About Us
Jazz Ensemble I
LSE Jazz Ensemble I
2006-2007
The
Southeast High Jazz Ensemble I is one of two performing jazz ensembles
at Southeast High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. The 18 piece
big band is selected each year through auditions and rehearses every
school day. The focus of both ensembles is to gain experience
playing
a wide variety of big band jazz and to develop improvisational
skills.
Current members of LSE Jazz I are:
Saxophones - Nathan Bond, John Borstelmann, Celeste Case-Ruchala, Stephen Ebers, Heather Hottovy, Rachel Schmit,
Trumpets - Tommy Krueger, Elliot Morris, Alex Spanel, Chris Spanel, Ben Williamson
Trombones - Aaron Evans, Max Rodenberg, Becky Segieda, Libby Weishahn
Piano - Matt Marvin Guitar - Graham Lyons
Bass - Keith Carlson Drums - Ben Dorenbach
Current members of LSE Jazz I are:
Saxophones - Nathan Bond, John Borstelmann, Celeste Case-Ruchala, Stephen Ebers, Heather Hottovy, Rachel Schmit,
Trumpets - Tommy Krueger, Elliot Morris, Alex Spanel, Chris Spanel, Ben Williamson
Trombones - Aaron Evans, Max Rodenberg, Becky Segieda, Libby Weishahn
Piano - Matt Marvin Guitar - Graham Lyons
Bass - Keith Carlson Drums - Ben Dorenbach
In the spring of 1999, the Southeast Jazz Ensemble I was selected as one of 20 finalist bands from tapes sent in from over 150 bands from 38 states in the Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington Competition. Highlights of their participation in this festival included the chance to work with and be adjudicated by musicians like Slide Hampton and Wynton Marsalis and the opportunity to perform at Avery Fisher Hall in New York. The band has also been chosen to perform at the 1994 and 1999 Nebraska State Bandmasters Conventions. The lead altoist in the Southeast Jazz Ensemble I, Chris Steinke, was named one of five IAJE Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Fellowship winners for 1999-2000. Many of the students have participated in the All-State Jazz Band, the Young Lions Jazz Orchestra and the Monday Night Big Band. Several LSE Jazz Ensemble I students have been named winners of the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra Young Artist Award and were featured in concert with the NJO. These students include 1997 winner Broc Hempel (piano), 1998 winner Chris Steinke (alto sax), 2002 winner Alex Levitov (tenor sax), and 2003 winner Tommy van den Berg (trombone).
Another well known alum of the LSE Jazz Ensemble I is guitarist James Valentine, currently performing with the Grammy award winning pop/rock band Maroon 5.
James Valentine (far right),
LSE Jazz I Alum
Performing with Maroon 5
Bob Krueger, Director
Bob Krueger is the Director of Jazz Ensemble I at Lincoln Southeast
High School. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
(B.M.E in 1984 and M.M. in 1994), Mr. Krueger has been a music
teacher in the Lincoln Public Schools since 1985. He was the
instrumental music teacher at Southeast High School from 1985-1995,
where his ensembles received many awards and were selected to perform
at state music conventions four times. In 1989 he was named the
nation's outstanding young high school band
director by the American School Band Directors Association. Since
1995 he has been teaching elementary band lessons at Maxey and Beattie
schools and has directed the LSE Jazz Ensemble I since 1997.
From 2001-2004, Mr. Krueger was the interim Director of Jazz Activities
at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he directed the UN-L Jazz
Ensemble I. Mr. Krueger also serves as the conductor of the
Lincoln Youth Symphony.In the spring of 1999, the Southeast Jazz Ensemble I under the direction of Mr. Krueger was selected to perform at the Lincoln Center as one of 20 finalist bands from tapes sent in from over 150 bands from 38 states in Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington Competition. In 2003, the UN-L Jazz Ensemble I performed as the guest band on the final concert of the Kansas University Jazz Festival.
Mr. Krueger also serves as the Music Director of the Lincoln Municipal Band and the Music Director for the Monday Night Big Band. He has also served as Concert Band Chair and was one of the founders of the State Concert Band Festival for the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association. An active performer, Mr. Krueger performs and records regularly with the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra and the Lincoln Municipal Band, including a performance with the NJO at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. He also has served as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the Midwest, and has served as a jazz instructor on the staff of the Midwestern Music Camp at the University of Kansas and at the Great Plains Music Camp at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Mr. Krueger is a member of MENC, NMEA, IAJE, NSBA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Phi Beta Mu. He and his wife Julie (who also teaches instrumental music in LPS) have three children who all enjoy making music.
