2026 Maine Music Educators Association Conference: Full Schedule

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3:00pm EDT

Elite Jazz Combo Performance, Communication, and Interplay

Thursday May 14, 2026 3:00pm - 3:55pm EDT

Donald P Corbett Hall Rm 115 @ 28 Beddington Rd, Orono, ME 04469, USA

Featuring advanced improvisation by Ryan Blotnick (guitar), Chris Gagne (trombone) and Aaron Henry (sax), this session will demonstrate how musicians interact with each other in a combo setting. Often times in a jazz combo, students think of the group as a vehicle for one instrument to solo while the others "back them up." In this session, we'll discuss how to have a more focus on on advancing communication between members, motivic development, and interplay within the group.

Speakers

Amanda Roswick

DownBeat Award-Winning jazz vocalist Amanda Roswick is currently in her fifth year at the University of Southern Maine as the Artist Faculty in Jazz Voice, leading their two vocal jazz ensembles and teaching a large studio of jazz, classical, and contemporary singers. Prior to teaching... Read More →

Aaron Henry

Band Director, Yarmouth High School

"Aaron Henry is director of bands at Yarmouth HS and faculty in jazz saxophone at USM in Portland ME. He has performed at venues from Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, and Birdland to international jazz festivals, with artists including Dave Liebman, Miguel Zenon, Antonio Sanchez, and... Read More →

Ryan Blotnick

Ryan Blotnick (b. April 30, 1983) is an American guitarist and composer. He has performed with many leading voices in jazz and recorded five albums of his own music. He teaches jazz and improvisation at the College of the Atlantic, leads his own quartet and performs with the Soulbenders... Read More →

Chris Gagne

Associate Professor of Music, Springfield College

Active as a composer/arranger and trombonist, Chris maintains a busy performance schedule throughout the Northeast, specializing primarily in jazz and contemporary improvised music. Chris can currently be seen performing with Mehmet Sanlikol and “Whatsnext?,” the Ayn Inserto Jazz... Read More →

Nick Falk

Thursday May 14, 2026 3:00pm - 3:55pm EDT
Donald P Corbett Hall Rm 115

Performance

8:00pm EDT

Thursday Evening Concert

Thursday May 14, 2026 8:00pm - 9:00pm EDT

Collins Center for the Arts @ 2 Flagstaff Rd, Orono, ME 04473, USA

Performers

Osher Jazz Combo

Thursday May 14, 2026 8:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Collins Center for the Arts