About Us

Mr. Taylor and his Dirty Dixie Band

Based in Bloomington, Indiana, Mr. Taylor and his Dirty Dixie Band is a traditional dixieland band playing the New Orleans jazz of the early 1900's. All of the members of the band currently study music at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University (or are recent graduates!)

Benjamin Taylor - Trumpet
Justin Knapp - Clarinet
Dan Coffman - Trombone
Otis Cantrell - Banjo
Gennie Clarkson - Tuba
Nick Stevens - Drums

(scroll down to see individual bios)

Mr. Taylor

Ben Taylor has been playing jazz trumpet and leading bands since middle school. He is also a distinguished composer having been honored with the ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award in 2010 for his big band chart titled, High Road. For more information on Mr. Taylor and his compositions, please visit: benjamintaylormusic.com

Justin

Justin Knapp is a woodwind player from Idaho Falls, ID. He has toured in the United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, Norway and Denmark playing a variety of styles. Justin holds a Bachelor's degree in saxophone performance and a Master's degree in jazz studies. When he's not rocking the clarinet with Mr. Taylor's Dirty Dixie Band, you can probably hear him at a Bloomington theater playing woodwinds in the pit.

Victor

Victor Ribadeneyra is a trombonist from Houston, Texas currently pursuing a bachelors degree in music education and jazz studies at Indiana University. He has performed and plays regularly with many classical and jazz groups around IU, including the IU Concert Orchestra, the IU Symphonic Band, David Baker's jazz band, the IU Trombone Choir, the IU Latin Jazz Ensemble, and the IU Marching Hundred. He currently studies trombone with professor M. Dee Stewart and has studied with musicians like David Baker, Curtis Fuller, Pete Ellefson, Carl Lenthe, Brent Phillips, James Decker, Jon Whitaker, Allen Barnhill, and Thomas Hulten. He was also a participant at the Steans Music Institute at the Ravinia Music Festival in Chicago, where he performed under the direction of Curtis Fuller, David Baker, Nathan Davis, and Rufus Reid.

Otis

Otis Cantrell is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies from Indiana University on Guitar. He began playing drums at the age of 11 and eventually moved on to prove his talents on guitar and bass. From the age of 13 until he arrived at university Otis was virtually self-taught on what became his primary instrument, the guitar, as well as any other instruments he could get his hands on. The latest addition to his practice routine has been the banjo, which he primarily performs in Mr. Taylor’s Dirty Dixie Band. Otis has had experience teaching private lessons since the age of 18, and currently gives online private guitar lessons through his website, modernguitarlesson.com. He has performed in various venues and styles through school and out of school since the age of 15, primarily on guitar. He currently studies with world renowned guitarist, author and educator Corey Christiansen.

Doug

Douglas Olenik is currently a doctoral student and the Associate Instructor of Tuba and Euphonium at Indiana University. Prior to his time at Indiana, he completed a master's degree in tuba performance and literature at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he also served as the tuba and euphonium studio teaching assistant. He holds a degree in music education from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio. Originally from the town of Creston, Ohio, Douglas has enjoyed a career filled with variety. He is perfectly at home in the concert hall or at the local restaurant. He is currently the principal tubist for the Urbana Pops Orchestra in Urbana, Illinois. Douglas has studied with John Turk, Brian Kiser, Mark Moore, Anthony Kniffen and Daniel Perantoni.

Website: www.douglasolenik.com

Bri

Bridget (Bri) Leahy is currently the Director of Bands at Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio. She has recently completed her master's in music performance from Indiana University, she also has a bachelor's degree in music performance from Iowa State University. At home as a performer, educator, and composer/arranger; Bridget enjoys music in virtually every facet. Recently, Bridget was runner-up in the concerto competition at IU and was on a midwest tour with the percussion chamber group, Sonic Inertia. She has instructed music privately and as an instructor for marching bands and concert bands all over the midwest. Her compositions and arrangements have been played by marching bands, chamber groups and most especially performed by herself in her own endeavors. Bridget is a student of Barry Larkin, Matthew Coley, Steve Houghton and Kevin Bobo.

For more information on Bridget and her happenings, check out her website:
www.bridgetleahy.com

Bridget is a proud endorser of Sabian and Vater Percussion

Special Thanks

A shout out to two people who have really helped us out. Melissa Turi designed our logo and other press materials. Kirsten Clark captured many these amazing photos for the group. Thank you two so much - be sure to support their work!