TICKETS are $10 General/$5 Student. Concert end time is only an estimate.

Our Student Jazz Performance Series presents the 16-year-old trumpeter and his band. Featuring Levi Rozek on trumpet, Steve Rozek on tenor saxophone, Billy Foster on piano, Darrell Tidaback on bass, and Dr. Gabe Beach on drums.

This will be Mr. Rozek’s first concert as a leader. His group will perform selections from the American song book, jazz standards, modern tunes and original compositions. Songs written by great trumpet players like Woody Shaw, Roy Hargrove and Marquis Hill will provide some of the materials for the group’s improvisational conversations. The quintet will pay homage to bebop and the classic eras of jazz that came after while striving to articulate their own voices in a modern and creative way. Rozek’s vision for the group is motivated by a quote from the jazz piano giant, Horace Silver, who said, “Compose and perform your music free of egotism and with a conscious desire to gratify the listener.”

Indianapolis based, 16-year-old trumpeter Levi Rozek was born in Newport News, Virginia and spent his early years in Philadelphia. He has grown up in a musical household where he was introduced to a wide variety of music ranging from Coltrane and Basie to Stevie Wonder and Bach.

At the age of 11 Levi chose the trumpet and has not looked back since. He has studied with Brian Hoover, Jen Siukola, his dad Steve Rozek and is currently studying with Philadelphia based trumpet player John Swana. Levi is heavily involved in his high school music program at Noblesville High School where his band directors, Bethany Robinson, Peter Luttrull and Eric Thornbury serve as valued mentors and trusted voices in his growth process.

In his short five-year career, young Rozek has progressed quickly and has gained well deserved acclaim for his performance. Levi has been selected three times for the Indiana All State Jazz Ensemble and has won numerous soloist awards at jazz festivals throughout the state of indiana.

On the National stage Levi earned the top trumpet soloist at the National Jazz Festival in 2021, was named an “Outstanding Trumpet Soloist” at the Essentially Ellington competition and was also one of six trumpet players selected nationwide to be a part of the NYO Jazz Orchestra sponsored by Carnegie Hall this past summer.

During his month long residency in New York he was able to be a part of a full length studio recording where he studied with and played next to jazz greats Sean Jones, Melissa Aldana, Tayna Darby and Wycliffe Gordon.

During his time with NYO, Downbeat Magazine commented that Rozek’s solo on Quincy Jones’ “Pleasingly Plump” was a smartly shaped solo that reflected his admiration for pianist Bill Evans.

Most recently, the high school Junior was selected as the 2022 jazz trumpet finalist for the Young Arts program. He continues to practice and draw inspiration from the likes of Bill Evans, Lee Morgan and Chet Baker and more modern players like Marquis Hill, Fabrizio Bosso and Tony Glausi. Levi aspires to become more involved in the Indianapolis jazz scene, attending summer workshops and performance programs and auditioning for music schools next year so he can pursue his passion of becoming a full-time musician.

Stephen H. Rozek, an Indiana native, has been a student of music and the saxophone for over thirty years. He has spent his professional career entertaining audiences and educating students throughout the United States and parts of Asia.

In addition to his own groups and freelance experience Mr. Rozek has had the chance to collaborate and share the bandstand with several amazing artists and musical groups over the years including Eddie Daniels, Terrell Stafford, Billy Kilson, Ed Shaughnessy, Richie Cole, Ira Sullivan, Dennis Di Blasio, Brian Bromberg, Gerald Veasley, Ben Vereen, The O-Jays, The Mills Brothers, The South Bend Symphony and The Virginia Symphony.

He also served his country for eight years as a military musician with the United States Air Force where he performed for President and Mrs. Obama, members of Congress, foreign dignitaries and high ranking military officials. Rozek participated in public relations performances, troop morale concerts and was the Musical Director for the USAF’s Rhythm in Blue Jazz Ensemble stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia.

Mr. Rozek currently serves as Director of Instrumental Music and Chair of Fine Arts at Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana. He has previously been on faculty at The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville, NJ), Albright College (Reading, PA) and The Westminster Conservatory (Princeton, NJ) Besides his faculty appointments over the years, Mr. Rozek has maintained an active private lessons studio teaching saxophone, flute, clarinet, jazz piano and jazz improvisation. He has also given many clinics and masterclasses around the country to students of all ages covering a variety of musical topics.

Stephen has studied privately with Greg Noble, Rick Van Matre, Pat Harbison, Rich Corpolongo, Ron Kerber and Bennie Wallace. Rozek is a proud graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he earned a Bachelor’s of Music degree in Jazz and Studio Music with a Concentration in Saxophone and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where he earned a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies.

Billy Foster is a respected pianist, composer, educator and producer. Mr. Foster worked as a music educator in the Gary Community Schools for 35 years, served as jazz piano instructor at Valparaiso University for 34 years and is currently piano and Jazz History instructor at Indiana University Northwest. He has conducted many jazz lectures, clinics and educational performances and remains active as a professional musician and band- leader. He has played concerts with acclaimed jazz artists Jimmy Heath, Red Rodney , Clark Terry, Terell Stafford, Curtis Fuller, Tom Harrell, Ernie Watts, Bobby Watson, Henry Johnson and many others. Billy Foster’s work may be heard on several CDs including “For The Moment” and “Journey” recorded by the Valparaiso University Faculty Jazz Trio. “Portrait” and “Music For Jazz Vespers” are CDs recorded by the Billy Foster Trio. Mr. Foster received a B.S. from Defiance College and M.M. from Roosevelt University, with additional study at New York University and with pianist Jaki Byard.

Billy Foster acts as host of the popular radio program “The Billy Foster Jazz Zone” WGVE 88.7FM, Tues, Thurs, Fri 11:00am - 1:00pm .

Exploring his musical curiosity has led Gabriel Beach to inspiring concerts, students, and audiences. Receiving a Doctor of Arts in 2013 was an honor he had been working towards since 1996. He has returned to Ball State, in his hometown, many times to perform as timpanist, drum set artist and percussionist on community concerts and college faculty recitals. Presently he is focusing on composition, piano, & the wonderful students at Culver Academies.

Creative musicianship and versatility are Gabe’s musical traits. He has led and conducted a volunteer community orchestra, performed a solo marimba recital in Osaka Japan, and led performances benefiting the Little Red Door of Indiana.

While teaching in the percussion studio and jazz studies at the U. of Northern CO, Gabe received two DOWNBEAT outstanding performance awards. After graduating in 2003 (Master of Music), he accepted teaching positions in western & southern Colorado while freelancing as a drummer and percussionist. In 2001, his college Jazz Band had the honor of touring Europe, playing concerts in Vienne, Montreux, and at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Hague.

Darrel Tidaback is a South Bend bassist with a history of directing the IUSB Jazz Ensemble and Twin Cities Jazz Orchestra. He began his college teaching career at St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas in 1990. Darrel may be heard with jazz and orchestral groups throughout the region. He has performed on more than twenty recordings including his own Time ines. Darrel holds an undergraduate degree in music from Saint Mary’s University and a Master of Music degree in string bass performance from the University of Texas, San Antonio.

Concerts and events made possible, in part, with support from the Wells Fargo Philanthropic Services/Private Trusts and Foundations, which include grants from the Stanley A. and Flora P. Clark Memorial Community Trust Foundation (2020-2021 season), the John, Anna, and Martha Jane Fields Memorial Trust Foundation (2021-2022 season), and the Florence V. Carroll Charitable Trust (2021-2022 season).

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Concerts and events made possible, in part, with support from The Esther and George Jaruga Charitable Foundation (2020-2021 and 2021-2022 season).

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.