Night Session Big Band

Mark Owen, Vocalist

Mark is a long time Toledo area musician. In addition to Night Session Big Band, Mark plays with a three piece cover band called, Backyard Muriel. Mark is an actor, who has appeared in over 30 theatrical productions, commercials, and film. Mark is also a narrator for Dreamscape Audiobooks.

Megan Beckett, Vocalist

Megan is a Toledo native and 2011 graduate of the University of Toledo with her BA in Theatre Performance. She has been seen performing with theatre groups through out the greater Toledo area and SE Michigan. New to the world of Jazz, she joined Night Session at the end of 2022.

Xavier Smith, Alto Sax

From Dudley, NC. Choir Director for 11 years at Toledo Public Schools and Band Director for 4 yrs. Toledo Public Schools. Graduate of Bowling Green State U. Served for 10 years as the Director of Instrumental Music at St. Johns Jesuit High School, and teaches sax, flute and clarinet in the Toledo area.

Alex Karoly, Alto Sax

Kevin Heidbreder, Tenor Sax

Kevin Heidbreder has played saxophone professionally for over 40 years. He has performed with the Toledo Symphony and the Toledo Concert Band (the ’Zoo Band’) and is a current and founding member of the Sax 4th Avenue saxophone quartet. Kevin is a retired music educator--having taught for 35 years. He directed middle school bands and high school jazz band at Defiance City schools for the last 21 years of his teaching career. He was also director of the Bowling Green State University Super Sax Camp. Kevin is a resident of Maumee Ohio and currently serves as the director of the Maumee Community Band--a post he has held since 2006.

Andrew Phillips, Tenor Sax

Andrew is a native of Toledo and a 2006 graduate of the University of Toledo. He later studied band instrument repair at Minnesota State College Southeast - Red Wing and now repairs band instruments. Andrew is currently a member of the Polish-American Concert Band, the Genoa American Legion Band, the Maumee Community Band, and the early music ensemble Musica Antigua de Toledo. He has also played with the Perrysburg Symphony and the Sylvania Community Orchestra.

Paul Johnson, Baritone Sax

Born and raised in Monroe, MI. Played with Jefferson High School bands under Mark Felder and Evan Canel. Studied under Michael J. Irish at Michigan Tech University, playing with the Jazz Lab Band, JazTec combo, Momentum combo, and other blues and horn bands. Has performed with Clark Terry, Wendell Harrison, Frank Mantooth, and has been the opening act for Wycliffe Gordon. Also plays in Celestial Blues and Monroe Community College symphonic band.

Bob Hoff, Trombone

Bob has performed with numerous ensembles from wind bands to dixie bands. He has worked as a music copyist for orchestra and big band, and has arranged for high school and college athletic bands. Bob assisted for several years with the University of Toledo Rocket Marching Band and has worked with several school marching bands around Ohio, including those of North Baltimore, Swanton, Maumee, Maria Stein Marion Local, and Rossford.

Travis Geiman, Trombone

Travis graduated with a Bachelors degree in Music and Recording Technologies from Bowling Green State University. Over the years he has played and/or recorded with blues bands, rock bands, big bands, symphonies and many others. In 2014 he started Bigfoot Studios in Waterville, OH. From there he has engineered albums for many amazing local artists as well as international artists. He has won Best of Toledo and has won a Blues Music Award for engineering the “Soul Album of the Year” in 2019.

Matt Fritz, Trombone

Originally from Kansas City, Matt received his degree in music education from the University of Toledo in 1999. He has taught in the Toledo Public Schools for 24 years, the last 22 as the band director at Bowsher High School. He has played in various ensembles in then Toledo area as well as performing as a pit musician for local productions. He lives in south Toledo with his wife and son.

Craig Schaar, Bass Trombone

Attended Capital University in Jazz Performance. Graduate of Hocking College. Former employee of the City of Toledo, Dept. of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry. Plays with Monroe Community Concert Band.

Brad Behrendt, Trumpet

Originally from Vermilion, Ohio. Graduated from the University of Toledo in Computer Science and Engineering. Played in various symphonic bands, jazz bands, rock bands, and marching bands throughout high school and college. Also has performed with the Maumee Community Band, different brass ensembles, and as a pit musician in local musicals.

Fred Mahler, Trumpet

Originally from New York, studied classical trumpet while attending Mt. Vernon High School in Westchester County. Attended Interlochen Arts Camp, formerly known as National Music Camp 1961-1965. Played in symphony orchestras, big bands, community bands, and numerous show pit orchestras throughout high school and college. Studied engineering at New York University where he received BS and MS degrees in metallurgy. While pursuing his metallurgy career in Toledo, played in the Maumee Community Band, the Avocation Brass Quintet, Friar Tucks musical reviews, and numerous show orchestras. Now retired, Fred has been an active member of Night Session since 2005.

Larry Cook, Trumpet

A native of Toledo, Larry graduated from the University of Toledo with a degree in Music Education. Throughout his high school and college years, Larry studied with Mr. Bernard Sanchez (Professor of Trumpet at the University of Toledo). Larry is a former member of the Toledo Youth Orchestra, University of Toledo Orchestra, University of Toledo Faculty Brass Quintet, Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the Toledo Symphony Brass Quintet. Larry toured with the American Wind Symphony, performing with guest artist, jazz trumpet Dizzie Gillespie. Larry has also studied with Frank Kaderabek (former principal trumpet with the Detroit Symphony). Larry currently studies privately with Mr. William Campbell (Professor of Trumpet at the University of Michigan). Larry continues to perform as a member of the Maumee Community Band, Sylvania Community Orchestra, Skip Turner Jazz Band, and various musicals and churches. Larry lives in Maumee, Ohio with his wife Kaye.

Scott Johnston, Trumpet

Scott is originally from Findlay Ohio. He graduated from Bowling Green State University, and the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine. A private practice podiatrist by day, trumpet player by night, Scott has played with the Findlay Civic Jazz Band, University of Findlay Jazz band and has toured internationally with the Blue Lake Fine Arts International Jazz Ensemble at age 14. He has opened for Bob Newhart and has recorded with several Cleveland area and north west Ohio artist’s albums He also enjoys playing in a multitude of musical theater pit orchestras. He joined Night Session in 2021. Scott resides in Perrysburg with his wife and two daughters.

Linda Sankovich, Piano

Graduated from the University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. Taught private piano lessons for many years. Accompanist for numerous soloists and ensembles in the Toledo Area. Accompanist for the Sylvania Northview high school choirs as well as community and high school musicals. Has been a member of Night Session since 2010.

Carter Adams, Drums

Carter graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with an emphasis on percussion and conducting. He is the Associate Band Director at Sylvania Northview High School and is the Band Director at Arbor Hills Junior High School. Additionally, he maintains a private lesson studio and performs in pit orchestras around the area. Carter and his wife, Leah, live in Sylvania with their two dogs and two cats. Carter was a regular sub for Night Session starting in 2019 before becoming their full time drummer.

Lindsay Diesing, Bass

Lindsay is a Sylvania Schools graduate, and received her music education degree on double bass at Bowling Green State University in 2020. She is the middle school orchestra director at Arbor Hills Junior High, and also assists McCord and Timberstone. She also performs in Toledo Area pit ensembles for high school and city musicals. Lindsay lives in Sylvania with her dog, Humphrey.