Professor
Coordinator of Jazz Studies
M.A., University of Illinois
Office: 815-753-0643
E-mail: rcarter@niu.edu
Ronald Carter is Coordinator of the Jazz Studies Program and director of the world-renowned NIU Jazz Ensemble.
Carter has presented workshops as guest conductor, artist, clinician, or adjudicator at Western Illinois University, University of Northern Colorado, Iowa State University, University of Kansas, Southern Illinois University, University of Illinois, University of Iowa, Northern Illinois University, Hampton University, Loyola University, Coe College, Augustana College, VanderCook College of Music, and Georgia State College. He has performed these same duties at numerous high schools and at regional, national, and international conferences. He has also directed all-state jazz bands in Illinois, Indiana, Rhode Island, Missouri, Texas, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Kentucky, Vermont, Arizona, Kansas, Arkansas, and Tennessee.
Ron Carter spent over 18 years in the St. Louis metropolitan area as an educator and professional freelance musician on saxophone, clarinet, flute, and as a vocalist. He co-directed the group Infiniti and performed with the George Hudson Orchestra. Carter has also performed professionally with Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Lena Horne, Lou Rawls, the Jimmy Dorsey Band, Wallace Roney, Terell Stafford, the Temptations, the Dells, Oliver Lake, Hamiett Bluiett, Leon Thomas, Art Davis, Fareed Haque, Joseph Bowie, Frank Mantooth, Delbert Bernadella, Byron Bowie, Orbert Davis, Carl Allen, and many others.
An abbreviated list of his honors and awards includes Downbeat Magazine’s Jazz Educator’s Hall of Fame, The Woody Herman Music Award (Birch Creek Music Center), the 1991 Milken National Distinguished Educator Award, Southern Illinois University Excellence in Teaching Award, and the St. Louis American newspaper’s Excellence in Teaching Award.
Carter’s current projects include serving as director of the Gallery 37-South Shore Cultural Center Summer Youth Jazz Ensemble in Chicago, International Consultant for the Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition sponsored by Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, Miles Davis 2001, St. Louis, Program Director for Jazz at Lincoln Center Band Director Academy, member of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, and co-author for Alfred Publications' “Swingin’ On The Bars” and GIA Music Publications' “Teaching Music Through Performance in Jazz.”
Carter is currently a Conn/Selmer Instrument Artist Clinician/Educational Specialist.