TICKETS are $15 General/$5 Student.

Founded in 2019, the Hickey-Shanafelt 9ollective is a contemporary jazz nonet dedicated to the performance and development of the modern jazz repertoire. Based in Indianapolis, the group is composed of established local professionals and young, up-and-coming musicians who share a passion for bringing this music to our community. The ensemble is also an outlet for emerging and professional composers, arrangers, and performers, programming both original music and fresh arrangements of familiar standards. The 9ollective has enjoyed performances at historic McGowan Hall, Merrimans’ Playhouse, Chilly Water Brewing Co., and the world famous Jazz Kitchen.

Alex Shanafelt - conductor 

Kent Hickey - trumpet 1 

Sam Butler - trumpet 2  

Jeremiah Saint-John - trombone 

Kyle Brooks - alto sax 

Spencer Schillerstrom - tenor sax 

Jimmy Farace - bari sax 

Eric Garcia - Guitar

Jacob Smith - bass 

Jameson Scriver - drums  

SOUND SAMPLE

Hickey-Shanafelt 9ollective @ The Jazz Kitchen, May 17th, 2022 - YouTube

Hickey-Shanafelt 9ollective @ McGowan Hall, June 10th, 2022 - YouTube

Kent Hickey is an in-demand trumpet player and educator based in Indianapolis, IN. He received his undergraduate degree in jazz studies from Butler University and his master’s degree at the esteemed Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under the tutelage of John Raymond. Locally, Kent has played alongside some of the scene’s best including Sean Imboden, Rob Dixon, Nick Tucker, Joel Tucker, and Kenny Phelps among others. The trumpeter currently leads two of his own projects, the Hickey-Shanafelt 9ollective and the Kent Hickey Trio. Previously, Kent worked as a trumpeter aboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships in the Summers of 2018 and 2019. In addition to performing, Kent is also a passionate educator who strives to share his love of music with the next generation. He maintains a private studio of about 30 trumpet students at various schools in the Indianapolis area and is also the outreach liaison for the Butler Youth Jazz Program, a branch of the Butler Community Arts School. Recently, Kent was also appointed Adjunct Professor of Jazz Trumpet at both Butler University and the University of Indianapolis.

Alex Shanafelt is the co-director, conductor, and composer for the Hickey-Shanafelt 9ollective, a contemporary jazz nonet based in Indianapolis with a mission of playing original charts and arrangements by local musicians. The 9ollective has enjoyed performances across Indiana, including Merriman's Playhouse, the Taggart Amphitheater, and Indy's own The Jazz Kitchen. Additionally, the group recently released their debut album “illuminate” in October 2022.  Alex is also one of the co-founders of the Contemporary Art Music Project (CAMP), a non-profit organization that promotes innovative new music by collaborating with living composers and performing artists from around the world.  At CAMP, Alex helps to administrate their annual international music festival, CAMPGround, as well as leading the development of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary undergraduate education program called The Artist Orchard.

Sam Butler is a jazz trumpet player and composer from Fairhope, Alabama, currently based in the Bloomington/Indianapolis area. He draws much of his inspiration from jazz trumpet legends like Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, and Freddie Hubbard, and looks to combine this style with that of modern players like Wynton Marsalis, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Roy Hargrove. Sam currently attends Indiana University as a senior and has been invested in the Indianapolis and Bloomington jazz scenes since 2018.

Jeremiah St. John is a trombonist originally from Florida currently completing his degree at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He has performed with Marcus Roberts, Lew Del Gatto, Dan Miller, Wayne Newton, and Clarence Penn among others, and is a composer/arranger of the Jazz Trombone Ensemble at UIUC. His plays regularly with The Sixth Street Brass Band and Mango Pods at Urbana venues while focusing on his research into Roswell Rudd.

Kyle Brooks is a saxophonist hailing from the suburbs of Chicago, currently residing in Bloomington, Indiana. A product of musical influences that span from John Coltrane to Stevie Wonder, Brooks has spent his budding career traveling the midwest far and wide in pursuit of musical expression and experience. Brooks has collaborated and performed with notable musicians and organizations including Third Shore Collective, Shayna Steele, Diane Schuur, Toledo Jazz Orchestra, and Evansville Philharmonic, among others. Kyle currently works as a saxophonist, composer, and educator in many different facets of music.

Spencer Schillerstrom is a Chicago-based saxophonist, educator, and composer. Attempting to bend definitions established by genre, Spencer has taken his unique sound to venues all over the midwest as a bandleader and sideman at venues such as Andy's Jazz Club, The Chicago Jazz Showcase, The Promontory, and currently holds a residency at The Waterfront Cafe. Spencer holds an MFA from DePaul University in Jazz Saxophone, is a Tenor Madness Saxophones Artist, and is a former student of world renowned musicians Dana Hall, Scott Burns, Patrick Bartley, and Steven Snyder. As an educator, Spencer has held positions at DePauw University, the British International School of Chicago, and, currently, Hinsdale South High School as the saxophone studio paraprofessional and jazz program co-director. "Introducing Spencer Schillerstrom" is now available on all streaming platforms.

Established as one of the up-and-coming baritone saxophonists, Jimmy Farace works as a freelance jazz musician, composer, and arranger. His compositions have been described as “delightfully elegant, flirtatiously succulent” (Exclusive Magazine) and tone has been celebrated as “big and sonorous - visceral while giving hints of Gerry Mulligan coolness” (Jazz Weekly). After receiving a full tuition scholarship to the prestigious Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Farace received his Masters of Music at DePaul University in Chicago, Il where he currently works and resides. Farace leads various ensembles under his own name ranging from chordless trio to nonet with string quartet. He has performed with Chicago legends such as Mark Colby, Scott Hesse, Clark Sommers, Ethan Philion, Katie Ernst, Pete Benson, and Bill O'Connell. As a baritone saxophone specialist Farace is no stranger to a saxophone section and has performed in numerous world class big bands featuring soloists such as Chris Potter, Randy Brecker and Jeff Hamilton. Farace has been a member of the Hugh Jackman World Tour Orchestra, Birch Creek Faculty Band, as well as the Disneyland All-American College Band. Jimmy Farace is a continuation of the rich history of the baritone saxophone and has studied this tradition with baritone masters Gary Smulyan, Brian Landrus and Paul Nedzela; as well as saxophone masters Walter Smith III, Greg Ward, Tom Walsh, and Scott Burns.

Eric Garcia is a freelance performer, educator, and composer based in Indianapolis, IN. Though he is trained in jazz, he explores wide varieties of genres and soundscapes to meet the needs of the moment. As an artist, he always does his best to push music forward while paying homage to artists of the past, as well as provide the Indianapolis community with high-quality performance and instruction in jazz and other genres.

Jacob Smith is a rising bassist in Indianapolis. He has performed extensively in the jazz genre while also maintaining a strong presence in the popular and Latin music scenes. Jacob has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Indianapolis greats such as Rob Dixon, Steven Jones, Mark Buselli, Joel Tucker, and Bashiri Asad. During his time studying Jazz at Ball State University, he has had the pleasure of working with amazing artists such as Bobby Watson, Wycliffe Gordon, and Ingrid Jensen.  While studying for his master’s degree at Indiana University, Jacob had the pleasure of working with more wonderful artists such as Wayne Wallace and Jeff Parker.  Jacob currently teaches at the University of Indianapolis.

Jameson Scriver is a drummer and composer in Chicago, IL. He has performed in Chicago venues like the Green Mill, The Hungry Brain, and Elastic Arts. His quartet, “Reckoner” combines indie rock, Brazilian, and jazz. He has earned composition awards from ASMAC, JEN, and Ithaca College.

Concerts and events made possible, in part, with support from the Wells Fargo Philanthropic Services Private Trust Foundations, which include grants from the Stanley A. and Flora P. Clark Memorial Community Trust Foundation (2020-2021; 2022-2023 seasons), the John, Anna, and Martha Jane Fields Memorial Trust Foundation (2021-2022; 2022-2023 seasons), and the Florence V. Carroll Charitable Trust (2021-2022; 2022-2023 season). Special concert event support provided by the Arts Midwest Grow, Invest, Gather (GIG) Fund grant (2022-2023 season). Activities are made possible in part by the Arts Organization Support (AOS), Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency (2023-2024 season).

Concerts and events made possible, in part, with support from The Esther and George Jaruga Charitable Foundation (2020-2023 seasons).

The Student and Home Grown Series concerts made possible, in part, with support from the ArtsEverywhere Grant from the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, and the Arts Project Support Grant and the Arts Recovery Grant through the Indiana Arts Commission.