Staff

May 9

For over 20 years, Laura G. Rice has served in several highly regarded arts organizations and educational institutions in Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles. Her career began in Chicago at eta Creative Arts Foundation (eta) where she worked as marketing and public relations manager. Most recently, she has served as a strategic marketing, media, fundraising, and audience development consultant for Gateways Music Festival, the Kehrein Center for the Arts, Lyric Unlimited, West Point School of Music, and the Ravinia Festival. Laura received a BA in English from Mount Holyoke College and a MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises from Northwestern University.

The Chicago Tribune's "1995 Arts People of the Year" and one of seven “Chicagoans of the Year for 2002”, Orbert Davis is one of Chicago’s busiest and most sought after jazz artists. Davis has a bachelor's degree from DePaul University and a Masters of Music in Jazz Pedagogy from Northwestern University. In addition to being a professional jazz musician, performer, and composer, he is a clinician and teacher, having taught music theory, jazz history, jazz improvisation and trumpet performance at Columbia College and University of Illinois at Chicago.

As a musician, composer, producer and performer, Mark Ingram has been very active in the music industry for over 20 years. As production coordinator for Anheuser-Busch Concert Series, he has produced shows for such notable artist as Lou Rawls, Chaka Kahn, The Tempations, Gladys Knight, Roberta Flack, George Clinton, and others. Mark is president of Orbark Productions and 316 Records, an independent music production company and record label. Mark is also vice-president and general manager of Discover Music: Discover Life, Inc. (DMDL) an arts education research company that develops curriculum.

Since moving to Chicago in 2013, Michael Nearpass has worked extensively in the arts community as a teaching artist and administrator for numerous Chicago nonprofits, and as a freelance trombonist and music composer. Michael is passionate that students should have access to a quality, well-rounded public-school education. Michael received his M.M from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and his B.M from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Jordan Mandela is a Chicago-based musician, artist, educator, producer, and engineer.  After more than a decade of performing and teaching, Jordan joined Chicago Jazz Philharmonic's program staff in 2018.  He holds a Master's Degree in Classical Guitar Performance from Roosevelt University, where he subsequently served on faculty, and has performed as a soloist throughout the US, Europe, and South America.  Jordan brings creativity, a love of teaching, and a passion for music to his role at Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, where he aims to help the next generation of Chicago youth grow to become kind, creative thinkers who make a positive impact on the world around them.

Since earning her BME and BA in Spanish from North Park University Ana has had a wide range of job experiences. From translating at film festivals to working with a startup. Her love for music and interest in music accessibility is something she always carried with her though. She is excited to continue that journey with CJP and continue learning.

Arthur Turnbull

Advisory Board