LITTLE LAKE STOMPERS JAZZ ORCHESTRA Bios
Musical entertainment provided by our team of professionals
Dennis Najoom Cornet/Trumpet/Flugelhorn/Vocals
Najoom is most known as the retired Co-Principal and Pops Principal Trumpet of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and leader of the Little Lake Stompers Jazz Band. He has also soloed numerous times with the MSO and Kieth Brion and The New Sousa Band, and perfromed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra (Connecticut), the Rhode Island Philharmonic, the Milwaukee Chamber Orcehstra, the MSO Jazz Quintet and the Connecticut and Wisconsin Army National Guard Bands. He graduated from the Hartt School of Music and was a Performance Fellow at the prestigious Tanglewood Music Festival.
Najoom has taught at Lawrence University, The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and has given master classes at universities and music conservatories throughout the USA and Canada. His love of Jazz started at an early age and he has been starting bands ever since. Authour of the trumpet method book "Trumpet According to Dennis Najoom". Najoom is a founding member of The Little Lake Stompers Jazz Orchestra.
William Helmers Clarinet/Bass Clarinet
William Helmers spent the majority of his career as a member of the MSO. He has also performed with the contemporary ensemble Present Music since the group’s inception. He has worked with many other top ensembles including Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Cleveland, Rochester and Chicago orchestras and the Santa Fe Opera.
Holding degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School, Mr. Helmers’ primary teachers were Stanley Hasty and Joseph Allard. Other influential teachers included Anthony Gigliotti, Ronald Reuben, Harold Wright, and Mitchell Lurie
Mr. Helmers performs chamber music throughout the year in many different settings and now you can find him all about town playing in various jazz groups. He has been a member of the Portland-based Westwood Wind Quintet, participating in many of their recordings for Crystal Records. Bill is a founding member of The Little Lake Stompers Jazz Orchestra.
Steven Lewandowski Guitar/Banjo
Steve is the resident guitar/banjo player. He has many years’ experience working as a multi-string
instrument specialist and composer in a variety of musical settings including, jazz, popular, Broadway orchestral and opera. His original composition, “Trinity for Orchestra and Jazz Quintet” premiered with The Racine
Symphony Orchestra in 2013. His album “Familiar
Melodies” (2009) is streamed regularly world wide on major jazz stations. As a performer he has worked with the MSO Orchestra and numerous touring Broadway shows such as “Lion
King” and “Tina”, with Skylight Theater, Florentine Opera, Milwaukee Jazz Orchestra (MJO), and much more. He thoroughly enjoys working with “the most happy band” around –
The Little Lake Stompers Jazz Orchestra
Kirk Ferguson Trombone/Euphonium
Kirk Ferguson was named Assistant Principal Trombonist of the Milwaukee Symphony in September, 2011. Prior to Milwaukee, he served as Principal Trombonist with the Spokane Symphony, Co-Principal Trombonist with the Malaysian Philharmonic and Associate Principal Trombonist with the Honolulu Symphony. He has also served as a member of the River City Brass Band in Pittsburgh, PA. Kirk has performed with the Clarion Brass Choir, Seattle Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Akron Symphony, Wheeling Symphony and Lincoln Center Festival. He is a founding member of the Little Lake Stompers, Jazz Band. Kirk also performes with Focal Point Ensemble in Chicago, Sequenza Trombone Quartet and Chicago Trombone Consort.
Kirk is currently adjunct professor of low brass at Wisconsin Lutheran College. He is also an associate teacher with the Art of Practicing Institute. Kirk received his Masters degree from The Juilliard School, studying under Joseph Alessi and his Bachelors degree from Duquesne University, studying under Peter Sullivan and Murray Crewe. He has also studied under Matty Shiner, Per Brevig, Peter Ellefson, William Conable, Leo Potts and Jay Mason. Kirk currently serves as Board Chair for the Art of Practicing Institute. Kirk is proud to be a Yamaha Performing Artist. Kirk is a founding member of The Little Lake Stompers Jazz Orchestra.
Jason Goldsmith Saxophone
Jason Goldsmith is considered one of the finest Jazz Saxophonist of his generation.
Jason has continually performed at the highest level with the finest performers and groups in the Milwaukee / Chicago area. We are incredably fortunate to have this excellent musicion as part of The Little Lake Stompers Jazz Orchestra.
David Brady Keyboard
David is amongst the top versatile keyboard players in the USA. He has performed for audiences around the globe including the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.We are incredibly fortunate to have this great artist as part of The Little Lake Stomper Jazz Orchestra.
Paul Westfahl Percussion/Vocals
Paul is an Adjunct Percussion Instructor at Wisconsin Lutheran College, Percussionist at the Nationally reconized Skylight Theater. Instructor of percussion at Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and just about every other college in the Milwaukee area. You can hear and see Paul perform in many of the numerous venues in the Milwaukee / Chicago area. Paul is a founding member of The Little Lake Stompers Jazz Orchestra.
Scott Tisdel Contra Bass
Scott Tisdel has served as associate principal cellist of the MSO and principal cellist of the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra since his arrival in Milwaukee in 1987. He has appeared as soloist with both ensembles, as well as with the Waukesha and Manitowoc Symphonies and the Wisconsin Wind Orchestra.
Prior to his arrival in Milwaukee, Mr. Tisdel served as principal cello of the Florida Orchestra in Tampa and was a member of both the Oakland and San Jose Symphony orchestras in California.
He is the founding cellist of the Prometheus Trio, in residence at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and coaches chamber music at the Conservatory while teaching private lessons at home in Shorewood. Mr. Tisdel has recorded for Arundax, CRI, Fleur de Son, the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and Oris Records. Scott is a founding member of The Little Lake Stompers Jazz Orchestra.
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