Jazz Alumni

Our jazz program has a long history of great students who have gone on to do great things after graduation. Here are just a few notable examples, and if you are an alum we’d love to hear about what you’re up to.

Name Position
Victor Bastidas (Master of Music, Jazz Studies Drumset, '15) Faculty at CMA China Music Conservatory in Beijing, China
Frank Check (Master of Music, World Music '14) Faculty at Waubonsee Community College
Adam Cowger (Master of Music, Percussion Performance '08) Assistant professor of Percussion at Joliet Junior College
Lucas Gillan (Bachelor of Music, Jazz Studies Drumset '07)
  • Drummer for Blue Man Group
  • Adjunct faculty at Wheaton College
Marquis Hill (Bachelor of Music, Music Education, Trumpet ’09)
  • Internationally renowned jazz trumpeter
  • Leader of the Blacktet
  • Owner of Black Unlimited Music Group record label
  • Winner of the 2024 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Competition
Bernard Long (Bachelor of Music, Jazz Studies Drumset '08)
  • Adjunct faculty at Lindenwood University
  • Band director at Madison Community Unit, Saint Louis, Missouri
Christopher McBride (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Music Teacher Education, Saxophone ’08)
  • Grammy award winning jazz saxophonist
  • Leader of The Whole Proof and CNOTE NYC
  • Director of Education for the Second Line Arts Collective
  • Regular collaborative instructor at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Danny Pratt (Bachelor of Music, Jazz Performance, Drumset '11)
  • Drummer for Flying Buffaloes
  • Studio musician in Nashville
Micah Rutschman (Bachelor of Arts, '08) Lecturer at Oakton Community College
Lenard Simpson (Bachelor of Music, Jazz Performance, Saxophone ’18)
  • Bandleader and sideman in Chicago
  • Luminarts fellow
  • Graduate of the Herbie Hancock Institute