At ten years old, Claudio Berardi discovered the excitement of playing drums and began to study in earnest with some of the area’s finest percussionists. Later, at the University of Bridgeport CT, he was the featured drummer in the Music Department’s Big Band workshop.
Don Bestor, a pianist/keyboardist with 27 years of ‘on the road’ experience, 17 years of producing shows, and 12 years as a studio owner/engineer brings his talents to the Ft. Pierce Jazz and Blues Society. Don was an arranging major at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Don is committed to sharing his experience and talent with the NEW Ft. Pierce Jazz And Blues Society whose mission is to create greater awareness and enjoyment of jazz in the community through education and performances.
Mark Green performs regularly with the Jazz Society at the Black Box Theatre in Ft. Pierce. Originally from NY, where he played his trumpet on stage on Broadway as well as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Mark also travelled nationally and internationally accompanying such celebrities as Vic Damone, Neil Sedaka, and Mel Torme just to mention a few.
He moved to South Florida in 1988 and immediately formed his own Dixieland band known as the Rowdy Roosters. For the past 10 years he has directed, along with Al Hager, a 17pc. Big Band known as FDO-For Dancers Only, the Big Swingin’ Band. Since 2001, Mark has written and presented 3 mixed-media shows, “A Tribute to Satchmo,” “The Genius of Duke Ellington,” and “Benny Goodman-The King of Swing.” The latter was performed on stage at the Sunrise Theater in 2013 with 19 musicians.
Mark has been a noted educator for as long as he’s been a musician, and was very honored to have received the Teacher of the Year Award for the State of Florida in 2004. This was presented to him by the Department of Juvenile Justice at Disney World, for his work with at-risk teenage youth. This summer will be the third year that he will direct and write the curriculum for the society’s Summer Jazz Band Camp program. This is designed to teach young music students, and recently older ones too, the techniques in improvising and performing jazz music in front of a live audience.
Mark states, “I’m happy to play a small part in attempting to keep this great American art form alive, by mentoring young people in the joy of performing jazz.”
Al Hager received degrees from Florida State University and the University of Florida. He has taught public school music in Florida and Georgia since 1968 and retired in 2009. Al was the first director of the Disneyworld All American College Band and the Atlanta Area McDonalds All Star Jazz Band. He is the Past President of the Florida Association of Jazz Educators and was selected Teacher of the Year at Jefferson Junior High and Stuart Middle School.
John E. Hutchison, (Butch), was born and raised on a farm in West Virginia and spent 3 years in the Marine Corp. He attended the University of New Mexico for 2 years. He worked 19 years in television production in NYC., including 14 years as videotape editor on Sesame Street. He retired from Clemson University after 23 years producing and directing distant learning classes by satellite. He moved to Fort Pierce, FL., in March of 2014.
Hailing from Buffalo, New York, a former U.S. Air Force member and 40+ year veteran in the printing & graphic arts industry, George shares his penchant for organization & efficiency and his “get it done” attitude with the Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society. Never sitting idle, George is an avid photographer, a proactive member in local community affairs, an Advanced Open-Water Certified Scuba Diver and an active, Licensed Coast Guard Capitan. With his positive, “can-do” attitude, George is a graciously welcomed member of the Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society’s Board of Directors.
Anita Sperry and her husband Ron relocated to St. Lucie County from Miami in 2006. She was a Dade County Commissions Operations Manager for 20 years. Among her many responsibilities, Anita served as liaison and worked with the Chief of Staff to the Chairperson and all thirteen Commissioners.
Angela has, lived here all her life and is married with 3 kids who grew up loving music. Her Dad had his own band and played locally in St. Lucie county for years. Angie loves all of the local non-profit organizations. She worked for the Boys and Girls Club of St Lucie county for 9 years and became involved with the Fort Pierce Jazz and Blues Society about two and half years ago, (Oct., 2014), when she was recommended to the Society by Wendy Dwyer.
Living in a small southern town that had a local college with a fabulous jazz program was a super beginning for my lifelong love of jazz. Over several years my parents boarded four college boys in our home – who were always music majors. So there were jam sessions going on in our living room most every day.
Jim Tucci, has been a drummer since the age of 12. He honed his jazz skills with the army band in France and played USO shows from New York to Europe, entertaining the troops. He has appeared with great singers such as: Frank Sinatra, Jr., Leslie Uggams and Don Rondo.
Mia Batalini
Gene Hull
