Creative Music Adventures

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Creative Music Adventures Staff

Ken Elia - Guitar and Rock Classes

Forrest Giberson - Bass, Rock Classes and Jazz Combos

Dan Kramlich - Piano and Jazz Combos

Becky Lederman - Administration

Ivo Nakov - Drums

Lorrie Ruiz - Voice an Choir

Michael Stegner - Piano, School Outreach and Clinics/Workshops

Zach Stewart - Guitar and Studio Ensemble

Steve Treseler - Sax, Clarinet and Jazz Combos

Ken Elia - Guitar

Ken earned his B.A. in music at the University of North Dakota in 2003, his areas of study including classical and fingerstlye guitar. His performance experience includes solo fingerstlyle guitar and rock ensemble concerts.

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Forrest Giberson - Bass

Forrest Giberson loves music. Born and raised in a family of musicians and music fanatics in rural Washington state, Forrest was exposed to a vast range of musical genres at an early age. This upbringing has given him a unique place from which to explore not only the mechanics, but the cultural and social aspects of music worldwide.

By the time Forrest was given his first electric bass at the age of 14, he had tried his hand at a variety of instruments, ranging from accordion to saxophone. He became fascinated by the sounds of both the electric and string basses and focused most of his high school years on learning to play them. He further studied the instruments and expanded his knowledge of theory, composition, and recording techniques while earning his B.M. in Studio Music and Jazz Performance at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fl.

His performances with a variety of rock and jazz groups while living in the Miami area did not go unnoticed and he found himself performing and/or recording with internationally recognized artists such as Joe Henderson, Ira Sullivan, Maria Schneider, Chico O'Farril, and Gerry Mulligan.

Even during his busiest years as a performer, Forrest continues to make time to pass along his musical knowledge to students of all backgrounds and ages. He believes that many students lose focus of creating music that affects people, and too many musicians get immersed in merely showcasing their technical abilities. It is Forrest's hope that he may continue using his love and understanding of music to help his students gain an appreciation of a wide range of musical styles.

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Dan Kramlich - Piano

Pianist Dan Kramlich returned to Seattle in 2004 from Western Michigan University, where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies. While in Michigan, he studied with Fred Hersch, Billy Hart, and Dr. Steve Zegree. Dan currently performs in many bands, including the Javatown Swing Orchestra, the Jim Sisko Quartet, The New Four, and his own piano trio. He has performed with such jazz greats as Slide Hampton, Randy Brecker, David Sanchez, and Bob Mintzer, and has performed in master classes for Rufus Reid, Eric Reed, Jim McNeely, and Clare Fischer.

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Becky Lederman - Administration

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Ivo Nakov - Drums

Born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria, Ivo started playing music at the age of seven. He studied drum set, piano and vibraphone for several years. At the age of thirteen, Ivo began playing percussion professionally with the prestigious Philharmonic Pioneer, a youth symphonic orchestra led by the legendary conductor Vladi Simeonov. He spent the next six years touring Europe,South America and North America playing at major music events and festivals. In 1990 he moved to North America and has been busy ever since recording and playing with artists like Stefan Caro, Gypsy Sue, B.S.G., Bicycle, Sunday Morning Music, NuSoltribe and Everstone - to name a few.

In early 2002, he released his first solo recording and currently is working on a second. His love for unorthodox approaches to music and his roots in Bulgaria make his style unique and recognizable. His style which he calls, "Bulgarian funk," has earned him recognition by peers and fans in Seattle.

He has been on the faculty at the Seattle Drum School since January of 2002 and has become one of the busiest teachers there. As an educator he concentrates on helping students connect with the music, "with the whole body and not just the hands." He is always finding new ways of teaching students to think for themselves, to learn how to approach a song and hear music in a way that stimulates their imagination so they can fulfill their need for self expression. His lessons focus on technique, relaxing while playing, reading music, "learning to let go to get control" and understanding that playing the drums is more than just playing a rhythm, it's playing music.

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Lorrie Ruiz - Voice and Choir

As a professional vocalist, Lorrie Ruiz has performed throughout the US, and appeared with with reknowned jazz artists such as Jessica Williams, George Cables, Richie Cole, and many more. As a composer arranger and producer, she enjoys working with musicians on all styles of music. Since she received her BA in Music from Cornish College of the Arts in 1995, she has been offering vocal lessons and workshops to singers of all ages.

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Michael Stegner - Piano

Michael Stegner was born and raised in Kentucky where both his parents were active music educators. Throughout middle school and high school, he was able to study jazz and classical piano at Morehead State University and perform in the student ensembles. During this time, Michael maintained a classical piano repertoire winning several regional piano competitions.

In 1993, Michael was accepted to attend the prestigious University of Miami jazz program. While attending the University of Miami, he participated in many of the top ensembles and performed regularly in the Miami area. Two of his ensembles won the annual Downbeat magazine college awards. He also attended master classes with Kenny Werner, Branford Marsalis, Bill Frisell, Pat Metheny and Bruce Hornsby. Michael and four of his classmates formed a band called The Jongleurs and started an independent recording label while in Miami. They released three CD’s and toured the U.S. for three years during and after college. Michael served as one of the chief composers of the band and their music has been used in independent movies and international web features. Upon finishing their travels in 1999, he moved to Seattle where he began performing at local venues and radio stations. Michael’s numerous musical projects include his solo piano works, electronic music improvisations and various jazz and rock ensembles. Since living in Seattle he has performed and collaborated with Michael Shrieve (Santana), Lee Oskar (WAR), Reggie Watts (Maktub), Kevin Sawka (KJ Sawka), Aiko Shimada, John Wicks (Skerik's Syncopainted 'Taint and Money Mark) and Alan White (Yes and John Lennon).

Michael has become a resource for many of the area piano teachers and students. He was a featured clinician at the 2007 and 2008 National Music Teachers Association Conferences as well as the 2002 and 2004 W.S.M.T.A. (Washington State Music Teachers Associations) conventions as well as several local chapters. Michael has also received grants from the Kentucky school districts and arts councils to lecture students on developing the creative process through music.

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Zach Stewar - Guitar and Studio Ensemble

Zach Stewart is a guitarist, composer and improvisor who makes his home in Seattle Washington. He is one of the founding members of the avant/jazz/rock/electro trio, Goat(w/ Greg Sinibaldi and Denali Williams) as well as a member of the improvising collective, Headlock. He also heads up his own group, the Skiff Feldspar Band.

Zach migrated to Seattle in 2000 in order to further his musical endeavors. He attended Cornish College of the Arts where he studied jazz music. He also joined the jazz/rock/funk outfit, Beecraft before the group disbanded in 2003. After a brief stint of freelancing work, Zach was asked to join the popular Northwest jam/rock band, Flowmotion. He toured extensively and recorded 3 records with the band before departing in 2007 to persue new musical endeavors.

Zach has performed throughout the U.S. and Canada including Folsom Prison and the High Sierra Music Festival. He shared the stage with such diverse players as Mike Dillon, Tony Furtado, Jessica Lurie, Vicci Martinez, Gerry Granelli, Briggan Krauss, Steve Kimock, Greg Campbell, The Staxx Brothers, and American Idol star, Blake Lewis. He is also a recipient of the 2008 Jackstraw Artist Support residency.

Zach's approach to teaching music focuses on the strengths of the individual and helping them reach their potential through efficient practice techniques, with an emphesis on creativity.

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Steve Treseler - Saxophone and Clarinet

After graduating with a Jazz Performance degree from New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, saxophonist and clarinetist Steve Treseler has returned to Seattle.

While attending Meadowdale High School in Edmonds, he won first place in the tenor saxophone division at the 1999 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and at the State Solo and Ensemble Contest. He was also selected to participate in the All-Northwest and All-State Jazz Band.

Steve continued his education on scholarship at New England Conservatory where he studied with jazz legends Jerry Bergonzi, Bob Brookmeyer, George Garzone, and Steve Lacy. He graduated in May, 2003 with academic honors and distinction in performance. In 2003, he was named "Outstanding Collegiate Soloist" by Down Beat magazine.

He is a member of Jim Knapp Orchestra, Emerald City Jazz Orchestra, Jeremy Jones Xtet and leads the Steve Treseler Group. He is recording his debut album this summer.

Steve works with students of all abilities, and as a saxophone and improvisation clinician for schools throughout the region.

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