COMMENCEMENT BAY JAZZ FESTIVAL
ADJUDICATORS
Instrumental
Doug Harris
Dr. Doug Harris is the Director of Bands at Clark College since fall of 2018 after serving as Assistant Director of Bands at Western Kentucky University, and DIrector of Bands at both Santa Clara University and Southern Utah University. He also enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a high school band director in Florida.
Dr. Harris received his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Florida, his Master of Music and Doctor of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado. His conducting teachers include Richard W. Bowles, Dr. Raymond Chobaz, Dr. German Gutierez, Dr. Richard Mayne and Dr. Kenneth Singelton, and has studied conducting with Douglas Akey, Stanley Derusha, John Paynter and Frank Batiste. At his most recent high school, Palm Bay High School in Melbourne, Fl., his concert and jazz bands were recognized as being among the elite in the state, regularly receiving highest marks at district and state festivals. The Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the University of Florida Invitational Convert
Band Festival as well as the prestigious Bands of America National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis. The top jazz band performed at, and won, jazz festivals in Florida, Georgia and Virginia, and has earned praise while performing with jazz notables such as Ira Sullivan, Bill Prince, Marc Dickman, Christian Tamburr, Maynard Ferguson, David Steinmeyer and Bobby Shew. Dr. Harris is active as an adjudicator and clinician, working with and adjudicating for bands from Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, MIssouri, Colorado, Utah, California, and Washington. He is active as an arranger and transcriber and is published in the Grand Mesa Music Catalog. Dr. Harris is a member of the International Trumpet Guild, Washington Music Educators Association, California Band Directors Association, Oregon Band Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Kappa Kappa Psi (honorary).
Chris Bruya
Chris Bruya has been involved in music education for more than 37 years, teaching high school, community college and university, the last 20 years at CWU, retiring in 2021 as Emeritus Professor of Music. While at CWU he pioneered an improvisation sequence, built a small-group jazz program, and the jazz big band was recognized as one of the finest in the country, performing at the Montreux, North Sea and the Next Generation jazz festivals and three Jazz Education Network conferences. In 2015 the band placed first at the Next Generation Festival, which included a performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival. In 2015 the band was featured on Barney McClure’s CD Show Me! and the 2008 In A Mellow Tone. Most recently the band won the undergraduate asynchronous recording category of the 2022 Downbeat Magazine Student Awards based upon work completed during his final year at CWU. There are over 150 live-recorded YouTube videos of the band, recognized as some of the strongest examples of the big band literature, being used as examples of “how-to-play” by ensembles throughout the world. Bruya has served on WMEA, OMEA and IAJE boards in both Oregon and Washington, presented at regional conferences, directed honor bands in New York state, Nevada, and Texas, while in retirement remaining in demand as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the Northwest and beyond. In 2016 WMEA honored him with the Collegiate Educator of the Year award, and in 2022 inducted him into the WMEA Hall of Fame.
Taryn Zickefoose
Taryn Zickefoose teaches band and choir at Lake Stevens Middle School in Lake Stevens, Washington. She received her AA in music at Mt. Hood Community College (2011) and her BA in Percussion Performance/Music Education from Central Washington University (2015). In 2022, she completed her Masters degree at American Band College. Taryn has performed with northwest based groups including Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra, The Jazz Conspiracy All-Teacher Jazz Band, Cascade Percussion Ensemble, Blue Street Voices, and Last Call. She has shared the stage with Dawn Clement, Matt Wilson, Dee Daniels, Curtis Stigers, and Sherrie Maricle. In Spring 2018, Taryn co-started the Mount Pilchuck Region All Girls Jazz Band, featuring 6th-12th graders from 12 different schools. In addition to being an active clinician around the PNW, She runs a private percussion and piano studio in Marysville.
Christine Eisenmenger
Christine Eisenmenger is a Seattle-based trumpet player and jazz vocalist known for her expressive tone, creative improvisation, and stylistic versatility. She performs regularly with ensembles including The Sound Ensemble and The Jazz Punishments Big Band, and leads her own vocal jazz projects. Equally at home in classical and jazz settings, Christine brings a distinctive voice that blends technical precision with heartfelt artistry. She teaches band at Meadowdale High School and is an in-demand clinician, having worked with programs at Western Kentucky University, the Bellevue Jazz Festival, and the Snohomish Valley Jazz Festival. Christine brings a fun, fresh approach to jazz education, known for helping students build confidence in improvisation, groove, and authentic style.
Vocal
Jeff Baker
Called “...one of the best male vocalists in the jazz world today,” by WCLK in Atlanta, Jeff Baker has become one of the most significant talents in the next generation of jazz vocalists. His diverse musical recordings, exciting live performances, and infectious energy and personality have gained him accolades from critics and listeners alike. Baker has headlined numerous festivals and clubs, and has recorded, performed, and shared Festival billing with some of jazz music’s top artists including: Ray Brown, Gene Harris, Brian Blade, John Patitucci, Steve Wilson, Marquis Hill, the Yellow Jackets, Mose Allison, Kenny Werner, Joey DeFrancesco, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe LaBarbera, Bruce Barth, Darrell Grant, Karrin Allyson, Nancy King, Henry Butler, Dave Frishberg, Orrin Evans, George Colligan, and many more!
Jeff has performed throughout the U.S., and has enjoyed performance engagements in central Europe and South Africa. His four critically acclaimed CD releases on the Origin/OA2 Records imprint have charted on the ‘Jazzweek’ International Radio Top 50, have been played on over 200 stations internationally, were Top 5 on NPR’s nationally syndicated “Jazz Works” radio program, and were #1 on stations in Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, Portland, Buffalo, St. Louis, Cape Town, SA and New Zealand.
Baker is a sought after jazz educator, adjudicating numerous festivals, and working in clinics with some of the nations very best high school and college jazz programs. Bakers students have won over 100 Top Awards at festivals and competitions throughout the U.S., including being 4x finalists to the Monterey Jazz Festival ‘Next Generation Competition’ and winning 10 Downbeat Magazine Student Music Awards, including the 2010, 12' & 13' High School Vocal Solo Winners, and the 2012 Winner for Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Additionally, Baker’s students have been invited to perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, and the National Cathedral.
Jeff released his fifth recording, 'PHRASES' in 2018 featuring: Brian Blade, Steve Wilson, Marquis Hill, Clark Sommers, Gregory Uhlman, Geof Bradfield & Darrell Grant. Baker is an ACDA Certified Clinician/Adjudicator, a current member of JEN, NAFME, and NARAS or the GRAMMY Foundation). Jeff Baker resides in Portland, OR, is the former Director of the Jazz+Contemporary Voice at Portland State University, and is the Co-Founder of the Jazz Forward Competition.
Kristina Ploeger
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A sought-after clinician for many jazz and choral festivals, Kristina Ploeger-Hekmatpanah enjoys being a part of the vibrant northwest musical community. Since 1999, Kristina has lived in Spokane, WA and performed many jazz engagements with the Spokane Jazz Orchestra (2005, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2023, & 2024). She has been thrilled to sing for Festivals like Jazz in the Valley, Pig Out in the Park, and jazz casuals in Spokane. She has also performed vocal jazz residencies at Amherst College, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Smith College, the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, and at the University of Limerick (Ireland).
In her teaching life, Dr. Kristina Ploeger-Hekmatpanah is a Full Professor of Music serving as Director of Choral Activities and Music Education Coordinator at Eastern Washington University. She has earned degrees from Edmonds Community College (AAS), Central Washington University (BMEd), Eastern Washington University (MM in Conducting), and the University of Kentucky (DMA in Choral Conducting). She was the Artistic Director of the Spokane Area Youth Choirs (2002-2015), and the Director of Spokane Symphony’s Chorale (2015-2022). Previously in Spokane, Kristina taught at Gonzaga University, Whitworth College, St. George’s School, and West Valley High School. Before moving to the Spokane area, she taught at Everett HS, Ephrata HS, and AC Davis HS. Kristina has served on the WA ACDA Board as an R& S chair in world music, children’s chorus, university, and jazz, and is the current President of WA ACDA. Directing Honor Groups and All-State Choirs and Jazz Choirs in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Kentucky from Elementary through High School levels has given her the chance to work with a wonderful array of choristers and directors.
The Spokane Arts Commission of the City of Spokane awarded Kristina the “Arts in Education Award,” and the “Arts Organization Award” for her work with the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus. Kristina was also awarded Spokane’s “YWCA Woman of Achievement in Arts and Culture Award.” Most of all, Kristinaremains thankful for all of the opportunities she has been given by so many supportive people. She feels lucky to be a musician and to learn so much every day from those around her and from the ever-expanding list of fantastic jazz musicians she enjoys.
Kelly Eisenhour
Kelly Eisenhour received her B.Mus. in Vocal Performance from Berklee College of Music, and her M.Mus. in Jazz Studies, Composition and Performance from the University of Utah. Kelly has taught at Green River College since 2008, previously directing the vocal jazz program at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She was voted “Distinguished Faculty” by her Green River colleagues in 2011, and teaches a variety of music classes, including directing the Green River Jazz Voices, an award-winning jazz choir, most recently receiving a 1st place ranking at the Reno Jazz Festival in 2019. As a professional singer, Kelly has released a number of jazz albums, the latest in March 2022 titled "I Just Found Out About Love” featuring Jeff Hamilton, Tamir Hendleman, and Christoph Luty. Previously, her album "Seek and Find," featuring Bob Mintzer, reached #14 on the national JazzWeek charts, and remained in the top 100 for 7 months. In her early career as a full-time vocalist Kelly enjoyed long-running singing engagements in Las Vegas production shows, performing in numerous national and international jazz festivals, and touring as a guest soloist with the Boston Pops. She performed for a number of years as a backup vocalist with Gladys Knight and participated in the 2006 Grammy award winning gospel choir album, “Gladys Knight: One Voice,” where she served as songwriter, soloist, co-arranger, and assistant choir director.