Dan Andrews, alto saxophone, is majoring in Studio Music and Jazz Instrumental Performance at the Frost School of Music where he is a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar and a member of the inaugural Stamps Jazz Quintet, Class of 2013, coached by faculty mentor Chuck Bergeron. A high achiever both academically and musically, he is currently studying saxophone privately with Dale Underwood and Gary Keller. A proficient woodwind doubler (flute, clarinet, soprano sax), Andrews also performs in the sax section of the Frost Concert Jazz Band. Originally from Finksburg, Maryland, Andrews has been playing alto saxophone for over ten years. Prior teachers include David Duree, Steve Swan, Ron Diehl and Troy Roberts. Dan Andrews was named an “Outstanding Soloist” at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival (2010), and also the “Jazz Soloist” winner in DownBeat magazine’s 34th Annual Student Music Awards in the Undergraduate Outstanding College Performances category (2011). The Stamps Jazz Quintet was also chosen by DownBeat as the Jazz Group winner in the same year and category.
Instrument: Alto Saxophone
Stamps Ensemble Name: Stamps Jazz Quintet
Nick Hetko, piano, is majoring in Music Engineering Technology at the Frost School of Music where he is a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar and a member of the Stamps Jazz Quintet, Class of 2013, coached by faculty mentor Charles Bergeron. He studies privately with Shelly Berg, Martin Bejerano and Daniel Strange. In addition to his focus on audio engineering, Hetco also enjoys performing in a variety of jazz ensembles at Frost including the New Music Ensemble, Monk/Mingus Ensemble, the DownBeat collegiate award winning Funk/Fusion Ensemble, and others. Originally from Cambridge, New York, Nick Hetko has performed with James Moody, Matt Wilson, Chris Potter, Buddy Guy, and Kenny Burrell.
Instrument: Piano
Stamps Ensemble Name: Stamps Jazz Quintet
Michael Piolet, drums, is majoring Studio Music and Jazz Instrumental Performance at the Frost School of Music where he is a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar and a member of the inaugural Stamps Jazz Quintet, Class of 2013, coached by faculty mentor Chuck Bergeron. He studies drum-set and jazz percussion privately with Steve Rucker and John Yarling. As a member of the Stamps Jazz Quintet at the Frost School of Music, he has performed at the Monterey Next Generation Festival in California and the 2011 and 2012 JEN conferences in New Orleans and Louisville. He is also featured on the Stamps Jazz Quintet’s self-titled debut album on Summit Records. The Stamps Jazz Quintet was chosen as the “Jazz Group” winner in DownBeat magazine’s 34th Annual Student Music Awards in the Undergraduate Outstanding College Performances category (2011). Michael Piolet performs in a variety of other jazz groups at Frost, including the award-winning Frost Concert Jazz Band at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival in Florida with flautist Nestor Torres and at Festival Miami with saxophonist Dave Liebman, both in 2012.
Instrument: Drums and Percussion
Stamps Ensemble Name: Stamps Jazz Quintet
James Suter, bass, is majoring in Studio Music and Jazz Instrumental Performance at the Frost School of Music where he is a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar and a member of the inaugural Stamps Jazz Quintet, Class of 2013, coached by faculty mentor Chuck Bergeron. He studies acoustic and electric bass privately with Donald Coffman and Chuck Bergeron. James also performs in variety of other jazz groups at Frost ranging from the Funk/Fusion Ensemble to the R&B Ensemble. In addition to his musical pursuits, Suter enjoys other course offerings at the University of Miami such as Medieval Russian History, Astronomy and Existentialism which have broadened his personal horizons. Originally from Hollywood, Florida, James Suter performed with all-county and all-state bands, as well as several local groups, and has been performing professionally throughout South Florida for over six years. The Stamps Jazz Quintet was chosen as the “Jazz Group” winner in DownBeat magazine’s 34th Annual Student Music Awards in the Undergraduate Outstanding College Performances category (2011).
Instrument: Bass
Stamps Ensemble Name: Stamps Jazz Quintet
Stephen Szabadi, trombone, is majoring in Studio Music and Jazz Instrumental Performance at the University of Miami Frost School of Music where he is a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar and a member of the Stamps Jazz Quintet, Class of 2013. He studies trombone privately with Dante Luciani. Stephen also performs in the Frost Concert Jazz Band and the Frost R&B Ensemble. He has also enjoyed studies in pharmacology and history while at the University of Miami. In his free time, he enjoys meditation, motorcycling, and reading. Originally from Los Angeles, he attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. While in high school, Stephen toured with the Monterey Jazz Festival’s countrywide youth all-star band, the New Generation Jazz Orchestra. He has played at Playboy Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Lincoln Center, Disney Concert Hall, and various venues around Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Miami and the Netherlands.
Instrument: Trombone
Stamps Ensemble Name: Stamps Jazz Quintet
