The members of the Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra are among the best and busiest professional musicians in Central Indiana and the Midwest. Besides performing with the IJO, all of these talented artists perform with many other widely varied professional ensembles. These include symphony orchestras, big dance bands, jazz combos, pit orchestras for musicals, brass quintets, rock & roll bands, and many other bands of all shapes and sizes. Many have performed all across the country and throughout the world with touring acts, on cruise ships, at theme parks, with military bands, and with top ranked collegiate groups. Most have also been members of back-up bands and orchestras for nationally known entertainers and for famous jazz artists. The members of the Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra bring together an impressive wealth of performing experience that makes for a world-class ensemble ready to serve the state of Indiana as the official ambassadors of big band jazz.

In addition to professional performing, many members of the IJO are heavily involved in the field of music education. Others are involved in many other aspects of the music business. Most members of the IJO are directly involved in the music industry on a daily basis. This professional and educational experience is outlined in the following short biographies:

Saxophones

Pat O'Neal — lead alto sax, clarinet, flute, piccolo, jazz soloist. Pat has a bachelors and a masters degree in music from Ball State University. For more than 30 years he has taught public school music in the Richmond Indiana area. Pat also operates his own successful music performing booking business in the Richmond area.

Faith Harlan — alto sax, clarinet, flute. Faith has a Bachelors degree in music from Clarion University (Clarion, PA) and a Masters degree from Butler University. Faith has been a dedicated music educator for her entire adult life and is currently a band director and music teacher in the Elwood school system. She has also been active as a clinician and adjudicator.

Josh Weirich —tenor sax, clarinet, flute, jazz soloist. Josh has a bachelors degree in music from Ball State University and is completing a masters degree in music from Butler University. He has been a band director in the Zionsville Community Schools for the past several years and is also active as a clinician and adjudicator. Please click here to read Josh's full biography.

Dorothy McDonald — bari sax, bass clarinet, clarinet, flute. Dorothy has a bachelors degree from Indiana State University and is very active in Central Indiana as a professional woodwind specialist on saxes, flue, clarinets and bassoon. Dorothy is also a vital behind-the-scenes member of the organization, serving as the Director of Development for the IJO and JASI.

Trumpets

Jeff Anderson — musical director, lead trumpet. Please click here to read Jeff’s full biography.

Gary Graziano — trumpet, flugelhorn, jazz soloist. Gary has studied music at Indiana University and at Butler University as well as receiving a bachelors degree from University of Louisville. He’s a full time professional musician and also maintains a large teaching studio of private trumpet students. Gary is also active as a clinician and adjudicator.

Todd Ward — trumpet, flugelhorn. Todd has a bachelors degree in music from Ball State University and is currently working on a masters degree from Purdue University, where he also teaches and assists with the Purdue jazz ensembles. Todd was a high school band director in Northeastern Indiana for several years and is also a professional band leader, fronting a popular Fort Wayne-area big band. Please click here to read Todd's full biography.

Trombones

Vince Laine — lead trombone, jazz soloist. Vince has a bachelors degree in music from Ball State University and a masters degree in music from Indiana University. He’s been a public school music teacher and band director in the Columbus Indiana area for many years. Vince serves as principal trombonist for several Central Indiana symphony orchestras and is an active musical arranger for many Indianapolis area big bands, including the IJO.

Brad Schrock — trombone. Brad has a bachelors degree in music and a masters degree in education from Ball State University. He’s a long-standing member of several Central Indiana symphony orchestras. Brad also leads the popular and successful Columbus Brass Quintet. Please click here to read Brad's full biography.

Ryan Fraley — split lead trombone, jazz soloist. Ryan has a bachelor’s degree in music from Ball State University and a master’s degree in music from the State University of New York. He’s an extremely active, published arranger and composer of jazz ensemble and concert band music (the IJO performs some his works). Ryan also works in many capacities for the FJH Music Company and has been very involved in various areas of music education. Please click here to read Ryan’s full biography.

Rick Balek — bass trombone. Rick studied music at University of Michigan and also received a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University. A successful businessman and bandleader, Rick led the popular Detroit-based Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra.

Rhythm Section

Janet Anderson — piano. Janet has a bachelor’s degree in music from Marshall University and a Masters degree from Eastern Illinois University. For nearly 20 years she’s been a public school music teacher and choral director in Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and now currently in the Indianapolis area. Janet has served as musical director for many churches and has been active as a clinician and adjudicator.

Bob Stright — vibes. Bob has a bachelor and a masters degree in music as well as a doctor of musical arts degree in composition from the University of Wisconsin. In addition to his talents as a performer, Bob is a published, award-winning composer of works for vibraphone and percussion. Bob is also a music educator, having taught at both Butler University and Purdue University. Please click here to read Bob's full biography.

Bobby Kokinos — bass. Bobby is one of the most active professional jazz bassists in Central Indiana. He has a music minor in jazz bass from Ball State University, where he also earned a bachelors degree. Please click here to read Bobby’s full biography.

Frank Lamont Sawyer — drums. Frank studied music at University of Illinois and also received a bachelors degree in music from Ball State University. Frank also had a varied and distinguished professional music career while in the military, being a member of the Offutt Air Force Band (Omaha, Nebraska), and the Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia (Tokyo, Japan). While in these bands, Frank toured extensively in the U.S. and throughout South East Asia.

Vocalists

The vocalists that regularly appear with the Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra have truly impressive performing histories. This experience includes opera productions, musical theater, church music, solo performing, and numerous jazz and pop groups of all descriptions.

Rick Vale — has a bachelor’s degree in music from Cornish College. He’s a published composer and arranger of choral and instrumental music (the IJO has performed his work). Rick is an active minister of music who currently directs choirs in the Central Indiana region. Please click here to read Rick's full biography.

Lydia McAdams — has studied music at Ball State University and also attended Cuyahoga College. She’s active as a piano performer and has formed and led professional vocal groups. Lydia also has been involved in church music.