Ed Cannava

Dr. Ed Cannava
Director
A retired public school music educator, Ed was the 22 year Director of Arapahoe High School’s three time Downbeat award winning Dry Creek Dixie Dawgs. He is currently in his second year as an instrumental music education instructor at the Metropolitan State College of Denver. You can read “The Doc’s” full resume on his web site.

Dallas Perrault

Dallas Perrault              
Clarinet/Vocals
Senior-Standley Lake HS
Dallas Perrault is a senior at Standley Lake High School in Westminster, Colorado. He is a leader in sports, academics, arts and the community. Dallas’s achievements include being recognized for the perseverance and skill required of becoming one of the elite high school students who have excelled at SLHS. Dallas is a two year music letterman – instrumental award winner. He was honored as 1st chair clarinet in Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble; 1st chair tenor sax in Signature Jazz, and is a member of the SLHS Illusions Choir. Dallas has performed at Disneyland in California, and at Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge in Denver with the Signature Jazz Band. He is also a key member of the SLHS Pit Band for the musicals. Dallas joined the Denver Jazz Club Youth All-Stars in June 2011 and has performed at various events and venues including the Evergreen Jazz Festival, the Bull and Bush Pub, Westminster Elks Club, the KUVO HS/Collegiate Live Radio Show, Flesher-Hinton Music Store’s Customer Appreciation Day, and the Metro State College Radio Day.

Rico Jones

Rico Jones
Tenor Sax/Alto Sax/Vocals
8th Grader-Denver School of the Arts
Rico Jones is an eighth grade music major at Denver Schoolof the Arts. His music experience started at Beth Eden Baptist School in the fifth grade. From the beginning he loved jazz and the blues. Rico played with the Jon Romero y Amanacer Latin Jazz Band from the sixth through seventh grade at gigs including The Taste of Colorado, Jazz in City Park, and live on the air at KUVO jazz radio. He continues to play with Amanacer from time to time. Rico auditioned and was accepted into the high school Wind Ensemble and Jazz Workshop Orchestra starting this past fall. Recently, he and several other young musicians formed a quintet called Metrognome. They played the first ever Cowtown Jazz Festival at Dazzle. Rico has also played in a duet at several private parties. His latest accomplishment was to be part of the pit orchestra in the DSA play, ‘Pajama Game.’ Rico has attended UNC’s Jazz Camp, the CCJA Camp, and became a member of the Denver Jazz Club Youth All-Stars in August, 2011. His love and dedication to music shows through as he spends many hours practicing above and beyond the time spent at school.

Alex DeVillier

Alex DeVillier
Banjo
Senior-Standley Lake HS
Alex is one of the original members of the Youth All-Stars, joining the band in October, 2009. He has played in the Standley Lake High School Jazz Band for 3 years. Alex played in the school pit orchestra during his sophomore year. He has been awarded outstanding musicianship and soloist awards at the Mile High Jazz Festival. Alex has played guitar since the 6th grade and learned how to play the plectrum banjo in just 4 months. He has studied with Bill Sickles and Rory Thomas. Alex received an Outstanding Musicianship Award at the 2011 Sacramento Jazz Jubilee.

Cameron Gelak

Cameron Gelak
Trombone / Vocals
Junior-Arvada Senior High School
Cameron joined the Youth All-Stars in May of 2011. At Arvada High School he has been the principal trombonist in the Jazz and Symphonic Band, and has played in the Winter Percussion Ensemble and the Pit Orchestra. Cameron is currently the low brass captain in the marching band. He performed at the 2011 Evergreen Jazz Festival. In addition, Cameron participated in the Music For All Summer Symposium’s Jazz Track, which was held in Muncie, Indiana. He was awarded an Outstanding Musicianship Award at the 2011 Mile High Jazz Festival. Cameron is currently studying with Eric Staffeldt, and has taken lessons with Tom Ball and Dan Pinkston. He has been in the All-County Symphonic Band and the Jeff10 Honor Band for the past two years. Cameron was also in the 2010-11 All-County Jazz Band. He assists the Arvada K-8 and North Arvada Middle School Symphonic and Jazz bands throughout the year. Cameron enjoys tutoring young musicians.

Matt Guerrero

Matt Guerrero
Piano/Vocals
Senior-Chaparral High School
Matt joined the All-Stars in October, 2011. He is a classically-trained piano player who has been playing for 12 years. He has won numerous awards in the Douglas-Elbert Music Teachers’ Association (DEMTA), National Federation of Music Teachers, and International Duo Piano Competitions. Matt currently studies with Queen City Jazz Band pianist Hank Troy. He has been a member of the CHS Jazz Band and the CHS Con Brio Choir for two years. Matt has performed as an accompanist for students of Kathryn Fouse’s string studio, and has performed at several engagements with the Conservatory Orchestra of the Denver Youth Artists Orchestra. Matt enjoys listening to Jelly Roll Morton, Frank Sinatra, and Miles Davis, as well as a myriad of styles of music ranging from rock-and-roll to romantic-period classical music.

Tim Kloewer

Tim Kloewer
Tuba / Vocals
Junior-Arapahoe HS
Tim Kloewer joined the Youth All-Stars in June of 2011. He started on trombone in the fourth grade and began to learn tuba, trumpet and French horn in high school. He has played in the marching band, jazz band, pit orchestra, wind ensemble, and symphonic band. Tim is also principal tuba in the Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he performed in Carnegie Hall in 2011 and will be returning in February of 2012. Tim is currently studying with Bill Clark.

Mason Stillman

Mason Stillman
Drumset
Junior-Cherry Creek HS
Mason joined the Youth All-Stars in November of 2011. At Cherry Creek High School he is in the Wind Ensemble and Jazz A. Mason has been a member of the CCHS Marching Band for the past 3 years, and performed at Disneyworld last year. He is in his third year as a member of the CCHS Percussion Ensemble. Last year they placed second in Concert World Class. Mason has been in District Honor Band for the past three years. He has performed with various orchestra and choirs at Cherry Creek HS. Mason has played percussion for five years, and has studied privately for four years.

Benedict Webb

Benedict Webb
Cornet/Vocals
Sophomore-Castle View HS
Benedict joined the DJC Youth All-Stars in June, 2011. He has been playing comet for eight years. Benedict holds first chair in the Wind Ensemble, Pep Band, and Jazz Band at Castle View. He has also been the bugler for his scout troop for a year. Benedict was one of the top 22 youth trumpet/comet players in the country of Wales_ He is currently in the process of composing several concert melodies and a jazz tune for the All-Stars. Benedict is studying with Melissa Steinbock and has taken lessons from Charlie Smith and John Bartmann.