Director - Douglas Anderson SOTA JE1
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
St. Johns, FL
Don Zentz is in his thirty-eighth year of teaching and currently serves as the Director of Jazz Studies at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida. He has taught instrumental music at every level in education. His high school and collegiate jazz bands have performed at major festivals and conferences throughout the US and abroad. Over the past seven years at Douglas Anderson, Don's top jazz band performed at The Midwest Clinic and JEN (New Orleans), won the National Jazz Festival, won Swing Central (Savannah), won Basically Basie (KC), won or placed in the DownBeat SMA's, and presented Spring Jazz Night concerts with Ernie Watts and John Fedchock. He was inducted into the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame this past May.
Don holds degrees from Valdosta State University (Georgia) where Bob Greenhaw was his mentor. After teaching middle and high school band early in his career, Don was hired onto the jazz faculty at the University of North Florida by jazz education pioneer Rich Matteson. During his nine year tenure at UNF, Don's top jazz band won the National Collegiate Jazz Band Festival and Notre Dame Jazz Festival, produced two critically acclaimed CD's, was selected for inclusion in BMG's Best of College Jazz compilation project, received DownBeat recognition, brought the UNF jazz program to the international stage, and performed concerts with over thirty guest artists. These guest artists include Herbie Hancock, Maria Schneider, Arturo Sandoval, Dave Brubeck, Ellis Marsalis, Joe Lovano, Terry Gibbs, and Eddie Daniels. Don was named an Outstanding Undergraduate Professor while at UNF and DownBeat Magazine named him the recipient of their Jazz Education Achievement Award in 1999.
Don enjoys much activity as an honor band director and adjudicator in both traditional and jazz idioms. He has directed All-State Jazz Bands in Florida (2), Georgia, Alabama, and Maine (2) along with the Delaware All-State Symphonic Band. Don's district and county honor band directing throughout the southeast is extensive. He has presented numerous clinics and workshops for students and teachers alike. Most recently, he was the keynote clinician kicking off The Jazz Institute component of the 2021 Florida Bandmasters Association Summer Conference. Don presented "Top Ten Jazz Band Essentials" at the 2021 Midwest Clinic in Chicago.
Don has been a Keilwerth Saxophones performing artist since 1995. He was a per service saxophonist for over 20 years with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and continues to enjoy work in the pit orchestras of the off-Broadway musicals. He has performed with Doc Severinsen, Dave Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespie, Diane Schuur, Johnny Mathis, Al Jarreau, and Nancy Wilson to name a few. Additionally, he played lead alto for almost a decade with The Fabulous Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra ghost band for engagements throughout the south.
Don's career reveals a passion for both the teaching and performing of music. And as committed as he is to music and his students, the love he has for his family is immeasurable. He has been married to his wife Laurie for over 36 years.
Thursday, January 5, 2023
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM US EST