Board Member Bios
	Darin Knapp, President. Darin is a native of Port Allegany, PA. He is a grauate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Psychology and a BS in Biology. He holds MS/PHD degrees from Rutgers University. He is currently employed as a research scientist at the Bowles Center for Alcohol Sudies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and is an Assistant Profesor in the Psychiatry Department there. Darin grew up listening to and singing church hymns and began playing the clarinet and saxophone in the 5th grade. He has played with various school and college groups and the Village Band and Community Choir in Chapel Hill, NC. He has previously served as secretary of the Society and now serves as a board member for a second term. Darin is also the originator of this web site and its webmaster and has been the 2nd alto sax player since 1994-2001 and the baritone sax player since 2001 in the Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra.
	Kathy Gelb, Secretary. Ms. Gelb is a fine jazz vocalist in the tradition of Ella Fitzgerald, June Christy and Carmen McRae. In either an intimate trio setting or with a big band, she swings with the best of them. She has sung most of her life and has worked with most of the major jazz musicians in North Carolina in some capacity – from club work to concerts to master classes. She works primarily with husband Gregg in their group, The Gregg Gelb Swing Band, the NCJRO or with her own trio.
	Gregg Gelb, founder and musical director. Gregg has contributed greatly to the music of North Carolina since moving here in 1979 to teach in the public schools. He and his groups have been a popular choice for concerts and dances.Throughout Gregg's career he has received numerous awards and grants including a 1996 commission by the Duke University Institute for the Arts to compose dance music and the 1997 North Carolina State Arts Council Jazz Fellowship Award. In 1998 the Gregg Gelb Swing Band performed with the North Carolina Symphony for a Young People's Concert that was televised by WUNC-TV featuring Gregg's compositions. In 2000 he arranged and recorded with the Swing Band the soundtrack to the documentary, War Zone, also aired on WUNC-TV. He has performed with Claudio Roditi, Mark Whitfield, Bill Charlap, Butch Thompson, Sir Roland Hanna, Jon Metzger and other top jazz artists. Gregg has produced four CDs of the Swing Band and co-produced three CDs of Group Sax. In 1992, he co-founded the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra, a professional big band. This orchestra has earned an excellent reputation from its performances of music by Duke Ellington and other great jazz composers. Its annual Holiday concert featuring Ellington's interpretation of the Nutcracker Suite is especially popular. Gregg plays lead alto saxophone with the Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra.
	Bill Falconer, Treasurer. Bill is a a retired Gillette financial executive, has been the band's pianist since its founding and Treasurer for most of that time. Not having played in bands since college days he appreciates the opportunity afforded him by the orchestra. Bill is a native of Montreal where he was a contemporary of Oscar Peterson and Maynard Ferguson. His "Short Takes" column covering local jazz events has appeared in Cadence Magazine since late 1981. Bill's CD reviews appear in the Cape Cod Jazz Society's "Jazz Notes", CODA Magazine and on www.JazzReview.com. Other jazz interests include record collecting and education. He is a Trustee Emeritus of Berklee College of Music.
	Reverend Iris Jordan, Musical Director of the Lee County Community Martin Luther King Jr. Choir. Rev. Jordan was born in Sanford. She inherited her musical abilities from God and her mother. Her gift with music was noticed at an early age — as she has sung publicly since the age of 8. She has been privileged to work with many great musicians, including the late Sarah T. Sherrill, Dr. Brooksie Harrington, Rev. Paul Murphy, Wesley Holmes and Larry Murray. She has sung with and directed various choirs over 25 years including: The Family in Christ Gospel Singers and The Voices of Praise Choir of Sanford, The W B. Wicker Reunion Choir, The MLK Choirs of Sanford and Rockingham, and The Concert Singers of Cary Her work can be seen all around Lee County: but, primarily at Fair Promise A. M. F. Zion Church. Each Sunday, her work can be heard on WXKL Radio 1290 at 12:00 pm, where she directs the music and assists the Rev. Dr. Avery C. Brown, church pastor. The Lee County Community Martin Luther King Jr. Choir gave its premier performance in January, 2006.
	Joy Downes, Director. Joy received her Bachelor of Music with voice performance certfication from the Univ of South Carolina and Master of Music in vocal performance from the Univ of Tennessee. Since then she has been a music educator (music teacher and choral instruction) for more than 20 years which included teaching positions in the Pickens County Schools (SC), the Durham City Schools and Lee County Schools. She currently teaches K-5 music at J.R. Ingram Elementary in Sanford. She is an alto singer with the North Carolina Master Chorale. Joy learned to love jazz from her mom who used to sing ballads with a jazz band when she was at W.C. (women's college) in Greensboro (now UNC-G) in the early '50s. Joy has maintained her interest in Jazz through her support of the Heart of Carolina Jazz Society including hosting a number of our special guest artists.
	Scott Westfall, Director. Though not a musician, Scott is jazz fan with a particular love of the big band sound. Originally from the Midwest, Scott has lived in the Triangle since 1994. He works as the Vice President of Software Development at SlickEdit Inc. and uses his technical and organizational skills to build a more active jazz following in our area. His efforts in support of jazz led him to become a board member for the Triangle Jazz Society as well. Known to be a snappy dresser and avid hat wearer, he is rarely seen without one of his many fedoras.
	Paul Kelly, Director
	Margaret Johnson, Director. Margaret Johnson is a native North Carolinian who claims to be not musically talented but has great respect and admiration for those who are. She is a graduate of N.C.A&T State University with a Bachelor of Science degree and has a Master of Arts in Social Services from the University of Chicago. Margaret has spent most of her career working in child welfare and mental health and is presently employed at Lee County Department of Social Services as a social work supervisor. When afforded free time, she enjoys working in the yard and listening to music.
	Joel Leipzig, Director. Joel is a fine trombone player and plays lead trombone with the Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra. He has been a tremendous helper for the Heart of Carolina Jazz Society over the years. He knows a lot about everything and he can build and fix just about everything! He has lots of common sense and enlightning perceptions about jazz and people. He is always willing and able to help including donating his fine graphic artist skills (he does all our programs and posters). He runs Carolina CD a company that provides professional CDs art related artwork for recording studios, bands, choral groups, marketing companies. He also plays with the Raleigh Jazz Orchestra.