festival ADJUDICATORS
Conner Eisenmenger, Trombone
Conner Eisenmenger, a Louisville, Kentucky native, is a new face on the Seattle music scene. In 2022 he received the ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award for his piece, “Choice Paralysis.”. Before moving out West, Conner received a master of music from the University of North Texas where he played in the One O’clock Lab Band. These days Conner can be found playing with the Seattle Symphony, the Seattle Opera, the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, Louis Prima Jr, Tito Puente Jr, Beck, and various session work including Nintendo Live’s Super Mario Super Big Band. KNKX describes Conner’s passion for a life in music as “infectious in the best way.”
COLLIN WILSON, TENOR SAXOPHONE
Collin Wilson is an active performer playing saxophone in jazz, commercial and classical groups throughout the northwest. He is also in demand as a teacher and clinician, currently serving as an Associate Professor of Music at Columbia Basin College where he directs the CBC Jazz Ensemble, teaches saxophone, music theory and history of jazz. Collin received his doctorate in music from the University of Illinois where he studied under prolific recording artists in both jazz (Chip McNeill) and classical (Debra Richtmeyer) styles.
Jared Hall, TRUMPET
Trumpeter, composer and recording artist Jared Hall hails from Spokane, Washington. Hall is the winner of the 2013 National Trumpet Competition – Jazz Division, and has performed and recorded with Paquito D’Rivera, Bob Hurst, Arturo Sandoval, Maria Schneider, Vincent Herring, Peter Erskine, Dave Liebman, Alan Pasqua, Brian Lynch, Ira Sullivan, Jeff “Tain” Watts, and Terence Blanchard. Hall performed in Seattle from 2015 to 2022 with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, Symphony Tacoma, the 5th Avenue Theatre, and many of the region's outstanding ensembles. His quintet performed regularly at Tula’s Jazz Club, the 2018 Gene Harris Jazz Festival, 2019 Puget Sound Jazz Combo Festival, 2021 Bellevue Jazz Festival, and 2023 Leavenworth Jazz Festival.
Since Fall 2022, Hall returned to his hometown of Spokane at Whitworth University as Director of Jazz Studies, all while performing in the local area with The Spokane Jazz Orchestra, The Bob Curnow Band, Imagine Jazz, and his quartet. Hall has also served on the faculty at Northwest University, Pacific Lutheran University, and the Jazz Night School, as well as teaching positions at The University of Miami and Indiana University.
Featured Young Artist: Natalie wagner, Alto SAXOPHONE
Natalie Wagner is a professional jazz alto-saxophonist and music educator who is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area. Since completing her masters degree in jazz studies at the University of North Texas, she can be seen gigging and teaching regularly in her community. During her time at UNT, she was the lead alto-saxophonist in the 2024-25 UNT One O’clock Lab Band while also directing the Six O’clock Lab Band. She is originally from Washington State where she achieved her bachelor’s degrees in Jazz Performance, Music Education, and Secondary Education from Whitworth University.
After completing her undergraduate studies, Natalie held numerous teaching positions in Spokane, Washington, including teaching a jazz ensemble at Joel E. Ferris High school, piano and guitar labs at North Central High School, and directed combos for the Spokane All-City Jazz Ensembles program. While teaching she also performed at local venues with small groups as well as the Spokane Jazz Orchestra. The next year, she began her studies in the master’s jazz studies program, studying with the great alto-saxophonist, Bradford Leali. Since her arrival in Texas, Natalie has taught masterclasses for numerous school districts, participated in the Women In Jazz Organization Mentors Program, performed with local big bands, performed at the annual Jazz Education Network Conference, adjudicated jazz festivals, and more. In the future, she plans to record and tour with her own band while continuing to lift up the next generation of jazz musicians.
Featured Young Artist: Kai Wagner, Bass
Kai Wagner is the bassist for the One O’Clock Lab Band at UNT where he is pursuing his Doctorate degree in Jazz Studies, where he also teaches classes. He is a professional jazz bassist across the Dallas-Fort Worth Scene playing jazz and other genres with local artists such as Quamon Fowler, Stockton Helbing, the Sundance Big Band and others. As an educator, he teaches masterclasses at colleges and high schools in the area. Kai previously received M.A. in Jazz Performance from UNT and his B.A. in Jazz Studies and B.A. in Psychology at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington.
Ben Markley, piano
Pianist, composer, arranger, author, educator, and leader of the Ben Markley Big Band, a daring ensemble known for their creative takes on beloved modern and contemporary jazz classics. Fresh off the heels of Clockwise: The Music of Cedar Walton, Markley tackles his most ambitious project yet: Ari’s Funhouse, a big band album featuring the music of drummer Ari Hoenig, with Hoenig himself in the drum chair. The album received great critical acclaim and was selected as one of the best 4 star rated albums of 2022 by DownBeat magazine. As a composer and arranger Recent arranging commissions include the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, and Wyoming Jazz Educators All-State Jazz Band. For Markley’s 2023 publication, “Cedar. The Life and Music of Cedar Walton”(University of North Texas Press), Markley conducted more than seventy-five interviews with musical luminaries such as Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, and Ron Carter. Walton’s wife Martha shared her extensive archives of photos, ephemera such as fliers and tour itineraries, and letters to inform Markley’s writing which is the definite biography on Walton. Other publications include “A Practical Approach to Improvisation - The David Hazeltine Method” 2014, Jamey Aebersold Jazz. Markley is an active performer in the Denver-metropolitan area and along the front range. He currently teaches jazz piano and serves as department chair of the music department for the University of Wyoming.
KYLE SWAN, drums
We are thrilled to have Kyle back for his second appearance at the Leavenworth Jazz Festival. Kyle toured extensively playing at the Montreal Jazz Festival (Canada, 2016), Jazz Cruise(2017, 2023), Port Au Prince Jazz Festival (Haiti, 2018), Dromos Jazz Festival (Italy 2018) Guatemala Jazz Festival (Guatemala 2019), Menorca Jazz Festival (Spain 2019), and many others. He has had the honor of performing with many esteemed artists such as, Grammy Award® winners Kurt Elling, Brian Lynch, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and Paquito D’Rivera. Kyle is prolific educator have taught and performed at various jazz camps/festivals including Tonica International Jazz Festival (Guadalajara, 2016), Festival de Jazz de Antequera (Spain, 2022), and Leavenworth Jazz Festival, (Seattle, 2023). Kyle Swan has undergraduate and graduate degrees from University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. Kyle currently resides in Chicago, Illinois.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swan_kyle/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kyle.swan.940/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2qfzuYKDg5Wx2X5CE5F91w
dan taylor, Piano
Dan Taylor is a piano teacher and performer living in Snoqualmie, Washington. Before opening his private piano studio in 2024 , Dan served the Snoqualmie Valley as a middle school band director for ten years. Dan is in high demand as a clinician and guest artist and often works with students of all ages across Washington state in the areas of jazz band, jazz choir, concert band, and as an accompanist for both large ensembles and soloists.
Dan earned his Bachelor’s and Master's degrees from Central Washington University. As a performer, Dan can be found on stage with big bands and small groups that include some of the best players in the Seattle area.