2015 Triton Jazz Festival

Adjudicator/Clinician Biographies

(updated as of September 10, 2014)

Anthony Williams

Anthony Williams currently serves as Assistant Professor of Trombone at the University of Northern Iowa where he teaches applied trombone, trombone choir, jazz trombone ensemble, low brass techniques, and trombone literature. His previous teaching appointments include the University of Mary (ND), University of Memphis, and Lemoyne-Owen College. An active clinician, he has worked with middle school, high school, and college students in Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Montana, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Dr. Williams spends time teaching trombone and jazz during the summers at the UNI Jazz Combo Camp and the International Music Camp. He maintains a high frequency of performing in classical, jazz, and new music settings by performing locally, regionally, and nationally. He has performed with artists and ensembles such as the Memphis Symphony, Arkansas Symphony, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, Dubuque Symphony, Memphis Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra of the Delta, Ray Charles Orchestra, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Natalie Cole, Jimmy Dorsey Tribute Orchestra, Benny Goodman Tribute Band, Slide Hampton, Peter Erskine, Kathy Kosins, Cuong Vu, Natalie Cole, Rufus Reid, Jeff Coffin, Roy McCurdy, John Mayer, Clark Terry, David Sanchez, Chris Vadala, Jack Wilkins, Joyce Cobb, Bill Tole, Mark Helias, Donald Brown, Ben Monder, Jim Cullum, Mike Fahn, and Luis Bonilla. Williams recently performed as lead trombonist on the Mike Waldrop Big Band’s recent release; “Time Within Itself” Other recording projects include Grosso for Trombone and Electronics for Mexican born composer, Jorge Sosa’s album, “Plastic Time,” albums by Ryan Middagh, The Dave Lisik Jazz Orchestra, University of Memphis “Southern Comfort” Jazz Ensemble, and The University of Northern Iowa Jazz Band One playing lead trombone. Dr. Williams earned degrees from the University of Central Arkansas (BM), University of Northern Iowa (MM), and the University of Memphis (DMA).

He is a member of the International Trombone Association, National Association for Music Education, College Music Society, and the Jazz Education Network. Williams is a Conn/Selmer artist-clinician and plays Giddings and Webster mouthpieces exclusively.

Doug Snapp

Dr. Douglas Snapp serves as the Director of Jazz Studies, and teaches courses in Brass and Music Industry. In addition to his position at MSU, Snapp serves as the Executive Director of the JazzMN arts organization, and Artistic Director of the JazzMN Orchestra, a professional jazz orchestra based in Minneapolis (www.jazzmn.org).

Dr. Snapp regularly appears throughout the Midwest as a guest artist and clinician. He has had the privilege to share the stage with over 50 nationally recognized jazz artists such as Dave Brubeck, Arturo Sandoval, Phil Woods, Dave Weckl, and Mike Stern. Snapp received a McKnight "Emerging Artist" grant in 2008 and received Downbeat magazine awards in the Big Band, Combo, and Vocal Jazz categories. In the classical area, Snapp played principal trumpet in the Mankato Symphony for 20 years, and continues to perform in the Minnesota Valley Brass Quintet. Dr. Snapp served as president of the Minnesota chapter of the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE), and more recently, served on the steering committee that formed the Jazz Education Network (JEN).

Snapp's other area of expertise is Music Technology. He formerly served on the SmartMusic software development team at Make Music, Inc., and has presented music technology workshops throughout the Midwest. Snapp continues his relationship with Make Music contributing to educational components of SmartMusic jazz titles released each year.

Dr. Snapp received his doctorate from the University of Northern Colorado, where he also served as Assistant Director of Jazz Studies. He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of North Texas, where he had the priviledge to perform in the prestigious One o’ Clock Lab Band and UNT Jazz Singers, and direct one of the jazz lab bands.

Dr. Snapp currently directs the jazz bands, jazz combos, and vocal jazz ensembles in addition to teaching trumpet, jazz pedagogy, brass methods, and music technology at MSU.

Roger Groth

Roger Groth taught instrumental music in Westside Community Schools in Omaha, Nebraska for 37 years. Thirty of those 37, as Director of Bands at Westside High School. Mr. Groth has received many teaching honors including Outstanding Jazz Educator from the National Band Association, Outstanding Jazz Educator from the International Association of Jazz Educators, recognized in “Who's Who Among America's Teachers”, a two-time Distinguished teacher of a Presidential Scholar, selected as Music Teacher of the Year from the Omaha Arts Society and the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, recipient of the District 66 Teacher of the Year award, recipient of the nationally recognized Milken Educator Award for the state of Nebraska, a Walt Disney American Teacher award 4-time nominee, a two-time finalists for Nebraska Teacher of the Year, finalist for the National Teacher Hall of Fame and many more. Mr. Groth has served on the board for the Nebraska State Band Masters & the Nebraska Music Educators. He is currently in his 12 year as Coordinator of the Nebraska All-State Jazz Band.

Mr. Groth’s own jazz groups have performed throughout the United States. Some notable performances include; three-time honor band for the Nebraska State Band Masters Convention, two-time participant in the 2nd Generation Monterey Jazz Contest, guest performers for the 2007 National School Board Conference in Orlando, Florida and many, more. Westside High Schools top Concert Jazz Band has performed with world renowned jazz artists such as; Tommy Newsom, Doc Severinson, Darryl Goes, Dizzy Gillespie, Ed Shawnessy, Marian McPartland, Maynard Ferguson, Rich Matteson, Dana Hall, Bob Lark, Eric Marienthal, Matt Wallace (a WHS Grad), Gunther Mossblad (@ WHS Grad), Mike Vax, Allen Vizzuti, Wayne Bergeron and many others. Mr. Groth’s Concert Jazz Band has received a I rating at every jazz festival or contest attended throughout his 30 year high school career. This group has received top honors or 1st place standing at local, State wide, Regional and National contests.

Mr. Groth retired from teaching and is now serving as a substitute teacher, guest clinician, adjudicator, consultant and home handyman. Mr. and Mrs. Groth have two children, twins David and Sarah age 26.