Jesse is a brass musician, singer and a certified instrument repair technician for woodwind and brass instruments through the Colorado Institute of Music Instrument Technology. He briefly studied jazz trumpet at the University of North Texas before leaving to pursue instrument repair. Jesse is employed by Carl’s Pro Band in Bloomington and is heavily involved in Peoria performance groups including Central Illinois Jazz Orchestra, Prairie Wind Ensemble, Peoria Municipal Band, and the Philharmonic Chorale. Jesse group up in Washington, Illinois and was part of the Washington High School band and chorus programs and youth symphony. He is committed to bolstering music engagement for students who didn’t have the same opportunities he enjoyed.

Dr. Todd Kelly is the Chair of the Department of Music at Bradley University, where he also serves as the Professor of Trumpet and Director of Jazz Ensembles. The jazz program at Bradley includes the Bradley Jazz Ensemble, Groove Project, Hilltop Combo, and courses in Jazz Improvisation and Jazz History.

Dr. Kelly maintains a busy performing schedule in the Central Illinois area with the Water Street Stompers, the Brazilionaires, the Todd Kelly Jazz Quintet, the Central Illinois Jazz Orchestra, Four Other Brothers, Inner Light, and as a freelance jazz and classical musician. He has toured throughout the United States with Indian tabla artist Sandip Burman. He has also performed with Wayne Newton, Jerry Lewis, Charo, the Fifth Dimension, Lesley Gore, Steve Lippia, Mannheim Steamroller, and the national touring companies of Hairspray, Wicked, Mary Poppins, The Rat Pack is Back, Billy Elliot, Chicago, White Christmas, Kinky Boots, The Book of Mormon, and La La Land. Dr. Kelly has been published in Band World, Downbeat, JAZZed, and The Instrumentalist. His book, “Chet Baker: 21 Selected Solos” is available through Jamey Aebersold Jazz and ejazzlines.com, and he is a contributing author to The Jazzer’s Cookbook, published by Meredith Music, and Teaching Music Through Performance in Jazz for Beginning Ensembles, published by GIA Music. He recently presented “Learning to Play by Ear” at the Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans. In the spring of 2013, Dr. Kelly received the Slane College of Fine Arts Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching, and in 2018, he received the Slane Award for Excellence in Scholarship, just the second faculty member in the history of the college to receive both awards. In 2019-2020, Dr. Kelly was the Artist in Residence with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, performing the American premiere of Iain Hamilton’s Concerto for Jazz Trumpet and Orchestra.

Todd Kelly is an artist/clinician for Conn/Selmer in Elkhart, Indiana. He and his wife Kirsten are the proud parents of Connor and Maren.

David is a distinguished trumpeter, pianist, composer and conductor presents his own unique and imaginative music. For 13 years David traveled the world performing as part of the Ray Charles Orchestra. He is currently a founding member of the Tribute to Ray Charles Orchestra. He advocates strongly for the arts and music being essential in the educational system, and for the civil rights of all individuals. As an activist David served as President of Local 26 of the American Federation of Musicians from 2005-2016. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Peoria Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. David teaches jazz trumpet and piano lessons, conducts jazz ensembles and is the music director and resident composer for the Heartland Jazz Orchestra.

Rachel has 30+ years of marketing and nonprofit experience in the Peoria area. She recently held the Executive Director position of a national non-profit and has been a self-employed marketing consultant since 2012. Prior to establishing her own business, Rachel served in multiple marketing and operations positions at Bradley University and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. Rachel spent her formative years very active in music, playing cello, piano and singing. She is passionate about encouraging music as an outlet for youth.

Terry is a retired healthcare, public relations and editing professional. She is a strong supporter of live music regularly attending concerts, school performances, and area summer series in parks and parking lots.