music education, and I'm glad to have played a small role."
-Paul Ferguson, Music Director of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra
I had the privilege to be associated with the Lakeland Jazz festival as the director of the Lakeland Jazz Orchestra and as Artistic Director of the Festival. This annual event brought the attention of music students and the community some of the greatest jazz musicians to play the music. Louie Bellson, Phil Woods, Buddy DeFranco and many other Jazz greats graced the LCC Performing Arts Center Stage during my tenure. It was a positive force for the music before me and continues as one of the great events in Northeast Ohio. Once again it was a privilege and a joy to be part of it!
-Ernie Krivda, Cleveland Jazz Legend Award, 2005
"Love it! Lakeland Jazz Festival is a place to catch stellar performances with a high level of education. Lakeland brings that warmth of an interactive jazz community!"
-Evelyn Wright, Tri-C Jazz Legend 2008
Lakeland students and community members are encouraged to participate in festival activities. Whether you are looking to listen to the international artist, the regional band and the Lakeland Jazz Orchestra, or our talented middle and high school jazz ensembles, we hope you enjoy the music and experience.
The 2025 Lakeland Community College Jazz Festival is March 14 & 16.
The festival is on Lakeland's campus in the Dr. Wayne L. Rodehorst Performing Arts Center, D-Building.
High school & middle school adjudications.
The Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra
