For the second year, two music professors from Denison College in Ohio spent several hours working with MHS student musicians in the jazz orchestra and the honors jazz ensemble. They were invited by MHS instrumental music instructors Jerry Shelato and Andy Sturgeon.

Pete Mills, who specializes in saxophone and jazz improvisation, has been on the faculty at Denison since 1999. A native of Toronto Canada, saxophonist and composer Pete Mills’ discography includes 4 solo titles, with his most recent, 2014’s Sweet Shadow.  The CD is released on Vancouver based Cellar Live Records and features drummer Matt Wilson (who is also a part of Mills’ disc Art and Architecture), his long time collaborator, guitarist Pete McCann, bassist Martin Wind and pianist Erik Augis.

Seth Rogers is a gamelan ensemble and Latin percussion instructor and has been at Denison since 2007. Originally from Cleveland, he actively performs around the Midwest in many genres and is best known as a jazz drummer. Rogers teaches Applied Percussion, Music Theory, directs the Latin Percussion Ensemble and the Balinese Gamelan Dwara Udyani. He holds degrees in music, economics, and jazz studies from Denison University and Youngstown State University respectively.

The students received critiques of their work and interacted with the guest professors.  

“Their passion and enthusiasm for music was infectious!," said Gareth Fullin, tenor saxophonist, junior

 “It was wonderful watching Pete Mills and Seth Rogers work with our jazz students.  It was awesome having them play their instruments along with the students,”said Andy Sturgeon, band director.