Music education improves academic performance, enhances cognitive skills, and positive impacts on social-emotional development.
But for 2008 Suttons Bay graduate Andy Wheelock, it formed the basis of an exciting career in the field of music.
“My teacher, Annie Bentley, supported and encouraged me,” said Wheelock, who was in the area this week performing with his group WHEE3TRIO at the Alluvian in Traverse City. “She’s the reason I went to music school.”
Bentley arranged an audition for the young drummer at Central Michigan University (CMU).
“Music education and performance is the heaviest in terms of course/credit load,” he said. “I carried 19, 20, 21 credits per semester … I was a shocked as far as how much you have to do.”
This coursework was in addition to time spent in the Chippewa Marching Band and small ensembles.
After graduating from CMU, Wheelock went on to earn both a master’s and Ph.D in music education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
As a composer and arranger, Wheelock writes regularly for his own recording projects as well as big bands, percussion ensembles, Samba Bateria’s, and Pan-Afro-Latin Ensembles. His second record as a leader with the WHEE3TRIO received outstanding reviews including “a joyfully hypnotic listening experience” by Dan McClenaghan at All About Jazz.
WHEE3TRIO, the Live Edge Trio, KEWO, and can be heard playing regularly with the Gonzalo Teppa Quintet, Ben Markley, New Stream Brass Ensemble, the University of Wyoming Jazz Faculty, and the Cheyenne Symphony. Wheelock has had the honor of sharing the stage with Bill O’Connell, Steve Nelson, Adam Birnbaum, Henry Linarez, Terrel Stafford, Ernie Watts, Craig Handy, Jorge Alabe, SK Kakraba, Jorge Glem, Bobby Shew, Chuchito Valdés, Joel Frahm, Bob Bowman, Ivan Trevino, and William Moersch.
As a clinician and adjudicator, Wheelock has been a guest artist at Boise State, Ohio State University, Central Michigan University, Friends University, Colorado Mesa University, Columbus State University, Interlochen School for the Arts, Washburn, Hope College, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wichita State, Casper College, and the University of Illinois.
He currently serves as the director of Jazz Studies and Percussion area coordinator at the University of Wyoming where he directs the Wyoming Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combos, Samba Bateria, Pan-Afro-Latin Drumming group, and the UWYO Percussion Ensemble.
