Terry Miller - Founder       

Bassist, Composer, Clinician

Former Instructor at the University of Minnesota, University of Colorado at Boulder & the Monterey Peninsula College, as well as a 7 year Yamaha clinician.

Terry has recored and (or) performed with Sonny Fortune, The Zac Brown Band, Airto, Debbie Harry, The Doobie Brothers, Kenny Rankin, Laurindo Almeida, Marlina Shaw, MaryMacGregor, Michael Johnson, Norton Buffalo, Paul Anka, Paul McCandless, Red Rodney & Ira Sullivan, Rich Mateson, Robin Ford, Sid Caesar, Stan Getz, Stanley Turrentine, Steve Allan, Steve Miller Band, Vince Gill (etc)

Benefit Work:

-Music Unites Foundation - Founder

-Jerusalem Youth Choir, Israel

-Philanthropic Ventures Foundation

-San Francisco Study Center, fiscal sponsor

-La Colmeita, Havana

-Tony Larusa's ARF "Animal Rescue Foundation"

- Monument Crisis Center

- Children of Faith Missions, India

Leslie Darwin O'Brien - Administrator for the Terry's Kids Foundation

Leslie is also a  singer who has performed at The Havana Jazz Festival and Off-Broadway. Leslie is also the founder of “GirlPower” & “Sister Code”, programs to help build self-esteem in teenage girls and women. Leslie received her B.A. in Communication from Stanford, where she was the Senior Class President. After Stanford, Leslie wrote for Time Magazine and PBS. Leslie's devotion and dedication to kids of all ages has been a significant force behind the Music Unites Foundation. Leslie is a true inspiration.

Shelly Berg

Shelley is Dean of The Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music at The University of Miami. In addition to his leadership role as Dean, he is also the Patricia L. Frost Professor of Music. He won the McCoy/Sample professorship of Jazz Studies in The Thornton School of Music at The University of Southern California. He is a past president of The International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) and was named Educator of the Year by The Los Angeles Jazz Society. Shelly has performed/recorded and arranged for Gloria Estefan, Patti Austin, Bobby McFerrin, Kurt Elling, Michael Feinstein, Renée Fleming, Gregory Porter, Aretha Franklin, Tierney Sutton, Janelle Monáe and Queen Latifa. His composing and orchestrating for television includes ABC's Fudge, CBS's A League of Their Own, and HBO's Dennis Miller Live.

Tom Scott

Tom is a veteran composer, arranger, producer, musical director, and saxophonist, having earned 3 Grammy Awards and 14 Grammy nominations. He's amassed over 500 credits as guest soloist/arranger for Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, Paul McCartney, Steely Dan, Michael McDonald, The Blues Brothers, Toto, and Aerosmith. 

His compositions have been performed by dozens of recording artists including 2Pac, Madonna, Bruno Mars, Snoop Dog, Massive Attack, Wu-Tang Clan, N.W.A. and The Chemical Brothers. Tom's film and TV composing credits include Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, Uptown Saturday Night, Stir Crazy, themes for Family Ties, Starsky & Hutch, background scores for Baretta, Cannon, Streets Of San Francisco, and National Geographic Explorer.

He served as Musical Director for The Academy Awards, The Emmy Awards, The People's Choice Awards, Comic Relief, The Carol Burnett Show, Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, and he has toured four continents with his quintet.

Brian Nova

Brian Nova is one of the top Jazz Guitarists/Vocalists in the nation, according to a recent poll in Jazz Improv Magazine. Joe Pass said of Nova, "I feel Brian is one of the finest Jazz Guitarists on the scene!" He is the only guitarist who ever toured with the two titans of Jazz guitar: Herb Ellis and Joe Pass. Rock icon Steve Miller says, "I've met and known a lot of guitarists in my career, and 'B' is the best guitarist I've ever met." Brian performs as a solo artist, as well as with his trio, quartet, and his 18-piece big band. Brian is featured on Arturo Sandoval's Grammy® Award-winning CD 'Dear Diz', which won a Grammy® and 3 Latin Grammys® in 2013 on Concord Records.

Brian Nova is the heart and soul of our Cuba Programs!

Gary Novak

Gary Novak is considered to be one of the world’s finest Drummers, as well a world class clinician. He has worked and or recorded with Joe Williams, Maynard Ferguson, Michael McDonald, Natalie Cole, David Sanborn, Anita Baker, George Benson & Chick Corea.

Laurence Hobgood

Laurence is a renowned pianist, composer, and arranger. The Chicago native is best known for his collaboration with vocalist Kurt Elling. Laurence is a multiple Grammy nominee and 2010 Grammy winner. He has played/recorded with Larry Coryell, Lee Konitz, John Pattitucci, Jon Hendricks, Christian McBride, Terrence Blanchard, Bob Sheppard, Ernie Watts, Marc Johnson, Joe Lovano, Benny Maupin, Clark Terry, Bob Mintzer, Peter Erskine, Paul McCandless, Gary Burton, and Eddie Daniels.

Mark Rossi

A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Mark Rossi is a successful California transplant. He has a deep connection with jazz music and has played in clubs with small groups, and in big bands throughout his life. Mark compliments a love of improvisation with compositional pursuits that range from R&B to experimental jazz forms. More recently Mark has released solo piano and trio albums which can be found on your favorite streaming service.

Along with music, Mark also spent decades working in the tech industry developing software. He worked at Oracle Corp. and PeopleSoft developing one of the first enterprise portal products, designing and managing the creation of public sector business software and has multiple software patents.