Saturday Jazz Academy 2.0 Teaching Artist Faculty

DR. ROOSEVELT GRIFFIN - ENSEMBLE DIRECTOR

DR. ROOSEVELT GRIFFIN - ENSEMBLE DIRECTOR

Dr. Roosevelt Griffin III is President and CEO of the Griffin Institute of Performing Arts (NFP) where the transformative abilities of the arts are used to transform the lives of students and families throughout southern Cook County and beyond. He is the director of bands for Harvey School District 152 where he and his students have received international acclaim for excellence in music education. Griffin serves as the Middle School Representative for the Jazz Education Network, Jazz Band Director for the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic’s Jazz Academy, and is regularly invited to conferences to present workshops on music education.

HENRY SALGADO - BRASS

HENRY SALGADO - BRASS

Trombonist Henry Salgado established himself on the Chicago scene while working on his Jazz Studies degree at Depaul University. He began subbing in the pit orchestras of the Goodman Theatre, Marriott Lincolnshire and the Drury Lane Oakbrook. Salgado has also performed with many top entertainers including Josh Groban, Aretha Franklin, Frankie Valli, Kurt Elling, Johnny Mathis, Mel Torme, Rita Moreno, Della Reese and the Doc Severinsen Orchestra. As a studio musician Henry has recorded over 100 Radio & TV commercials and has playing credits on several original movie soundtracks. Henry Salgado is currently a member of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra.
PHYLLIS SANDERS - STRINGS DIRECTOR

PHYLLIS SANDERS - STRINGS DIRECTOR

Phyllis has been with Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, both as a performer and teacher, since it’s inception. She has a BA in Music Education from the Chicago College of Performing Arts Music Conservatory (Roosevelt University) and an MA in Arts Management from Columbia College. She plays in the 1st violin section of the CJP Orchestra and also plays regularly with the Chicago Sinfonietta. Sanders is a member of the CJP Jazz Academy Faculty and she helped to launch CJP’s strings program McDowell, Linne, Hampton, and Higgins Elementary schools, where she continues to teach.
ERENDIRA IZGUERRA - STRINGS INSTRUCTOR

ERENDIRA IZGUERRA - STRINGS INSTRUCTOR

Erendira has been a member of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic for 4 years as a violinist and baritone saxophone player. She is a multi-instrumentalist, educator and a proud Mexican-American Chicago native. Erendira always been drawn to the music of Mexico. She started Chicago’s first collegiate mariachi ensemble at University of Illinois at Chicago in 2014 and also founded Chicago’s first all-women mariachi, Mariachi Sirenas, in 2017. Erendira is a teaching artist and has plans to start her own music school in the Pilsen neighborhood to inspire and empower future generations to create positive change within themselves and the community.
ARTIE BLACK - WOODWINDS

ARTIE BLACK - WOODWINDS

Artie Black is a saxophonist, composer, and educator based in Chicago. After graduating from Messiah College with a degree in music education, Artie continued his studies at Indiana University earning a Master's degree in Jazz Studies in 2012. At Indiana, Artie studied saxophone with Tom Walsh and worked as an Associate Instructor with legendary jazz educator David Baker. He is fascinated by the learning and teaching process. He maintains a busy schedule of private saxophone instruction, and also joined the faculty of Wheaton College as an adjunct professor in Spring 2014. His goal as a teacher is to inspire his students to find joy through learning for themselves.
JOHN SUTTON - RHYTHM SECTION

JOHN SUTTON - RHYTHM SECTION

John Sutton is an accomplished bassist/cellist, educator, composer, and natural storyteller, John has easily transitioned into the world of filmmaking in recent years. He began with co-writing, scoring, and starring in the Bass Solo web series, and is now a script writer and composer for Soft Cage Films. In the past few years, John has written musical scores for dozens of film productions coming out of Chicago’s expanding film community. As an instrumentalist, John has a passion for interpreting the original music of other composers and bandleaders, and performs regularly in different ensembles in and around Chicago, including the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic.