President / Treasurer

Dr. Kyle Saulnier is a musical polymath whose compositions have been described by Downbeat Magazine as “a Great American Songbook of another order.” He leads the Awakening Orchestra, directs the Vermont Jazz Ensemble and the Vermont Youth Orchestra’s Jazz program, and has collaborated with a wide range of artists and ensembles across genres. Kyle teaches at the University of Vermont and Middlebury College, and is active in music education through programs like Music-COMP. He lives in Monkton, Vermont.

Vice President / Secretary

A native of Hardwick VT, Andy Gagnon is a percussionist, composer, and educator.  As a performer, Andy can be heard with The Renegade Groove, Lovecraft, Purple: A Tribute to Prince, The Noah Young Trio, and The Vermont Jazz Ensemble.  He is the founding director of the VMEA District II Jazz Festival, the manager of the Vermont All State Concert Band, a faculty member for the Governor's Institute On The Arts, and the instrumental music director for the public schools of Stowe, VT.

Member-at-Large

Rich Davidian began his early music training in the Detroit area, has played woodwind instruments in all genres of music and shared the stage with an array of jazz artists. He is a charter member and Music Director Emeritus of VT's premier big band, the Vermont Jazz Ensemble, and is still an active member into the ensemble's 50th year. Rich retired from teaching instrumental music [2010] after a 40 year career. He is the administrator and a director in the adult jazz camp, Jazz in the Mountains and lives with his wife Shawn in East Montpelier.