FACULTY

A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Jim Buckley has been part of the local and regional jazz scene for over 40 years. As both a leader and a sideman, he has had the distinction of performing and touring with Phil Woods, George Young, Lew Delgato, The Temptations, and many others. As an educator, he has been teaching music for over 25 years with the Scranton School District and he has also served as an adjunct professor of jazz history at the University of Scranton. From the early 1970s through the 1990s, he co-led the band “Lexington” at Pocono Gardens Resort.

LISTEN TO JAMES ON SPOTIFY

Marko Marcinko, founder of the Pennsylvania Jazz Alliance, is a driving force in the establishment of jazz culture in Northeastern Pennsylvania and surrounding regions. His work and love of music has made events such as The Scranton Jazz Festival possible, and has instilled an awareness and appreciation for jazz in people of all ages in our community. A University of Miami graduate, he has performed with jazz greats Maynard Ferguson, Joe Henderson, Michael Brecker, Clark Terry, Paquito D’Rivera and NEA Jazz Master Dave Liebman.

LISTEN TO MARKO’S SPOTIFY

Saxophone virtuoso Tom Hamilton has performed and toured extensively with many jazz greats including Natalie Cole. Hamilton conducts workshops in high schools and colleges and has taught privately for close to 30 years. A graduate of William Patterson University and the University of Scranton, he currently teaches in Pocono Mountain schools. For over 15 years he has been a part of both the Marko Marcinko Jazz Quartet and the Latin Jazz Quintet.

LISTEN TO TOM ON SPOTIFY

A native of South Scranton, Pa., Marino began his musical adventure by first playing guitar and listening to Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles. As a teenager and young professional musician, he worked every musical job he could find. This led to his graduation from the school of “the street” and his eventual credits performing and touring with the likes of Phil Woods, Bob Dorough, Mose Allison, George Young, Betty Buckley, and Dave Liebman to name a few. Marino has also served as an educator at the University of the Arts and as a freelance clinician worldwide.

LISTEN TO TONY’S SPOTIFY

Eddie Severn has performed in a wide variety of musical situations from jazz to classical to rock. His performing career spans over 20 years and he was lead trumpet player with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. He is now living in the U.S. and freelances as a solo performer and clinician. He is currently a full time professor of musical studies at Lock Haven University. Severn has performed with many well-known musicians including Tommy Smith, Kenny Wheeler, Joe Lovano, Ingrid Jenson, John Dankworth, Dave Liebman and Bobby Watson. Eddie has also performed and recorded music for television, radio, and theater as well as numerous pop sessions and shows.

Jazz guitar sensation and Bethlehem, Pa., resident, Bill Washer has been part of the Northeastern PA jazz scene since his departure from New York City in the early 1980s. He has toured and recorded with such legends as Gato Barbieri, Stevie Wonder, Liza Minelli, Ashford and Simpson and Michael Brecker, to name a few. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music and a professor at Moravian College and Muhlenberg University, Washer juggles his musical time between the road, music education, and playing local, regional and international gigs. For over 15 years he has been a part of both the Marko Marcinko Jazz Quartet and Latin Jazz Quintet as well as the popular group La Cuccina.

LISTEN TO BILL’S SPOTIFY

Originally from Huntersville, PA, saxophonist Kate Anderson has performed throughout the U.S., Latin America and Europe. She has toured multiple times to Cuba with the Latin Jazz Messengers and throughout Europe with the Royal Court Theatre Orchestra. Recently, Kate recorded with New York rock band The Felice Brothers, and toured/recorded with Rick Hirsch’s Big Ol’ Band since 2017.

A veteran professional, she has appeared at the Chicago Jazz Festival, Strathmore Music Center, Alice Tully Hall, Heinz Hall, F.M. Kirby Center and the Santiago de Cuba Jazz Festival. Kate has performed with Randy Brecker, Phil Woods, Slide Hampton, Delfayo Marsalis, Marquis Hill and Antonio Hart amongst others.

In conjunction with performing, Kate is a dedicated music educator serving on the faculty of the New City School of Music, New York School of Music, and Main Street Music Studio. She earned her Bachelor of Music Performance degree at Penn State University and her Master of Jazz Studies degree at Northern Illinois University.

David Jumper is currently the Professor of Jazz Studies at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Professor Jumper has performed throughout the United States and Europe and recorded on several albums for a variety of artists. He has performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the French Quarter Festival, the MNOP Festival in Perigueux, France, as well as venues through Italy, England and Germany. At Marywood University, Jumper has taught the trumpet studio as well as coordinates the jazz department. David has performed with his New Orleans style brass bands, The Northeast PA Repertoire Orchestra (NPRO), Phil Woods Big Band, and freelances with numerous bands and orchestras throughout the region. Jumper’s students have attended undergraduate and graduate school across the country, and have performed in the National Trumpet Competition, the ITG Solo Competition, as well as All-Eastern and All-State ensembles.

His most recent role is Educational Director of the Pennsylvania Jazz Alliance, and the Executive Director of the PA Jazz Institute. These organizations provide not only performances throughout much of the Northeast, but provide music education to students of all ages.

Steve Kurilla is a graduate of Marywood University, where he studied Music Education. He has over 20 years experience playing drum set and mallet percussion in regional concert halls, jazz clubs, casinos and universities. Steve currently performs with Wade Preston: Pianist and Broadway star of Billy Joel’s musical, Movin Out, Marko Marcinko: Director of contemporary music at Misericordia University, and Dave Jumper’s The Voodoo Barbecue Brass Band, along with many other regional artists.

Along with his full time performance and teaching career, Steve has been involved in many regional summer music camps and music clinics including: PA Jazz Institute’s Summer Jazz Camp, featured clinician at The Drum Set Extravaganza in Tunkhannock PA, and Keystone College Summer Jazz Camp.

Steve is an Adjunct Professor at Marywood University where he teaches jazz percussion and a classroom music teacher and concert band director at Howard Gardner Charter School located in Scranton, PA.