Accomplished musicians from the Greater Phoenix area mentor the next generation of jazz musicians in innovative education programming at The Nash.
Dr. Clark Gibson
Education Director
Music education has been a crucial part of Clark Gibson's career for more than 20 years. Gibson served as Director of Jazz Studies and Assistant Professor of Saxophone at Northeastern State University. During his time there, he worked closely with guest artists such as Doc Severinsen, Kevin Mahogany, Oliver Nelson Jr., Charles McPherson, Doug Beavers, and many others.
Gibson is a sought-after clinician for jazz ensembles and has judged numerous jazz festivals and saxophone competitions including the National Collegiate Jazz Saxophone competition at the 2016 North American Saxophone Alliance competition. Gibson has a bachelor's degree in Musical Arts from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle and master's and doctorate degrees in Jazz Studies from the University of Illinois.
Mary Petrich
Director, The Nash Women’s Initiative
Creative saxophonist Mary Petrich has been developing her own vision for the past 20 years. Her desire to push the boundaries has led her to many projects and collaborations, the latest being the album “Murmuration” with her quartet OpenHand.
With an abiding love for freestyle improvisation and the intimate collaboration of small group settings, she is equally at home playing standards and working in larger group formats. Large group work includes the Phoenix Symphony, the Grammy award-winning Phoenix Chorale, the Arizona Music Festival Orchestra, and the Nash Composer Coalition.
Gregory W. Amerind
Instructor, The Nash Jazz Vocal Ensemble
A songwriter and singer for many years in Los Angeles, Gregory W. Amerind performed with Lionel Hampton and his big band, Ann Jillian, John Astin, and Patrick Duffy, and appeared in The Jazz Singer. In Arizona he has continued his musical career, conducting community, college and youth choirs including the Arizona Cactus Chorus, The Phoenix Boys Choir, ASU Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and The Nash Vocal Ensemble.
Amerind teaches music courses at Mesa and Estrella Mountain Community Colleges. His solo CD, "Late Boomer," a collection of original jazz-influenced vocal compositions, is available online. Amerind holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education, Master’s of Music in Voice Performance, and Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting.
Ryan Anthony
Instructor, The Nash Futures Workshop
Ryan Anthony is a jazz percussionist with an active career as a live performer, recording artist, composer, arranger, and educator in the greater Phoenix area. A versatile musician conversant in a wide range of styles, Ryan has worked with Bob Mintzer, Andrew Rathbun, George Colligan, Rick DellaRatta, Ron McCurdy, Michael Kocour, and many others. He is also a performer and composer in the Phoenix-based bands Running From Bears, Open Hand, and Union32. Ryan has an abiding interest in many forms of popular music and enjoys working with students who are new to improvisation.
Eric Rasmussen
Instructor, The Nash Legacy Ensembles
Saxophonist, composer, and educator Eric Rasmussen spent years playing and teaching in New York City. He performed regularly with some of the most respected names in jazz and was the Director of Jazz Studies at Queens College. He has played at some of the most prestigious venues in the country including the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall.
Rasmussen leads the groups Running from Bears and the Eric Rasmussen Tristano Band. He has served as adjunct faculty for Mesa Community College and Paradise Valley Community College and was the Music Director for Young Sounds of Arizona. Currently, Eric is the Director of Instrumental Music and Jazz Studies at Scottsdale Community College. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance from California Institute of the Arts and a Master of Music degree in Jazz Performance at the New England Conservatory.
Natalie Gallatin
Instructor, The Nash Legacy Ensembles
Natalie is a saxophonist, composer, bandleader, educator, recording artist, and activist based in Phoenix, Arizona. She is a 21st century torch-bearer for the performance, education, and re-evaluation of the rich heritage of jazz music.
Driven by a dedication to nurture the next generation of musicians, Natalie has found joy in teaching private music lessons across various instruments including flute, saxophone, clarinet, and piano. She currently serves as the lead intern for The Nash Education Interns at The Nash, engaging in jazz performances and clinics throughout the valley’s schools. Additionally, Natalie shares her expertise as an instructor for The Nash Legacy Ensembles, guiding students through jazz standards, music theory, ear training, and the intricacies of the jazz language, laying a solid foundation for their musical journey.
Arsen Nalbandian
Instructor, The Nash Legacy Ensembles
Arsen Nalbandian is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and educator based in the greater Phoenix metro area. Over the past 8 years, Arsen has dedicated his time towards honing his craft in the jazz idiom, with his primary influences stemming from the music of jazz legends such as Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Miles Davis, and Red Garland. He has also had the pleasure of performing live with jazz luminaries such as Sean Jones, Corcoran Holt, Doug Lawrence, Brad Leali, Dennis Rowland, as well as Lewis Nash.
Recently, Arsen recorded and released an album entitled "In Depth" featuring his intricately crafted arrangements of classic American songbook standards. As an educator, Arsen has provided private lessons as well as taught at various local institutions throughout the valley. He has also been a guest clinician for both high school jazz bands as well as local youth ensembles.
Kevin Tangney
Instructor, The Nash Big Band
Kevin Tangney started playing trumpet in the 6th grade. He quickly fell in love with the instrument and the different ways it can be played. Kevin went to Mesa Community College and studied there under Grant Wolf, Fred Forney, and Hugh Lovelady. In 2002, Kevin joined the US military as a trumpet player, and played trumpet all over Europe until he was deployed in combat operations to Iraq. After leaving the military, he once again pursued and finished his BA in Music Education at MCC all while guiding whitewater/4x4/hiking trips in Moab, UT.
In 2017, Kevin moved back to Phoenix full time to pursue a full time career in trumpet performance. Kevin is in high demand as a performer and educator. He has played with Arturo Sandoval, Kim Richmond, Lucas Pino, The Sugar Thieves, NOLAZ, Dennis Rowland, Gracie Jay, Ray Vega, Tito Puente Jr., Lymbyc Systym, Kurt Elling, Gunhild Carling, and Wu-Tang Clan among others. Kevin was the assistant director for Young Sounds of Arizona for many years, directed the NAU Jazz Ensemble II, and adjudicates/clinics jazz ensembles for AMEA festivals. Currently, Kevin is the owner/manager of The New Guard Big Band, Arizona’s premiere 17-piece jazz orchestra, and is on faculty at Mesa Community College.
Beth Lederman
Instructor, Futures Ensemble
Arizona native Beth Lederman has been playing keyboards professionally for more than 40 years. She is a mainstay in the Arizona jazz and latin scenes, but her influences and experiences are widely spread across many different musical styles.
Beth grew up in a musical environment. Her family ran Lederman Music Co., a chain of music stores in the the Phoenix area and her father was a professional jazz pianist. Beth began classical studies at age 5 and went on to earn a B.A. in Music from Arizona State University after also attending several colleges in Oregon. She has backed many different groups and played throughout the Southwest, as well as gigs in Canada and Mexico, appeared with the Phoenix Symphony, and is a first call player for recording sessions and bands ranging in style from jazz to fusion to pop.
