Don Braden
Chairman
Don Braden, is a jazz musician of the highest caliber. For over 30 years he has toured the world leading his own ensembles on saxophone and flute, as a special guest, and as a sideman with Jazz greats Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Tony Williams, Roy Haynes, Herbie Hancock, and many others. He has composed music for ensembles ranging from duo to full symphonic orchestra, in many styles, for recordings (including 19 CDs as a leader and over 80 as a sideman), film, and television networks.
Braden is a leading arranger of contemporary standards, and has built a solid collection of newer American songs into his Jazz repertoire. He is also a world-renowned educator, having spent over two decades giving master classes at countless schools and universities, and running first class educational programs such as the Litchfield Jazz Camp, Texas Jazz & Blues Camp, NJPAC's Wells Fargo Jazz For Teens, and most recently, the Harvard University Monday Jazz Band.
Dave Fazio
Vice-Chairman
Dave Fazio, AIA, is the general manager principal of Fazio Architects, and is the principal in charge of design. Fazio Architects has been in business for over 20 years, and provides leadership on a multitude building types including municipal facilities, educational buildings, medical office buildings, and complex renovation projects. Dave has served as manager/designer on a number of large scale institutional projects. He has received a number of design awards throughout his career and is considered an artist as much as an architect.
Dave began his musical interest at age 8 by studying piano and playing the guitar. Growing up in a military family, he was exposed to many styles of music which gave him the opportunity to play a variety of music styles in a number of bands around the world. While in Rome in the early 1980’s, he played in Calicchia's Blues Band. Dave is currently focusing his attention on song composition while expanding his knowledge of music theory and jazz guitar.
Evan Taniguchi
Evan Taniguchi, AIA, is Principal/Owner of Taniguchi Architects, and was born in Harlingen in 1952. The firm was founded by his father, Alan Taniguchi, and upon Alan’s death in 1998, Evan took full-control of the practice, but more importantly, took over many of Alan’s community service obligations, most notably his place on the Board of Trustees of Huston-Tillotson University, one of the oldest Historically Black Universities in America.
From there, Evan has gone on to serve on the Board of several other organizations, including Planned Parenthood, the Austin History Center, and the Japanese-American National Museum, making a significant difference for each. From 2009-2012 Evan served as a Chair for the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan Task Force and helped to successfully lobby its approval before City Council. Evan has been serving on the City of Austin Design Commission since 2011 and is currently the Vice-Chairman while he continues his tenure on the UT Austin School of Architecture Dean’s Advisory Council.
His architectural works have received numerous awards including the Palmer Events Center, the UT Austin Norman Hackerman Building, UT Austin Welch Hall and the Blue Hole Regional Park. In 2012, Taniguchi Architects was recognized with AIA/Austin’s Firm Achievement Award, the local Chapter’s highest honor, which focused on Evan’s commitment to public service. It is this award along with Planned Parenthood dedicating a room in their new facility to his name, due to his steadfast professionalism in the midst of angry protests that threatened the construction of the clinic, which Evan feels are some of his most notable and satisfying public service achievements. Evan continues to blend architecture and community service much like his father and grandfather, contributing to the beauty and humanity of Austin.
Richard Spencer
Co - Founder / Executive Director
Richard Spencer, MBA, MME, is a business management and music professional with over 25 years of world-class experience in both disciplines. Richard and his wife, Paula, who is also a business management and music professional, co-founded New School of Music as a 501c3 in August 2013, with the vision of providing music scholarships, up to half of total enrollment to underserved children – while connecting them with world-class musicians and educators.
Richard’s management and technology consulting experience includes a variety of enterprise and outsourcing projects for public and private sector clients – including Exxon-Mobil, USAA, The Associates, The State of Texas, The State of Arizona, Accenture, and IBM. Richard previously co-founded a technology services startup, Jazz I.T., Inc., acquired angel investors for round 1 ($1.2M), and secured the initial major customers. Upon developing the firm’s revenue ($1.3M) and transitioning to a network management focus, the firm subsequently merged with MegaPath, which is an ongoing concern.
Richard’s music accomplishments are primarily in jazz guitar, and he is a prior recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Fellowship. Richard taught music at Southwestern University, Cedar Valley College, and Eastfield College, and Concordia University, and has performed and recorded in a variety of musical styles and venues. His professional music performing experience includes touring and recording with the Chico Hamilton Quintet (a world-renowned NYC based jazz group), and gigging with Bob Berg, Wallace Roney, Ralph Moore, Tiger Okoshi, and others. Richard holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, a Masters in Music Education (Jazz Studies) from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelors in Music (Jazz Performance) from the University of North Texas.
Patrick Flynn, Jr.
B.S.Architectural Engineering
Patrick founded Flynn Construction in 1986 and has been at the helm of construction in Austin for over three decades of growth and expansion. The company specializes in designing and building highly complex, technical spaces such as cleanroom labs, and facilities for advanced microelectronics, nanotechnology and life science DNA genetic research. Flynn Construction has been a consistently top-ranked Austin area contractor for many years, and his company have completed the design and construction of over 100 labs and cleanroom facilities, as well as a long list of completed projects on the UT campus.
The company is also dedicated to furthering the fields of architectural engineering and construction management by implementing best engineering practices and developing professional expertise in energy conservation, LEED green building, environmental preservation, and sustainability.
Flynn is deeply committed to giving back to the community through service. Over the past 30 years, he has been an active member or served on the boards of Foster Angels, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Austin, SafePlace, the Austin Chamber of Commerce, and Austin Sunshine Camps
Joe Morales
Joe Morales has performed in Austin, Texas for the last 40 years and is a recording session player, arranger, producer, composer, and music teacher. Joe has recorded on many albums with artists such, as Linda Ronstadt, John Hyatt, Flaco Jimenez, Texas Tornadoes, Freddie Fender, Duck Soup, The Brew and hundreds more. As a jingle singer, Joe has performed in over 100 jingles. He received a Grammy Plaque for his work in arranging and performing on a Flaco Jimenez CD. He received the “Joe Morales Day” award in 1993 from Mayor Bruce Todd in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the community through his musicianship. He has led summer jazz camps for children for 31 years and has taught privately for 42 years. Joe started a jazz group for kids that meets weekly called the AUSTIN JAZZ CLUB, and meets year-round. Joe holds a monthly residency with the Brew (Saturdays) at the world-famous Elephant Room. Currently Joe is the jazz consultant to the Eanes Jazz Program and the McCallum Jazz Program (school of fine arts).
Jay Tillman
Jay Tillman is a multi-instrumentalist from Dallas, Texas, USA. Although his primary instrument is piano, he is proficient in organ, bass, and percussion. He is currently a student, the Minister of Music of his local church, and has been a frequent music instructor/consultant for The African American Cultural Center in Austin, Texas. He is a proud member of the Huston-Tillotson Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. Gloria Quinlan. His energetic playing style, reflects his effervescent personality. He is fluent in gospel, pop, jazz, soul, fusion, and country- and plays them all with improvisational prowess. He has dedicated his life to music education, and believes that “the key to living a happy life is Jesus, and Gustav Mahler.” He attributes most of his musical success to his three teachers: Jay Booker, John Tatum, and Dr. Stephen Burnaman.
