Jazz Area Faculty
As a performer of jazz and popular music, Matt Pivec has worked with Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Ana Gasteyer, Dave Rivello, Bob Brookmeyer, MariaSchneider, Julia Dollison, Melvin Rhyne, the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra,Steve Allee, Ana Gasteyer, The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, theIndianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic Pops Orchestra, and the national touring companies of Hairspray, 42nd Street, and The Producers. Asa band leader and soloist, Matt has performed at jazz festivals and venues throughout the United States. He has three albums to his credit, Live atSnider Hall, Psalm Songs and Time and Direction.
Currently, Matt is the Director of Jazz Studies at Butler University where leads the Jazz Ensemble and teaches courses in the jazz studies curriculum. Since his arrival in 2008, Butler ensembles have performed with world-renowned guest artists such as Cécile McLorin-Salvant, Sullivan Fortner, John Clayton, Benny Golson, Stefon Harris,Maria Schneider, Kurt Elling, Christian McBride, Bobby Sanabria, Donny McCaslin, Fred Sturm, Melvin Rhyne, Steve Allee, Ted Poor and the Wee Trio.Under his direction, in 2020, the Butler University Jazz Ensemble won theDownbeat Student Music Awards Undergraduate Large Ensemble Category.
Matt received the Doctor of Musical Arts (Saxophone Performance and Literature)and Master of Music (Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media) degrees from theEastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. While at Eastman, Matt studied with Ramon Ricker. He performed with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, the Eastman Graduate Saxophone Quartet, and served as lead alto saxophone of the Eastman Jazz Ensemble. Matt received the Bachelor of Music Education degree with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Matt has presented educational clinics and research at the Jazz Education Network Conference, the International Association for Jazz Education Conference, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Hong Kong Institute of Education, and the Indiana Music EducatorsAssociation Conference. His publications have been featured in Teaching Music, Inform, and Jazzed magazines.
Matt is a member of the national music honor society, Pi Kappa Lambda, and in 2013, he received the Mortar Board, Excellence in Teaching Award from the Jordan College of the Arts. In 2020, Matt received theOutstanding Collegiate Music Educator award from the Indiana Music Education Association. He is also a past president of the Indiana Jazz EducationAssociation.
In February 2009,Matt founded the Butler Youth Jazz Program and Butler Summer Jazz Camp. From these programs, students have progressed to study at some of the top music conservatories and colleges in the United States.
Sean Imboden is an American saxophonist and composer. Sean’s music pioneers forward-thinking, original compositions, and presents cutting-edge live performances. Sean has performed and recorded with GRAMMY-winning artists and jazz luminaries, including Slide Hampton, Sean Jones, Mike Rodriguez, Emmet Cohen, Steve Allee, Kenny Phelps, John Raymond, and Valery Ponomarev (of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers). A long-time member of Indianapolis-based quartet Tucker Brothers, Sean plays on the band’s four critically-acclaimed albums. An active sideman, Sean has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and with the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Barry Manilow, Johnny Mathis, and Idina Menzel. Sean toured internationally for many years with various Broadway productions, and as a featured soloist with Blast II. Sean has taught at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, and is currently on faculty at Butler University and Ball State University. Sean works with students around the world through his online Virtual Studio.
Sean’s flagship group, the Sean Imboden Large Ensemble, is a 17-piece modern jazz big band comprised of many of the best musicians of central Indiana. Consistently presenting innovative new music along with unique arrangements of standards, this group features top-tier soloists and a fresh approach to the traditional big band instrumentation.
Jesse Wittman is a bassist, composer,educator and recording artist based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. Heholds a degree in Jazz Studies from Indiana University where hestudied with David Baker and Bruce Bransby. He also holds a master’sdegree in Composition from Butler University where he studied withJames Aikman and Michael Shelle. He currently teaches jazz bass atButler University and has had the pleasure of working with greatmusicians around the country such as Nicole Henry, Marvin Hamlisch,Steve Houton, Anne Hampton Callaway and trombonist Steve Davis.
Chelsea Hughey is a jazz drummer, percussionist, and educator based in Indianapolis. A native of the city, she earned her B.A. in Music from Butler University, with a focus on classical percussion and jazz studies. She went on to complete an M.M. in Jazz Performance from New Jersey City University, and an MBA in Music Business from Southern New Hampshire University, combining artistry with real-world industry knowledge.
As a performer, Chelsea has had the privilege of sharing the stage with renowned musicians across various genres. In Indianapolis, she has collaborated with jazz legends such as Steve Allee, Rob Dixon, Frank Glover, and Frank Smith. Her New York-based performances include appearances with icons like Walt Weiskopf, Bob Malach, Dave Douglas, Steve Davis, Steve Wilson, Jimmy Greene, Charles McPherson, and Bobby Sanabria. Notably, in 2024, she joined Monika Herzig’s Sheroes for their 10th Anniversary tour, performing with Jaime Baum, Reut Regev, and Gina Schwarz at the prestigious 2024 Washington D.C. and Detroit Jazz Festivals.
Chelsea is a regular presence in the Indianapolis jazz scene, frequently performing at venues like the Chatterbox Jazz Club and The Jazz Kitchen. She is the co-leader of HP+3 and leader of Chelsea Hughey’s Big Swing Face. She collaborates with local artists including Monika Herzig, Erin Benedict, the Cohen-Rutkowski Project, the Gary Walters Trio, and the Hickey-Shanafelt 9ollective. Beyond jazz, she performs for local theater performances with credits of 60+ shows including Jersey Boys, Newsies, Legally Blonde, King and I, and Mamma Mia.
An experienced educator, Chelsea has been teaching private percussion and drum set lessons since 2010, working with students across Indiana and northern New Jersey. She currently teaches privately at Sycamore School, and serves as adjunct professor of jazz drums at Butler University and adjunct professor of percussion at Marian University. She works with the Butler Youth Jazz Program and serves as a mentor for Jazz Girls Days at Indiana University and Noblesville High School. Additionally, Chelsea works as an adjudicator for competitions, offers masterclass on jazz drumming and the rhythm section, and acts a guest speaker and artist at area schools.
Jon Crabiel is Percussion Artist-in-Residence at Butler University Jordan College of the Arts in Indianapolis, IN. At Butler University, Jon serves as coordinator of percussion studies, conducts the percussion ensembles and teaches courses in percussion literature, pedagogy and world drumming. In addition, Jon serves as director and founder of the Butler Percussion Camp held every June at Butler University.
In 2017, Jon took a one-year leave of absence from Butler to perform and serve as Acting Assistant Principal Timpani and Percussion with the National Symphony Orchestra for the 2017-18 season in Washington, D.C. Jon is first-call extra percussion with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Ft. Wayne Philharmonic, Empire Brass, Ronen Chamber Ensemble, Dance Kaleidoscope and national Broadway tour companies. He has served as Principal Timpani at Bear Valley Music Festival and toured with the River City Brass Band. In addition to classical music, Jon is equally versed in rock, pop, jazz, Latin American and Brazilian percussion and drumset. He is a member of The Icarus Ensemble, an eclectic five-piece jazz group made up of members of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. The Icarus Ensemble have performed with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in concert as guest artist at the Hilbert Circle Theatre and released their first self-titled CD The Icarus Ensemble in 2015.
Jon studied as an Artist Diploma candidate at Carnegie Mellon University and received both his Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts degrees from Eastern Illinois University. His past teachers include: Timothy Adams Jr., Professor Johnny Lee Lane and Richard Paul. In 2014, Jon received Outstanding Graduate Alumni Award from Eastern Illinois University.
An active performer, clinician and educator throughout the Midwest, Jon serves annually as percussion coach of the Honor Orchestra of America and Masterclass Clinician for the Music For All National Concert Festival. He has served on faculty of the United States Percussion Camp, MidWest Percussion Camp, Las Vegas Percussion Camp, Great Lakes Music Camp and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
He has presented clinics for the Percussive Arts Society, Indiana Music Educators Association and Indiana Percussion Association. Jon is an active and in demand studio musician for commercial recording sessions and has made solo performances with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (with The Icarus Ensemble), Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Midwest Band and Orchestra International Conference and the Indiana Music Educators Association Convention.
Jon’s students have received numerous Butler University Concerto Competition honors and awards – and his former students are currently performing with major symphony orchestras, touring nationally and internationally with Broadway shows and teaching at universities in North America. Jon is a Yamaha Performing Artist and endorses Yamaha Drums and Percussion, Vic Firth Drumsticks and Mallets, Remo Drumheads and Zildjian Cymbals.
SandyWilliams has been a fixture on the Indiana music scene for several decades. His live performance credits include performing with Idina Menzel, John Waters,Liza Mennelli, Marvin Hamlisch, alt-country rocker Steve Earle, Michael Feinstein’s live PBS special, the Steve Allee Big Band, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, andIndianapolis Chamber Orchestra. He has performed in the pit orchestra for a number of touring Broadway shows, including, The Lion King, Chicago, Legally Blonde,Motown, and Beautiful. As a studio musician his credits include The RounderRecords box-set (with Carrie Newcomer), jazz arranger John Clayton, John Mellencamp’s movie soundtrack Falling From Grace (with Larry Crane), Hal Leonard publications’ Essential Elements series, hundreds of jingles, and gospel singers Sandi Patti and Bill Gaither. He is the author of Live Sound ForGuitar (pub.Cengage Learning) and technical editor for many of the Guitar ForDummies series. In November 2014 he performed four concerts in Guangzhou,China, with jazz pianist Steve Allee.
Kent Hickey is an in-demand trumpet player and educator based in Indianapolis, IN. He received his undergraduate degree in jazz studies from Butler University and his master’s degree at the esteemed Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under the tutelage of John Raymond. Locally, Kent has played alongside some of the scene’s best including Sean Imboden, Rob Dixon, Nick Tucker, Joel Tucker, and Kenny Phelps among others. The trumpeter currently leads two of his own projects, the Hickey-Shanafelt 9ollective and the Kent Hickey Trio. Previously, Kent worked as a trumpeter aboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships in the Summers of 2018 and 2019.
The Hickey-Shanafelt 9ollective is an Indianapolis-based jazz nonet that highlights composers and arrangers within the ensemble and shares a goal of sharing this music with the community. The 9ollective plans to release their debut album, “illuminate” independently later this year. The Kent Hickey Trio performs Kent’s original compositions and lesser-known jazz standards. The group draws inspiration from groups led by Avishai Cohen, Mike Rodriguez, John Swana, and Tim Hagans. Kent’s groups have performed at several venues in the past year including McGowan Hall, Merriman’s Playhouse, Chilly Water Brewing Co., Blockhouse Bar, the Chatterbox, and the world-famous Jazz Kitchen.
In addition to performing, Kent is also a passionate educator who strives to share his love of music with the next generation. He maintains a private studio of about 30 trumpet students at various schools in the Indianapolis area and is also the outreach liaison for the Butler Youth Jazz Program, a branch of the Butler Community Arts School. Recently, Kent was also appointed Adjunct Professor of Jazz Trumpet at both Butler University and the University of Indianapolis.
Richard Dole is an active tenor/bass trombonist and educator in Indianapolis and the surrounding region. He performs with several regional orchestras including Sinfonia da Camera Orchestra in Champaign/Urbana Illinois, The Illinois Symphony, Danville Symphony, Carmel Symphony, and the Anderson Symphony Orchestra. He has toured or performed with Aretha Franklin, Johnny Mathis, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Steve Lawrence/Edie Gorme, Barry Manilo, the Hollywood Concert Orchestra China tour, and in 2008 traveled with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra to Egypt for a US State Department Tour. He received both his Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance and Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He has studied with legends in both the jazz and trombone world including: M. Dee Stewart, Edwin Anderson, Carl Lenthe, Dominic Spera, and Dr. David N. Baker. He is currently ABD in his pursuit of the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Jazz Performance degree at University of Illinois where he is the Teaching Assistant for trombonist Jim Pugh.
He can be heard each Wednesday at 9pm on WICR 88.7 as co-host of the radio show ‘Have You Heard’. The podcast of the radio show is online at: haveyouheardjazz.com. Mr. Dole resides in Indianapolis with his wife Stacy and their two beautiful children, Griffin and Ellington.
Erin Benedict is a graduate of The Manhattan School of Music and holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Voice Performance and Commercial Music. While in school, she traveled with the Manhattan School of Music Big Band to Italy where they were featured performers at the Venito Jazz Festival. Erin had the privilege of studying under Jackie Presti while in school. During her years in New York, she worked as a session singer recording movie backgrounds for Disney, including the motion picture “Mission To Mars”. If you visit the the Hayden Planetarium of New York’s Museum of Natural History you will hear her singing in the featured program “Passport to the Universe” narrated by actor Tom Hanks. Erin toured the United States with “Pieces of 8”, an eight person a cappella jazz ensemble, performing songs written and arranged by Dr. Charles Mead. She now resides in Indianapolis with her husband Greg and three children. In addition to being a soloist at Second Presbyterian Church, Erin is also a regular session vocalist at The Lodge Studios, Airborne Studios and Gaither Studios. She is a background vocalist for renowned Christian singer Sandi Patty’s studio albums “Broadway Stories” and “Forever Grateful”. In 2015, Erin released her first album “Steal Away” and currently serves on the jazz faculty at Butler University.