Saxophone (Alto, Tenor, Bari), Flute, Clarinet, Educator

 A professional musician and educator for over 25 years,

                 Michael Bazan is Director of:

Big City Dixieland Band (New Orleans style Dixieland)

McHenry City Band (Jazz 16 piece Big Band)

Musical Partnership with Maureen Christine

         

Michael Bazan is a highly respected professional Musician who has played

saxophone with a number of musical legends, including Billy Eckstine, Cab

Calloway, Frankie Valli, The Platters, The Four Tops, The Buckinghams,

Rob McConnell, The Shirelles, Milton Berle, The Doresey Brothers Orchestra,

and legendary entertainers Bob Hope and Jerry Lewis.

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Michael has also performed in various symphony orchestras, including the Rockford Symphony Orchestra and the Galesburg Symphony. An active musician, Michael continues to perform in the Chicago area and throughout the Midwest.  His musicianship can be appreciated on numerous commercials and several “Veggie Tales” videos. Michael also produced and recorded two nationally released musical CDs with Maureen Christine, his wife and a professional singer.

As a music director, Michael leads several professional bands, including a top-notch Dixieland/New Orleans-style band Big City Dixieland,  a 16 piece Big band that performs a weekly community concert series, and conducts various ensembles for special events and concerts. He also performs regularly with his wife on many of her concerts and musical programs.

As an educator, Michael Bazan is currently the Saxophone Professor and Jazz Ensemble Director at Mchenry County College. He recently concluded 24 years as Director of Bands at Wredling Middle School St. Charles where he was also the Director of the Jazz Ensemble and Honors Concert Band. Under Michael’s tutelage, these groups earned multiple awards and received first-place ratings at numerous music competitions, and highest honors at various State Competition. Previously, Michael was the saxophone professor and jazz ensemble director for 20 years at Wheaton college Conservatory of Music. And he served as adjunct music faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Harper College, and Judson College.

Michael Bazan is both as a highly-regarded woodwindist and a recognized first-rate music educator.