Ellison, Russell to Play in IMEA Festival Nov. 14
November 13, 2009

If you told trombonist Andrew Ellison (St. Celestine) and baritone saxophonist Markeise Russell (St. Margaret Mary) three years ago that today they would be preparing for the Illinois Music Educators Association’s (IMEA) District I Jazz Festival, they probably would have laughed at you. After all, Ellison reluctantly learned the trombone because he was the only one in his fourth grade class with arms long enough for the instrument. He really aspired to play the trumpet like his grandfather played for the U.S. Army. And Russell didn’t start learning an instrument—the piano—until he was in seventh grade. When they started at St. Pat’s, they might have laughed, but today the two juniors are smiling with confidence.

Working under the direction of Kevin Carroll, the Ellison and Russell have had similar high school experiences saturated with all things music. On Saturday, they will travel to Lyons Township High School to perform in the second of four jazz ensembles at the IMEA District I Jazz Fest. Both students will be performing in the first-chair position. They won the spots over hundreds of other students after undergoing a rigorous audition process that tested their ability to improvise, sight read, and play scales and prepared pieces.

“I didn’t think I did that well,” said Ellison of the auditions. “It was a neat experience.” If you’re thinking it sounds like Ellison’s disdain for the trombone has vanished, you are right. He still remembers the day when he began to see the trombone in a different light. “It was my freshman year when Mr. Carroll held a ‘listening day,’” said Ellison. “He told us to put our instruments away and sit down while he put on a CD of trombonist Bill Watrous called Manhattan Wildlife Transfer. When I heard that CD, I heard what I could do on the trombone and was like, ‘WOW!’” Ellison says that he immediately began to practice up to two hours a night. He even began volunteering for solos he might not otherwise have raised a hand for. “I realized that the only way to get better was to actually try,” said Ellison. “The more I do this, the more I just want to play.”

The same can be said for Russell, who in addition to practicing 4-6 hours a day plays with Chicago’s Revolutionary Swing Orchestra, is the youngest member of the Horner Park Jazz Band and teaches private piano lessons on Sundays. Like Ellison, Russell’s feelings toward music were not as passionate until he got to high school. The beginning of his sophomore year, he was encouraged to pick up the saxophone after hearing his piano teacher/saxophonist Dan Sadofsky play. After a lot of hard work and practice, Russell was soon performing solos in the Honors Jazz Band. He too has found the musical environment at St. Pat’s very supportive. “After watching Grammy Award-winning professionals on our stage, I had no doubt I wanted to perform and teach music for a living,” said Russell, referring to the clinics and concerts sponsored by St. Pat’s Music Department that bring successful, professional musicians to share their wisdom with students.

Still on the line for the Shamrocks is whether or not they will represent St. Pat’s at IMEA’s All-State Music Festival in January. Ellison will play in the IMEA District I Concert Festival Nov. 21. For now, students and faculty can hear them play at the Stahl Family Theatre on Thurs., Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. For those interested in attending the District Jazz Festival, more info can be found at www.ilmea.org.