Contact
- Paul Westbrook
- texins@enerjazz.com
GDYO Jazz Orchestra
Don’t Lose My Number
By Phil Collins (1985); Arr. Sammy Nestico
Blackbird
By John Lennon / Paul McCartney (1968); Arr. Mike Tomaro
Spooky
By Cobb, Buie, Middlebrooks, Shapiro (1967); Arr. Kris Berg
Can’t Buy Me Love
By Paul McCartney (1964); arr. Johnnie Spence
Texins Jazz Band
I Am What I Am
By Jerry Herman (1983); Arr. Veronica Swift & David Mann – from La Cage aux Folles
On the Street Where You Live
By Frederick Loewe & Alan Jay Lerner (1956); Arr. Steven Feifke – from My Fair Lady
Higher Ground
By Stevie Wonder (1973); Arr. Matt Harris
Sing
By Amanda Palmer (2004); Arr. David Mann & Veronica Swift
I Get Around
By Brian Wilson & Mike Love (1964); Arr. Steven Feifke – Beach Boys Classic
September in the Rain
By Harry Warren & Al Dubin (1937); Arr. Ted Firth
This Bitter Earth
By Clyde Otis (1960); Arr. Gene Thorne
Superstition / You Haven’t Done Nothin’
By Stevie Wonder (1972 / 1974); Arr. Matt Harris
Veronica Swift stormed onto the jazz scene with a musical maturity well beyond her years. She’s been compared to everyone from Anita O’Day to Ella Fitzgerald, but she has already established her own voice. Swift is not only one of the most dazzling singers to emerge in her generation, she’s one of the most versatile. While her first two albums solidified her position in modern jazz, she shows that she’s more than a jazz singer, exploring French and Italian opera, European classical music, bossa nova, blues, industrial rock, funk, and vaudeville.
Swift describes this personal artistic statement on her new album as “transgenre.” “I grew up immersed in the culture of jazz music, blessed to have had some of the greats as mentors.”
The Texins Jazz Band is a full 18-piece big band based in Dallas, TX. The band is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. From 1986-2019 the band operated as The Texas Instruments Jazz Band and was organized through the Texins Association (Dallas, Texas) of Texas Instruments. The Texins Association ceased operation in 2019 and the band became the Texins Jazz Band in 2020. The majority of band members have STEM based degrees and careers (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).
The group formed in the summer of 1986, sparked by an ad placed in a TI company newspaper. The band quickly reached a sustainable level and has remained active since its inception. Almost everyone played in high school and/or college and is glad to have an outlet to continue to study and play jazz. The band rehearses every Tuesday night at Dallas College, Richland Campus.
This concert is funded in part by: The City of Richardson through the City of Richardson Cultural Arts Commission; and the Eugene McDermott Foundation.
Next Public Concert: Sat, Feb 15 2026, 4pm - Big Band Mardi Gras at the Allen Public Library Auditorium (FREE)
Next Guest Artist Concert: Sun, Apr 19 7pm at the Eisemann Center - guest artist Patrick Bartley
Another Guest Artist Concert: Sun, May 31 7pm at the Eisemann Center - guest artist John Pizzarelli
Director: Bill Centera
Saxes
Paul Westbrook (President) - B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Alejandro Vera (Treasurer) - M.S. Electrical Engineering
Gerry Burnham - Ph.D. Electrical Engineering
David West - M.S. Manufacturing Engr / Materials Science
Chris McGuire (guest sub) – Master of Music
Trombones
Bryan Campbell - MBA
Steve Schulz – B.E. Electrical & Electronics Engr; MBA
Jason Shick - B.S. Computer Science
Ken Kunz - M.A. Music Education
Trumpets
Rob Jonas - Medicaid biller
John Alptekin - Ph.D. Chemistry
Andrew Kortze - B.S. Electrical Engineering
Dennis Doane - B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Rhythm
Bill Sallee (bass) - M.S. Electrical Engineering
Frank Luna (bass) - B.S. Chemical & Biological Engineering
Terry Bartlett (guitar) - M.S. Electrical Engineering
Mike Coldewey (piano) - Software Developer
Chris Lichtenberg (drums) - Ph.D. Electrical Engineering
Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra (GDYO)
Founded in 1972, the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing music education and performance opportunities that foster musical excellence, cultivate learning, encourage creativity, inspire self-motivation, and develop social skills. GDYO has grown from a single orchestra of 35 members to a program of over 475 talented musicians, ages 6 to 18. GDYO ensembles include the flagship ensemble: Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, Philharmonic, Sinfonietta, Dallas String Ensemble, Young Performers Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Flute Choir, Clarinet Choir, the GDYO Jazz Combo, and the GDYO Jazz Orchestra. GDYO students come from over 150 different schools in 50 different communities.
While participation in GDYO ensembles is tuition-based, the organization has a long-standing commitment to making its programs available to all qualified musicians; scholarship assistance is available, and no qualified student will be denied an opportunity to participate because of financial need.
GDYO 3630 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75219
P: 214.528.7747 E: info@gdyo.org W: www.gdyo.org
Director: Kris Berg
Saxes
Daniel Snytkin
Brendan Bearden
Darren Dodd (sub)
Ken Snow (sub)
Noel Benny
Trombones
Chris Lara
Tyler Getz
Alex Khalegi
Zach Crum
Trumpets
Noah Russo
Keith Moriel
Nathan Lee
Trent Bourdier
Rhythm
Bailey Leitch - Bass
Gabe Gerth - Drums
Garrett Sewick - Piano
C.J. Vega - Guitar
GDYO Artistic Staff
Richard Giangiulio, Music Director and Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Conductor
Jeremy Kondrat, Wind Symphony Conductor
James Frank, Philharmonic Conductor
Susan Younghans, Sinfonietta and Dallas String Ensemble Conductor
Charilyne Rojas, Young Performers Orchestra Conductor
Priscilla Holt, Flute Choir Conductor
Jun Qian, Clarinet Choir Conductor
Kris Berg, Director of GDYO Jazz and Jazz Orchestra Conductor
Alex Fraile, Jazz Coordinator and Jazz Combo Conductor
GDYO Administrative Staff
Cathy Hernandez, Executive Director
Patrick Herring, Director of Operations
Lauren Hummert, Band Manager
Yurie Iwasaki, General Manager/Librarian
Charilyne Rojas, Communications Director
Ramon Muzquiz, Orchestra Manager
Aaron Perez, Assistant Librarian
Tracy Wehrmann, Community Engagement Coordinator
Ryan Fillinger-Palotay, Lauren Hummert, Kaitlyn Maresca, and Kennedy Plains, Assistant Orch. Mgr.
J. Alexander Business Advisors, Bookkeepers
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