Great, Free Entertainment! Geneva High School Jazz Band Concert, Mark Bettcher Nov. 17

A NIGHT OF JAZZ

Join us for an evening of great music as Geneva High School Jazz Bands I & II take the stage in the Geneva High School Auditorium on Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.  We are especially excited to welcome guest trombone artist Mark Bettcher for this event!  Admission is FREE!  This event is sponsored by the Geneva Music Boosters.

About Mr. Bettcher...

Mark Bettcher holds a masters degree in trombone performance from Northern Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Illinois.  He has worked as a music educator and professional musician in the Chicago area since 1981.

Mark has been teaching in Community Unit School District #300 for thirty years.  During the early years his Carpentersville Middle School Jazz Bands won numerous competitions and hosted several festivals and guest artists.  In 1989 Mark began directing the jazz program and orchestra at Dundee-Crown High School in addition to his duties at CMS.  The string program has grown from less than twenty students into three orchestras of more than 160 strings that regularly perform major orchestral repertory receiving numerous awards. Several jazz and orchestra students from the DCHS Program have gone on to top colleges and professional music careers.

In addition to directing the Dundee-Crown Jazz Ensembles and Orchestras, Mark also directs the Elgin Community College Jazz Program.  Since joining the staff at Elgin Community College in 1988, Mark has developed the ECC Jazz Ensemble into one of the areas hottest bands, founded the annual ECC Jazz Festival and the Youth Jazz Program.  The program has attracted numerous guest artists including Bill Evans, Bobby Shew, Arturo Sandoval, Randy Brecker, and David Liebmann.

As a performer, Mark has worked with some of the top names in jazz and pop music including Tony Bennett, Joe Williams, Louis Bellson, Slide Hampton, Ramsey Lewis, Gladys Knight, and the Temptations. In 1998, Mark toured with Phil Collins throughout the United States and Europe, recording a live C.D. in Paris.  He recorded five C.D.’s with the Frank Mantooth Orchestra, receiving multiple Grammy nominations.

In 2001, Mark released his first solo recording “Through the Eyes of a Child”.  His second recording project, “Take a Look Inside”, has received critical acclaim and is available on the Apple Jazz Record Label.  He has used the profits from both of these creative ventures to buy instruments for disadvantaged students.

Mark was selected as conductor for the Illinois All-State Jazz Band at the 50th Anniversary IMEA All-State Convention and was named the 1999 “Kane County Educator of the Year”.  In addition, Mark was the recipient of the “Mary Hoffman Award of Excellence” at the 2008 IMEA All-State Conference, and was privileged to be selected to conduct the Illinois All-State Jazz Band again in 2009.