JIM GUTER - DIRECTOR / SAXOPHONE / CLARINET
Retired Fine Arts Department Chair and Director of Bands, Jim has been active in music education in Illinois, Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, and Connecticut as a Band Director and Supervisor. He belongs to many state and national music educators professional associations. He is a Sinfonian and was a charter member of Lamda Mu Chapter. He was selected as an Outstanding Young Man in America, Outstanding Jazz Educator from NBA, and received a Citation of Excellence for Outstanding Contribution to Bands and Band Music from the National Band Association. He was named to the Who's Who among American Teachers in 2002 & 2003, and Who's Who in America 2002 & 2004. He has performed with Bill Watrus, Kenny Malone, Doug Beach, Rob Parton, Bob Lark, Mark Colby, Lenny King, Tom Tollman, Tom Fox, and a variety of Big Bands and smaller jazz and dance ensembles all over the U.S.. Jim has produced and operated music festivals throughout the United States and is sought after as a consultant, clinician, conductor, and adjudicator.

JOHN BLANK - LEAD ALTO SAX
John Blank is a saxophone player and band director at Haines Middle School in St. Charles, IL. While a student at Western Illinois University John toured Europe twice as a member of WIUÍs Jazz Studio Orchestra and during summers traveled to Alaska and the Carribean performing with Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruises. He has also taught at Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Door County, Wisconsin. He currently performs throughout the Chicagoland area and serves as an adjudicator for several jazz festivals each year. John has performed with Pete Christlieb, Kevin Mahohany, Fred Hersch, Bobby Shew, Dianne Reeves, Harold Jones, Tom Garling, Reggie Thomas, Mike Lee, and David Bixler.

JOEL MOORE- LEAD TENOR SAX
Chicago native Joel Moore (b.1973), a versatile tenor saxophonist specializing in both jazz and rhythm & blues, received an M.M. in Jazz Pedagogy from the Berklee College of Music and The Boston Conservatory in 2000. While living in Boston, he studied with Jeff Harrington, Bill Pierce and Ed Tomassi and interacted with renowned saxophonists Rick Margitza and Bob Berg during their respective clinics and performances. Joel also performed at the House of Blues and Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge, MA and toured throughout New England with a variety of ensembles. Since moving back to the Chicago area in 2000, Joel has performed extensively at many of Chicago's live-music venues including Andy's Jazz Club, Buddy GuyÍs Legends, Green Dolphin Street, Green Mill, Underground Wonder Bar, The Note and Elbo Room. He currently resides in Plainfield with his wife, Amy, and is on the faculty of Benedictine University, Lewis University and Prairie State College.

MARK GERTH - 2nd ALTO SAX
Born in 1966 in Chicago, Mark grew up in O'Fallon, Illinois. He participate in various school bands from the 5th grade through college. He attended Grinnell College in Iowa. After years of prodding by his wife, Mark picked his sax back up again and joined our band.

LARA REGAN - 2nd TENOR SAX
Lara Ochoa Regan holds a Master of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from Northwestern University and Bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Saxophone Performance from Saint Xavier University where she studied saxophone and clarinet. During her coursework at Northwestern, she studied with Leo Saguiguit and renowned saxophonist and pedagogue Dr. Frederick L. Hemke.
Lara is currently instructor of saxophone and clarinet at Saint Xavier University and saxophone instructor at Elmhurst College and Marian Catholic High School. She is proud to have the unique experience of having taught music to students in just about every level from grades pre-kindergarten through college. She performs regularly with the South Suburban College Jazz Orchestra, Tudor Winds (woodwind quintet), Hip Chicks (Big Band), Neptune Winds (saxophone quartet), and various other ensembles. 

KEVIN GAWTHORPE - BARITONE SAX
Kevin earned his teaching degree from Eastern Illinois University and has been teaching and performing woodwinds in the Chicago area since 2000. Originally from Mansfield, IL, Kevin now lives in Minooka, IL. he is currently on the staff at South Suburban College in South Holland, and performs professionally with many different groups, including the jump blues band and the Rhythm Rockets, the 1950's big band, the Crown Vics, the wood wind quartet, and the Neptune Winds.