Name: Greg Zalapi
Main Instrument: Trumpet
Other Instruments: just what I teach
Musical Education: BA University of Minnesota - Morris , working on masters
Favorite Jazz Artist or Group: Arturo Sandoval, Wynton Marsalis, just depends on the day
Favorite Jazz Piece: Bebop, Ya Gotta Try, something off Arturo's Hot House CD
What do you like best about the Heartland Jazz Orchestra?
It is a great musical experience away from my band director
job. Playing with
Such great musicians keeps me motivated and is a fun
and rewarding opportunity.
Other groups you play in or have played with?
University of Minnesota Morris Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band.
Phantom Regiment
Drum and Bugle Corps, Prairie Brass (brass quintet in the Fairbury, Illinois area)
Other interest or hobbies?
I love going to concerts and listening to
different types of music. In the summer I like to attend drum corps events.
I am also a Rush fan (the canadian rockers, not Limbaugh). On my spare time
I coach junior high wrestling and try to keep up with the wrestling world
(the real stuff, not WWE).
Greg grew up in Antioch, IL where he played in the school bands. He went to
college
at the University of Morris, Minnesota. His most memorable jazz experience
is playing at his college's annual jazz fest with Louis Bellson and Clark
Terry and when his college band played at the North Sea and Montreau Jazz
Fest. After College Greg began his teaching career and currently teaches band for
the Prairie Central school district in Forrest/Fairbury. Check out their
website at
http://prairiecentral.org/jhpages/html/music%20department.htm