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Meet Your Dedicated Officers

At LAJE, we are passionate about jazz music education and are dedicated to fostering the growth of jazz within the state of Louisiana. Our team is committed to providing the best possible learning experiences for students and educators alike, ensuring that the legacy of jazz music continues to thrive in our community.

Michael Brothers

Michael Brothers

President

Donny Alexander

Donny Alexander

Vice President

JAN GERBRECHT DUPRE

Jan Gerbrecht Dupre

Secretary & Treasurer

Doug Stone

Doug Stone

Past President

William Rose.jpg

William Rose

College Rep

BJ McGibney

B.J. McGibney

High School Rep

Cory Joy Craig.jpg

Cory Joy Craig

Middle School Rep

Patrick Bordelon

Patrick Bordelon

Director at Large

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Nolan Wible

President Elect

Serving Louisiana

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Every district in Louisiana counts!

Michael Brothers

Michael Brothers

President

Michael Brothers is Director of Jazz and Percussion Studies at Southeastern Louisiana University, where he teaches Applied Percussion, Percussion Methods, Jazz History, Jazz Pedagogy, and is Director of the University Jazz Ensemble, University Percussion Ensemble and Spirit of the Southland Drumline. A native of Oakland, California, his forty-plus year career as a drummer and percussionist spans a wide range of musical experience including performances with big bands, symphony orchestras, recording sessions and Broadway, including over 6,600 performances of the Broadway musical The Phantom of the Opera, the longest continually running Broadway tour in history. His extensive credits include performances with some of the world’s legendary entertainers such as Victor Borge, Mitzi Gaynor, Marvin Hamlisch, Gladys Knight, Liberace, Maureen McGovern, Anthony Newley, Patti Page and Dinah Shore. His albums Reunion and Three Times Two have received extensive airplay throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, France, The Netherlands and United Kingdom. His newest album, House Sessions, Vol. 1 is expected to be released in late 2024 or early 2025. Michael holds degrees in Percussion Performance from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL (MM) and Loyola University New Orleans (BM).

Michael

Donny Alexander

Vice President

Donny D. Alexander is the associate band director at Zachary High School in Zachary, Louisiana. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University and is entering his 24 th year as an educator. Mr. Alexander was named Teacher of the Year at Zachary High School in 2018. He is a member of NAfME, the Louisiana Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Mr. Alexander is proud to serve as vice president for LAJE.

Donny Alexander
Donny

Jan Gerbrecht Dupre

Secretary & Treasurer

Jan Gerbrecht Dupre is a music educator/professional pianist, flutist, vocalist, and composer. Jan studied music at Louisiana State University and Liberty University and holds a BS in Commercial Music, is a certified Teacher of Talented Music and a certified Talented Music Evaluator in Louisiana. She is the Performing Arts Director at St. George School in Baton Rouge, where she directs the Concert Bands, Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Ensemble, Liturgical Ensemble, and Musical Theater Production and teaches in the SGS Piano Lab. Her influence extends beyond the classroom as the Event Director for the esteemed Fortier/Gerbrecht Jazz Invitational Concert, performances with the Baton Rouge Jazz Ensemble and her ownjazz quartet, Jan Dupre and the Gentlemen of Swing.

Jan

Doug Stone

Past President

Doug Stone’s versatility as a jazz saxophonist, improviser, and composer can be heard on his recordings as a leader, co-leader and sideman. Stone maintains an active national and international performing and touring schedule, and is a first call musician in New Orleans, LA, with groups including The John Mahoney Septet, Reid Poole’s Boppin’ Five, the Victory Swing Orchestra, and in Baton Rouge, LA, with the Florida Street Blowhards, among others. At Louisiana State University, Stone directs the acclaimed LSU Jazz Ensemble, coaches chamber jazz ensembles, teaches applied lessons in jazz saxophone and improvisation, and teaches courses in jazz pedagogy and career preparedness. He has also served as the president of the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education and jazz division chair of the Louisiana Music Educators Association.
 

Doug Stone
Doug

William Rose

William Rose
William Rose.jpg

College rep

William G. Rose is Associate Professor of Music and Assistant Department Head at McNeese State, where he teaches low brass, directs the McNeese Alphorn Ensemble, and conducts the brass choir and jazz ensemble. He recently retired after 30 years as Music Director at St. Luke-Simpson UMC in Lake Charles.

A clinician, performer, and composer, Rose has appeared at major festivals and conferences across the U.S. and internationally, including the International Trombone Festival and the Nendaz Alphorn Festival in Switzerland. He has served as instructor and composer for various alphorn workshops and retreats.

As a conductor, he has led numerous theatrical and orchestral productions in Southwest Louisiana, including the Lake Charles Civic Ballet’s Alice in Wonderland (2017). Recently appointed Conductor and Artistic Director of the Lake Charles Symphony, he has been Principal Trombone for the Rapides Symphony Orchestra for 39 years.

A Yamaha Performing Artist and Melodious Accord Composition Fellow, Rose has composed over 500 works for various ensembles. He received the McNeese President’s Award for Excellence in 2022.

B.J. McGibney

High School Rep

BJ McGibney has taught in the East Baton Rouge Parish Talented Music Program for 21 years. In 2017, he became the Director of Bands at Baton Rouge Magnet High School, where he conducts the Symphonic Winds 1 & 2, Jazz Band, Music Tech/Jazz Improvisation and AP Music Theory. A tenor and bass trombonist, he plays in various groups from jazz combo and big band to symphony orchestra, brass quintet, brass choir and chamber ensembles. He holds degrees from Louisiana State University (MM; Bass Trombone Performance) and Murray State University (BME).

BJ McGibney
BJ
Cory Joy Craig.jpg

Corey Joy Craig

Middle School Rep

Cory Joy Craig overcame a difficult childhood in foster care to find hope through music education. She earned her Bachelor’s in Music Education from Louisiana Tech University and has dedicated her career to teaching and mentoring students, particularly in underprivileged communities. Craig has led and developed music programs across Louisiana, growing band participation and fostering community engagement. She currently teaches at North Desoto Middle School, leads the professional jazz band Everett Street Jazz, and clinics honor bands statewide. A four-time Grammy Music Educator of the Year Finalist and Louisiana’s 2024 Middle School Teacher of the Year, she continues to inspire through music education, mentorship, and service.

Corey
Patrick Bordelon

Patrick Bordelon is a native of Baton Rouge and is in his 25th year as Band Director at Central High School. He led the Bands at Central High School to superior ratings with the “Spirit of Central” marching band and Sweepstakes with the Symphonic Winds at the District and State Level as well as with the Central High Jazz Ensemble. In 2012, he was named Director of Jazz Studies and Music Media Production, allowing him to focus on the jazz program, guitar classes, rock band class and dual enrollment classes through LSU in sound design. He is a past president of the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education and an Avid Certified Instructor for Pro Tools.

He regularly performs as a solo jazz guitarist and with many groups in the surrounding area, including That 70's Band, The Hot Club of Baton Rouge and the Baton Rouge Symphony. He has shared the stage with Blue Oyster Cult, Ellis Marsalis, Sugar Ray, The Coasters and Kristin Chenoweth, to name a few. He has performed on 6 of the 12 stages at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and has been a featured performer at Live after 5, Ebb and Flo Fest and French Quarter Fest. He and his wife, Katy, have two beautiful children, Anna and Luke.

Patrick

Patrick Bordelon

Director at Large

Nolan Wible
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Nolan Wible

President Elect

Nolan Wible currently serves as Assistant Professor of High Brass at Nicholls State University, where he teaches the Trumpet and French Horn Studios and directs the Nicholls State University Jazz Ensemble.

An active and in-demand trumpet player, educator, and arranger, Nolan is a first-call musician throughout southeastern Louisiana. His versatility across a wide range of styles has afforded him the opportunity to perform in a variety settings, including jazz groups, chamber ensembles, orchestras, and commercial ensembles. Nolan has shared the stage with artists such as the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Larry Sieberth, DK Harrell, the Brasshearts Brass Band, the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, and the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra. As both a sideman and arranger, Nolan’s work can be heard on six different albums, including a featured soloist appearance on Bryan Tuk's Life in High Gravity.

In 2023, Nolan debuted his Jazz Octet in Philadelphia, PA. The ensemble explores a mix of traditional jazz repertoire alongside original compositions and arrangements. The group has toured nationally, offering educational clinics, masterclasses, and performances, and recently performed at the Marigny Opera House in New Orleans, LA.

A dedicated educator, Nolan is passionate about giving back to the community. In addition to his responsibilities at Nicholls, he has worked with local high schools and middle schools, serving as a teaching assistant and composing music for school ensembles.

Nolan is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Louisiana State University under the guidance of Dr. Ross Ahlhorn and Professor Doug Stone. He also holds a Master of Music in Brass Performance from LSU and a Bachelor of Music from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

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