Amanda Carr, President and CEO Amanda Carr is a jazz vocalist. Her mother, Nancy Carr, was a big band vocalist. Her father, trumpeter Nick Capezuto, played with notable big bands such as Tex Beneke, Larry Clinton, Louis Prima and Herb Pomeroy. Just before her father passed away on December 30, 2008, Amanda promised her dad she would carry the torch into the next generations, and to do what she could to preserve the American heritage of big bands. As the President and CEO of ABBPS, she has assembled a talented group of passionate volunteers to preserve the heritage of American big bands. Amanda has performed for over 30 years, recording five albums and running and operating her own record label and recording studio. A student of classical piano at South Shore Conservatory, she went on to the University of Lowell on scholarship to continue her music education. Her latest CD, Common Thread, with the Kenny Hadley Big Band, won national airplay and rave reviews, including one from Nat Hentoff in The Wall Street Journal. Amanda@AmericanBigBand.org

Kenny Hadley Kenny Hadley used his generation-long experience as both a big band drummer and big band leader to become one of New England's top educators in the big band genre. He is best known as the leader of his own 16-piece big band which has recorded three CDs and has performed publicly for over three decades. In addition to private instruction, he conducts numerous clinics and Master Classes throughout the northeast region. Mr. Hadley has earned his well deserved reputation as an educator by honing his skills as a performing musician. He knows firsthand how difficult it is to maintain a performing big band and to that end, he has volunteered his considerable talent and expertise to develop a curriculum to teach a new generation. A Zildjian and Vater endorser, Kenny is one of New England's most sought after drummers. His work truly encompasses all styles including rock, funk, R&B, jazz and swing. He's performed with acts such as Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Johnny Adams, Van Morrison, Dizzy Gillespie, The Count Basie Orchestra, Peter Wolf and The Drifters. He's also performed and contracted numerous productions with the Franklin School for the Performing Arts, a school focusing on music & theatre education for children of all ages. His theatre work includes blockbuster shows such as "Tommy", "Hair", "The Full Monty", "Mamma Mia" and "Dirty Dancing."

Richard Lowell Richard Lowell is an Associate Professor in the Jazz Composition Department at Berklee College of Music, where he also received his diploma. His passion and experience with teaching young people the art of arranging spans decades and his dedication to keeping the integrity of the big band art form is demonstrated in his extra-curricular efforts in adjudicating big band competitions and giving master classes. He has performed with Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dionne Warwick, Lou Rawls, the Pointer Sisters, and others. He has composed for Buddy Rich and Dave Stall, and has arrangements featured on A Beautiful Friendship and Common Thread, both with the Kenny Hadley Big Band and for My Kind of Broadway CD by Dick Johnson. Richard@AmericanBigBand.org

Bob Freedman Bob Freedman is Grammy®-award winning composer/arranger with a long list of clients and accomplishments. Bob has arranged for big bands like Maynard Ferguson, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Herb Pomeroy, and icons such as Wynton Marsalis, Ron Carter, Joe Williams, Harry Belafonte, Billy Joel, Lena Horne, Marvin Hamlisch, Grover Washington Jr., Sarah Vaughan and even Carly Simon. He has won awards for his musical contribution to motion pictures such as The Wiz and China Syndrome and arranged, conducted and composed for countless television and live music productions. Bob taught at Berklee College of Music during the 1950s and 60s, and later on in the 80s when he was Chair of the Arranging Department. He's created series for big band arranging curricula available from his website. His contributions to education and knowledge of big band arranging and composition are invaluable to the ABBPS. Bob is a passionate educator who is dedicating his efforts to the mission of preserving the American big band with a strong emphasis on the art of arranging. Bob currently resides in Arizona. Bob@AmericanBigBand.org

Adi Yeshaya: Adi Yeshava, an Israeli-born arranger, is on the faculty at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he teaches in the Contemporary Writing and Production department. Recently he arranged material for Common Thread, a big band CD release by Amanda Carr and the Kenny Hadley Big Band. He is credited as an arranger/producer on a long list of projects, including recordings by Aretha Franklin and Lena Horne. His charts have been performed by artists such as Whitney Houston, Donny Osmond, Michael Bolton, Doc Severinsen and ensembles such as the Scotland Philharmonic Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony and Jazzaar (Aarau, Switzerland). He's also composed music for TV and film. Visit him online at www.adiyeshaya.com.

Arnold C. Sholovitz, Treasurer Arnie Sholovitz is a practicing lawyer concentrating in the areas of commercial and intellectual law and related areas of litigation. He has had a lifetime love of The American Songbook. While not a professional musician or educator, he has an extensive collection of big band music. Arnie's love of history along with a lifetime joy of playing trumpet, piano and guitar has fueled his passion to assist the talented group of Officers and Directors of ABBPS to realize their vision. Arnold@AmericanBigBand.org.

Marilyn Volpe Drawing on dual careers, Marilyn brings both managerial and musical experience to the ABBPS board. She is president of The Madison Consulting Group, an elite New York City training and consulting firm, and a professional singer of tunes from the Great American Songbook. Marilyn began her career in the 1970s at Bank of America and rose to the position of Vice President of Global Information Systems. She moved to Italy in the 1980s to follow her dream of a singing career. She appeared on television, recorded her first album, and lived the life of an entertainer for nearly five years. In 1989 she returned to New York and developed and delivered sales, management and customer service-programs as an independent consultant. In 1993, Marilyn started The Madison Consulting Group, which has grown to include more than 40 consultants, offering more than 65 different seminars and programs. All the while, Marilyn continued to develop her singing career. Highlights include an appearance with Frank Sinatra at New York's Tavern on the Green, where she recorded a live CD and singing at top New York City supper clubs, including Rainbow and Stars, The Algonquin, and Carnegie Hall. Marilyn belongs to both the National Arts Club and the Women Presidents Organization. Marilyn@AmericanBigBand.org