The public is invited. Admission is free.

The Faculty Jazz Group includes Steve Talaga on piano, Tom Lockwood on saxophone, Charlie Hoats on bass, Mike Hyde on guitar, Mike VanLente on drums.  Hope faculty member Edye Evans Hyde will be featured as a guest vocalist.

Steve Talaga teaches jazz piano, applied composition, and various jazz studies courses. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in broadcasting and cinematic arts from Central Michigan University, a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz studies from Western Michigan University, and a Master of Music degree in composition from Western Michigan University. He was a 1994 winner of the "Down Beat Magazine" Award for Jazz Composition, and received honorable mention in the 1996 "Billboard" Songwriting Contest. For the past several years he has performed with the jazz quartet Mind's Eye. Steve has released five compact discs as a leader: "Yin Yang," "Mirage," "Basement Alchemy," "Two Worlds" and "Contemplating the Heavens." He has appeared with numerous jazz groups and as a solo artist at jazz festivals and clubs internationally, including a performance with Mind's Eye at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Steve has also performed professionally with such jazz luminaries including Claudio Roditti, Bobby Shaw and more.

After starting on clarinet in the fifth grade, Tom Lockwood studied saxophone, flute and bass, and also arranged for and directed his high school's jazz, pep and show bands. He studied for two years at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where his teachers included Bob Mover and Mike Metheny, then finished two music degrees at Western Michigan University, where he studied with Trent Kynaston. At this time, he began working with some of the best jazz musicians in the Midwest, and performing in concerts and shows with everyone from David Liebman to Engelbert Humperdink. In addition, he has diverse teaching experience, including teaching college courses and ensembles while at WMU. Lockwood currently teaches at Hope, Grand Valley State University and Aquinas College.

A Hope faculty member for six years, Charles D. Hoats has had the privilege of performing with Rick Margitza, Marvin Stamm, Gunnar Mossblad, Marcus Roberts and many others. He has been playing the bass for 20 years and is comfortable performing in a variety of musical situations and styles. A former Hope student himself, Charlie has studied improvisation with Bob Thompson and John Shea. He is currently instructor of jazz bass at Hope, where his duties include teaching private lessons, directing ensembles and performing with the Hope College Faculty Jazz Group. When he is not playing, he enjoys camping, soccer, and spending time with his wife Holly and sons Sam and Ben.

Currently in his sixth year at Hope, Mike Hyde brings to his teaching a broad background of performing and educational experience. He received a Bachelor of Music Education from Aquinas College and a Performance Certificate from the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood, Calif. In addition to teaching private jazz lessons and coaching ensembles at Hope, he has taught at Grand Rapids Junior College and at Aquinas. He has performed with Clay Jenkins, Kim Richmond, Winston Walls, the Fifth Dimension and the Lawrence Welk All-Stars.

            Mike Van Lente is a native of Holland and a Hope graduate, and has more than 40 years of experience with the drums. At Hope College, he completed a teaching degree and minored in music, and performed with the Orchestra and Symphonette as well as the Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Chamber Ensemble. He has performed with a wide variety of jazz and popular artists including Clark Terry, Joan Baez and Clay Jenkins among others. Presently he teaches drum set at Hope College and conducts private lessons from his home. He enjoys students of all ages and abilities, especially and including beginners. His plans include continuing to teach and perform in as many musical settings as possible while maintaining a superb quality family life with his two children, who share in his love for music.

Edye Evans Hyde, an instructor of vocal jazz at Hope, has been teaching and performing jazz, blues and pop music for more than 20 years in West Michigan, Los Angeles and Asia. She holds a bachelor's degree in music education, has taught K-12 vocal music and has served as the assistant director of admissions at Grand Rapids Community College. Edye has shared the stage with world renowned blues singer Linda Hopkins, pop singer Michael Bolton, actress Connie Stevens, the late Ray Charles and Cuban trumpet player Arturo Sandoval. She has also appeared with The Grand Rapids Symphony and The West Shore Symphony performing songs from her acclaimed CDs, "Girl Talk" and "Lady with A Song."  Her stage performances have included principle roles in "Dream Girls," "Ain't Misbehavin'" and more, and she plays Ms Lucy in the West Michigan-produced children's television show "Come On Over!"

            The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. Eighth St. 

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