Swinging Into Summer

DR. JENNIFER L. GRICE, TCB CONDUCTOR

Dr. Jennifer L. Grice is the conductor of the Thornton Community Band. Jennifer serves as a clinician and adjudicator across the United States, including being a clinician along with Ray Cramer for the 2025 Conducting Symposium for the American School Band Directors Association. Jennifer has presented six different sessions at the Colorado Music Educators Association Conference and two sessions at the Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference. She was a visiting professor at Central Washington University as the Assistant Director of Bands and Music Education Coordinator. Prior to this position, Jennifer was the Director of Bands & Orchestras at Windsor High School. While at WHS the Jazz Band was chosen to perform at CMEA, the Marching Band placed 2nd in the State CBA 3A Marching Band Competition, and the Wind Symphony advanced to the CBA State Concert Band Festival.

Jennifer has been teaching music in the public schools and college for 25 plus years. Jennifer received her doctorate in Wind Conducting from the University of Northern Colorado, master’s degrees in Wind Conducting and Oboe Performance from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and a bachelor’s in Instrumental Music Education from Arizona State University. While at UNC she was a teaching assistant and the Assistant Director of the Pride of the Rockies Marching Band. Prior to UNC she was the Director of Education & Outreach at Conn-Selmer, Inc. working with Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser. Her previous orchestra from Lafayette High School (KY), performed at The Midwest Clinic in 2009, KMEA, and the Music for All National Orchestra Festival. Jennifer is the founder and director of Command the FieldDrum Major & Leadership Camp.

Jennifer loves spending time with her family. Her husband, Jeff Perry is currently the Director of Bands at Brighton High School. She has four daughters; Jasmine is currently a graduate teaching assistant at the University of North Texas majoring in Horn Performance; Jade is the band and choir director at McAuliffe Middle School in Greeley; Joy is double majoring in Music Education and Dance at CSU; and Joelle is a senior at Windsor High School and active in all of the arts.

Nicole Rubis | Assistant Conductor

Nicole Rubis is Director of Orchestras at Rocky Top Middle School, where she teaches 6th-8th grade ensembles. Nicole taught instrumental music for 20 years in Minnesota, as well as choir, pep band and jazz band. Outside of the school day, Nicole directed the high school pit orchestra and was music director for many years of middle and high school theater shows in the Columbia Heights school district.

Rubis holds a Bachelor of Music with emphasis on clarinet and vocal performance. She performed on clarinet for 17 years with the Bloomington Medalist Concert Band, as well as other ensembles around the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. She is currently a member of the Thornton Community Band, where she serves on the Board of Directors and is a substitute player for the TCB Chamber Winds.

In her free time, Nicole can be found outdoors running, hiking and biking and spending time traveling.

Katie Hughes, Pianist

Pianist Katie Hughes, who is originally from Boulder, enjoys collaborating with instrumentalists, soloists, and ensembles in a variety of genres. She is currently a staff collaborative pianist and adjunct faculty at the University of Northern Colorado and serves as the organist at First Congregational Church in Greeley. Most recently she was the Accompanist and Event Coordinator at Chadron State College, where she collaborated with all of the music students. Katie graduated from UNC with a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance in 2019 and graduated from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music with a Master's degree in Collaborative Piano in 2021. She has held various church music positions, directed and played for theater companies, and accompanied camps such as Rocky Ridge Music Center, Broadway Academy, and Opera Classica. When not behind a keyboard, Katie can most likely be found going on long runs, enjoying a warm cup of coffee, or crafting!

Jeff Gagliardi, Harmonica

Jeff Gagliardi began playing harmonica in the mid 1970s before moving to Colorado from his native New York City. In college Jeff studied design and fine art at The School of Visual Arts during the day and drove a cab at night. Between fares he passed the time playing the harmonica — improvising as he went along. Eventually Jeff was able to make a career as an artist, designer, illustrator, and as an occasional musician with blues bands in the Boulder/Denver area. He lives with his wife Nanci in Longmont and now enjoys pursuing his fine art. Jeff’s artwork can be seen on his website at www.JeffSketch.com