Jazz Festival

Dave Barduhn’s professional life began during the Johnson administration (LBJ, not Andrew!) by singing children’s roles for the Seattle Opera Association. He retired in 2012 after 30 years of teaching music (primarily vocal and instrumental jazz groups) at Mt. Hood CC in Gresham, Oregon, where his groups earned eight prestigious “db” awards from Downbeat magazine. He is an extensively published composer/arranger for both Hal Leonard and Anchor publications. On occasion, he could be seen playing piano with several Stan Kenton Alumni Bands, as well as with a few jazz singers, including Mark Murphy, Ernie Andrews, Diane Reeves, and Diane Schuur, etc. Barduhn now spends his time as a freelance conductor and arranger. He is currently directing an adult jazz choir in Seattle - The BlueStreet Voices. In recent years, Barduhn has directed all-state jazz ensembles in California, Colorado, and Oklahoma. He also currently sits on the jazz committee for MFA (formerly MBA).

Elaine Burt is a highly sought-after trumpet player, performer, teacher, guest artist, conductor, and clinician. Her musical journey began at a young age, starting piano lessons at five and picking up the trumpet at ten, igniting a lifelong passion for music. 

Burt attended the University of North Texas, where she studied under esteemed professors John Haynie, Dr. Leonard Candelaria, Mike Steinel, and brass guru Don "Jake" Jacoby. She earned a master’s in jazz studies and was awarded a teaching fellowship, allowing her to lead two of the university’s performing jazz bands.

Burt traveled across the globe performing with various bands and artists. While living in New York City, she performed in over twenty Broadway shows, appeared on national television programs, participated in studio recording sessions, and played with premier jazz orchestras, including the Maria Schneider Orchestra and the Ed Palermo Big Band. She has shared the stage with renowned artists like Reba McEntire, Idina Menzel, Audra McDonald, Bob Mintzer, Clark Terry, Byron Stripling, and John Pizzarelli. 

Burt toured extensively with Paul Anka and is a proud member of the band for the Tony Award-winning revival of HAIR. Most recently, she taught students at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Jazz Academy in New York City. Burt enjoys sharing her joy of music with students of all ages while guiding them on their musical exploration.

​Burt currently resides in Minneapolis, MN, where she continues to play professionally and to inspire and educate the next generation of musicians.

Gregory Fletcher is a versatile, award-winning artist thriving in the greater Los Angeles area. As a vocalist, he has obtained session work in various musical genres, including R&B, jazz, gospel, pop, classical, musical theater, and folk. Fletcher has performed around the world, including the Playboy Jazz Festival, Super Bowl LIV, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, and the National Theater and Concert Hall in Taiwan. He has worked alongside artists including Chance The Rapper, The Weeknd, John Legend, Dan & Shay, Reba McEntire, Lauren Daigle, Hozier, Björk, Shoshana Bean, Scott Hoying, Kurt Elling, and Michael Bublé.

Fletcher works most consistently as a SAG-AFTRA session singer in on-film commercials and television spots, as well as recording vocals for television, video games, and feature films. These include Fortnite’s Winterfest 21’ Lobby Track “Loot In The Mountains”, Wicked, Sing 2, Avatar 2 & 3, Pixar’s Turning Red, and Space Jam: A New Legacy, Midnight Mass, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Dear White People, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Wednesday, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, and Star Wars: The Book Of Boba Fett.​

Fletcher can be found on tour with M•PACT or the Grammy award-winning ensemble Conspirare and currently teaches music history and private voice at California Baptist University.

Jamond McCoy is a versatile and heralded vocalist, music director, keyboardist, and educator from Long Beach, CA. Currently the director of commercial and vocal jazz at California Baptist University, as well as an adjunct professor at Cerritos College, where he teaches voice and directs the gospel choir, McCoy is renowned as an educator who empowers his students to find their best and most authentic selves through their voices. 

McCoy also music directs for multiple churches across Orange County, arranges for gospel choirs across the greater Los Angeles area, and songwrites and music directs for independent artists in LA. As a session musician, McCoy has been featured in the choir on blockbuster films such as The Color Purple (2023). 

McCoy is the baritone of world-renowned vocal jazz group M•PACT and has toured 3 continents with the group as a featured soloist and contributing arranger.

Pete Whitman is a Minneapolis–St. Paul–based saxophonist, flutist, clarinetist, composer, arranger, and educator. A versatile freelance musician, he performs across jazz, classical, pop, and dance-band styles and appears with groups such as the Minnesota Orchestra, Woody Herman Orchestra, JazzMN Big Band, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and the Hornheads.

Whitman has released three albums: Departure Point (Igmod Records), The Sound of Water (Artegra), and Where’s When (Artegra). Recent projects include Mississippi (Shifting Paradigm Records) and Changes We Can Believe In by the Pete Whitman/Chris Olson Quintet (Bandcamp). Whitman also served as associate musical director for the JazzMN Orchestra since 2023.

An accomplished educator, Whitman spent 18 years teaching at McNally Smith College of Music and regularly serves as a clinician at jazz festivals nationwide. He co-authored a book with Scott Agster on improvisation called Strategies for Improvisation, published by Departure Point Music. Currently, Whitman is teaching at St. Olaf College and Minnesota State University-Mankato. He is also teaching privately in the Twin Cities area and is offering lessons online.

Rich Woolworth, a trombonist, composer, and educator, is a native of South Dakota, graduated from South Dakota State University, and went on to teach public school music at all levels. During this time, he directed award-winning jazz ensembles and became a respected clinician and adjudicator for district and state music events. In 1988, he co-founded the South Dakota All-State Jazz Festival, where he served for many years as the trombone section adjudicator. His dedication to music education and performance earned him recognition within professional organizations such as the South Dakota Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, the International Trombone Association, and ASCAP.

Beyond his teaching career, Woolworth served over 26 years in the 147th United States Army Band of the South Dakota National Guard, where he was Trombone Section Leader, Staff Arranger, and Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of "The Top Brass" the band's jazz ensemble. He led "The Top Brass" on two successful overseas deployments and was awarded The Army Achievement Medal, The Army Commendation Medal, and The Meritorious Service Medal for his efforts.

He later founded Fahrenheit Music, a music business based in Monticello, Wisconsin, continuing his lifelong commitment to advancing music in both educational and professional settings. His work as a performer, arranger, and mentor has left a lasting impact on the jazz community, blending his passion for trombone performance with his dedication to nurturing future generations of musicians.

Jazz Festival Performing Ensembles

Each ensemble will be scheduled to perform for one half-hour on stage in front of our panel of judges. After performing, the ensemble will move to a separate room for one half-hour educational session with their assigned.

Equipment Provided

Instrument Group

The University of Mary Music Department provides the following equipment: trap set, piano, amps for guitar and bass, vibraphone, chairs, and stands. (larger groups may need to share stands for more than one student)

Vocal Group

The University of Mary Music Department provides the following equipment: 16 plugin mixing boards, piano, cords for mics, trap set, and amps for guitar and bass.