The Ensemble includes a number of fine, professional musicians.  Below are the band's "heavy-hitters" -- performers that have a long tenure with the band, and whose artistry has significantly shaped its sound....

MICHELE VANHOOSE - vocal, flute, piano

MICHELE is a jazz vocalist, flutist, and pianist as well as an experienced music director and band leader.  She performs in  and around Missouri, directs 2  choirs and 2 ensembles at  Clayton United Methodist  Church in Clayton Missouri and  has a private music studio where  she teaches voice, flute and  beginning piano lessons.   Michele is also a certified  teacher of "Music Together."  

Michele has been with the JOEL ANDERSON JAZZ ENSEMBLE since its inception.

Audra is a regular performer around town, both as a soloist and in groups.

AUDRA SERGEL - vocals, piano, clarinet

 JOE WILLETT - clarinet

JOE  has played jazz in and around Columbia since 1949, and even travelled with big bands on performance tours.

Presently, Joe (a semi-retired physics professor at UMC) leads his own band, The Joe Willett Jazz Ensemble, and performs regularly at the Cherry Street Artisan.   

Joe is also an original member of the JOEL ANDERSON JAZZ ENSEMBLE.

DENISE is well known in all music circles, playing professionally in many different styles, and highly sought after for performances and recording.  Denise has performed in big bands, on cruise ships, and was an owner of an instrument repair business.  Denise was asked to sit in with the 2007 Columbia  performance of the Fifth Dimension.

Denise is an original member of ENSEMBLE. 

DENISE BOWMAKER - saxes

JONATHAN KIES bass

JONATHAN has been a music prodigy since his youngest years.  He is highly sought after in jazz circles, and also regularly performs with pit orchestras for stage productions.  Jonathan's smooth, solid bass lines are the foundation of our sound. 

Jonathan is also an original member of the ENSEMBLE.