2010 Faculty

Shane Pitsch holds a degree of Doctor of Musical Arts degree in trumpet performance and literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he studied with Ray Sasaki, Michael Ewald, and Ronald Romm. Mr. Pitsch received his master's degree from Eastern Illinois University and bachelor's degree in trumpet performance (jazz emphasis) from the University of Texas at Austin. Comfortable playing in a wide variety of styles, Shane has performed with artists such as Willie Nelson, The Drifters, Sam Moore (of Sam and Dave), Maria Schneider, Wayne Shorter, and Steve Turre. Shane is currently the trumpet teacher at several Austin and central Texas schools and plays with several Austin area bands, including Ghandaia and O Positivo.

Ponder East is part of a family of musicians and teachers. He pursued music in college, graduating from the University of North Texas with a degree in Music Education. Prior to Austin, he taught in Wylie ISD and Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. He is currently the Jazz Director at LBJ and LASA High Schools, directs the AISD All-City high school jazz band, and teaches private saxophone lessons. Since moving to Austin, he has performed, arranged, and composed with EAST, Creeker, Indagroove, The Bright Lights Society, Funk Shui, Global Soul, Austin Knights Brass Band, and Concordia University Jazz Ensemble. He currently plays in the Belltower, the Austin Jazz Band and Akina Adderley & the Vintage Playboys.

Aaron Lack. Percussionist and drummer Aaron Lack has performed concerts throughout North America and Europe and has been living and performing in the Austin, Texas area since 2000. Lack has shared the concert stage with jazz greats such as Benny Green, Roy Haynes, Chuck Israels, Alex Acuna, David Samuels, Ndugu Chancelor, Terry Gibbs, Ken "Professor" Fillmore, and Andy Narrell as well as drumming legends Jabo Starks and Clyde Stubblefield. Lack has performed on vibraphone, drums, steeldrum, congas and other percussion instruments with Robben Ford, John Primer, Joe Bonamassa, The Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble, The Ernie Durawa Trio, The David Palmer Quartet, The Brannen Temple Quartet, John Fremgen, Donna High Tower, The Midland(MI) Symphony Orchestra, The Golden Arm Trio, Michael Shay, The Invincible Czars, The Stingers ATX, Los Jazz Vatos, and many more. Lack's jazz festival appearances include the Montreaux/Detroit Jazz Festival, The Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival, The Grand Rapids Arts Festival, and regional festivals in Texas. Lack is currently performing in the Austin area with the Aaron Lack Trio, RokkaTone, The Aaron Lack Steel Trio, Manteca Beat, and many other projects encompassing a broad range of musical styles.

Chris Bell, holds a Master’s degree in Composition (Jazz) from Texas State University and spent three years in private study with the great New York based Jazz guitarist Richie Hart. Chris has been teaching at the Austin School of Music since 2002 where he specializes in Jazz guitar, performance, theory and improvisation with a heavy accent on the Blues. He has shared the stage with some stellar musicians including Ron Wilkins (Lena Horne, Dizzy Gillespie) organist/producer Ron Levy (B.B. King, Roomful of Blues) and drummer Jeff Salisbury (Albert King, Chuck Berry) as well as Austin locals Kellye Grey, Alex Coke, Dexter Walker, Chris Maresh, John Vogelsang, and Doug Hall. As leader of The Belltower, Chris has brought his own blend of Jazz and Blues to audiences in New York, Boston, Vermont, San Francisco, Oakland, CA and Austin, TX.