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SJW Staff

Jim Nadel – Artistic & Executive Director
Contact Jim for information on artist/faculty booking, philanthropic opportunities for individuals, including planned giving, and topics related to the Stanford Jazz Workshop Board of Directors.

Alto saxophonist, composer, arranger, and educator Jim Nadel founded the Stanford Jazz Workshop in 1972. He continues to serve as the non-profit organization's administrative and artistic director.

In addition to his work with the Stanford Jazz Workshop, Nadel designed the jazz studies curriculum for Stanford University's academic jazz program and has served as a lecturer in the Stanford University Music Department since 1984. Nadel received a BA in Music from Stanford University and a MA in Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco. He is a member of the AFM and the IAJE (International Association for Jazz Education).

Fred Spitz – Managing Director
Contact Fred for information about job openings at the SJW, questions regarding billing, accounts payable/receivable and other general issues.

Fred served as the Assistant Director for the SJW in the late 80s and early 90s while he was an undergraduate at Stanford University, and he rejoined the full-time SJW staff in 2004. His production career has included stints as Technical Director of the San Francisco Jazz Festival, Production Manager for the Stanford University Department of Music, and House Manager for the Lively Arts at Stanford. His most recent job was as Associate Registrar for Faculty Support at Stanford University.

Shenandoah Weiss – Registrar/Production Coordinator
Contact Shen for information about our summer educational programs, ushering for SJW events and other volunteer opportunities.

Shen joined the staff of SJW in 2006. She recently received her MA in Anthropology from the University of Chicago. While in Chicago, Shen developed arts initiatives as a Fellow for Mayor Richard M. Daley and worked as an exhibit designer for various science museums. In Los Angeles, Shen worked as a production assistant for the Hollywood Bowl jazz and world music programming office and as a marketing coordinator for an independent hip hop label. Shen completed her BA in Mass Communication Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Rob Kohler – Jazz Camp Faculty Director
Parents may contact Rob with questions about the Jazz Camp curriculum, under-18 eligibility for Jazz Residency, class placement issues, and other educational & musical concerns.  Artists who would like to be considered for a faculty position at this year’s Jazz Camp may also contact Rob.

A Montana native, Rob Kohler is a bassist who has performed jazz, classical, and pop music all over the world. His playing, composing, and producing skills have appeared on recordings by groups such as the Jared Burrows Trio, the Olem Alves Band, Three Form, This World, and the Platt/Kohler Trio. He has also toured and performed with such artists as Stefan Karlsson, Alice DiMicele, Madeline Eastman, John Stowell, Danny Gottlieb, Nancy King, Brian Bromberg, and Art Lande. Kohler has also been long active as a private tutor and school music teacher.

Laura Grivainis Thorne – Marketing/Communications Director
Contact Laura for information on press inquiries, marketing, publications, and the SJW website.

Laura comes to SJW after four years as Marketing Coordinator and Associate Producer for Primarily A Cappella Records, the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival and Singers.com, an a cappella specialty label and production company.  Her background includes marketing, PR and production duties for several Bay Area labels and music organizations including boutique music and sound design company Ripe Sound, world music label Tinder Records, the Oakland Youth Chorus and the Mill Valley Film Festival.  A former singer/songwriter/instrumentalist, Laura has a BA in Creative Writing from Sonoma State University.

Jeanne Sweet – Development Director
Contact Jeanne for information about development issues, including foundation grants, individual gifts and planned giving.

Prior to joining the jazz world, Jeanne worked in development for two internationally renowned Northern California film organizations, the San Francisco Film Society and the California Film Institute. Her experience as Development Director for a private elementary school allows her to bring a unique fundraising background to SJW with an emphasis in both the arts and education. Jeanne completed her studies at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland and received her BA in Film Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Halley Elwell - Administrative Assistant

Halley is a recent graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz and African American Music Studies with a concentration in vocal performance. While attending Umass Amherst, Halley worked for the Jazz in July program, a summer music workshop taught by jazz greats such as Billy Taylor and Sheila Jordan. In her free time, Halley is a jazz vocalist. She studies with Kitty Margolis and performs in and around San Francisco.