Tom Walsh is the professor of music in saxophone and chair of the Department of Jazz Studies at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
Walsh has performed and presented at conferences of the International Association for Jazz Education, Jazz Education Network, North American Saxophone Alliance, and World Saxophone Congress. At the January 2014 Jazz Education Network Conference in Dallas, he presented “Steps to Better Ballad Playing” and performed with the Mike Hackett Quintet. A Yamaha Performing Artist and Vandoren Artist, he has taught at the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops since 1991.
Walsh holds degrees in saxophone performance and jazz studies from Indiana University, where his principal teachers were distinguished classical saxophonist Eugene Rousseau and renowned jazz educator David Baker. Other influential teachers in his development were Mike Tracy, Pat LaBarbera, Jerry Coker, and David Liebman.
Dr. Francis “Frank” Cook teaches a wide range of courses at LCCC, including applied tenor and bass trombone lessons, music theory, and music history. He also serves as the director of both the LCCC Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble, as well as co-director of the Cheyenne Brass Band. In addition to his teaching duties, Dr. Cook is an active performer across the Front Range, regularly performing with Opera Fort Collins, the Fort Collins Symphony, the Loveland Opera Theater, Larimer Chorale, Greeley Chorale, Wyoming Symphony, Cheyenne Symphony, and the Colorado Jazz Orchestra. He currently serves as the second trombonist with the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, a seat he has held since 2008.
Dr. Cook earned his Doctor of Arts degree from UNC, and his Master of Music, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from Ithaca College. His primary applied teachers have included Nat Wickham, Hal Reynolds, Mark Kellogg, and Mark Babbitt. His conducting instructors have included Ken Singleton, Stephen Peterson, Larry Doebler, and Keith Kaiser.
Marion Powers is a six-time DownBeat Award-winning jazz vocalist whose dynamic improvisation skills, fresh and modern arranging style, and sensitive approach to songwriting keep her in high demand from coast to coast not only as a performer, but also as an educator. While heavily influenced by classic jazz singers like Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae, and Sarah Vaughan, her experiences performing with or being mentored by Christian McBride, Dianne Reeves, Marshall Gilkes, Johnaye Kendrick, and Melissa Aldana have been some of the most instrumental to her artistic development.
Marion earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Jazz Performance from the University of North Texas (UNT) where she studied under renowned vocalists and educators, Rosana Eckert and Jennifer Barnes, and spent time as lead vocalist for the Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band. In 2018, Marion was the selected vocalist for The Jazz Aspen Snowmass Academy Big Band, where she was mentored by Christian McBride and Dianne Reeves; and, the following year, was selected as a member of the Jazz Education Network’s Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Quintet under the mentorship of educator and pianist, Ellen Rowe, and world renowned baritone sax player, Claire Daley. Among her DownBeat Awards are Outstanding Vocalist for her performance on the UNT Jazz Singers recording of “Groovin’ Hard,” and for her direction of UNT’s vocal jazz ensemble, Avenue C.
2025 WY All-State Jazz Directors
2025 - WY All-State Jazz Concert
Monday, January 6 - Tuesday January 7, 2025
Laramie County School District #2
Michael Lange, Host
• The WY All-state Jazz Band
• The WY All-state Jazz Ensemble
• The WY All-state Vocal Jazz Ensemble