Pacific NW Blues in the Schools - Board and Directors

Board of Directors

Curley Graphic JAMES CURLEY COOKE, Founder:/Secretary:::

has been active in the music business for 40 years. He is an original member of The Steve Miller Band, and has recorded on 35 major label albums and toured the country and Southeast Asia extensively. He currently teaches in the community college system and privately, and is the founder of Pacific Northwest Blues in the Schools. He is the recipient of numerous awards from the Washington Blues Society.
Click here to read a recent aritcle in the Seattle Times

Mary Graphic ANNETTE TABORN:Executive Director:

Annette has performed for over 30 years across the U.S. and overseas. Originally from Michigan, she co-founded the Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association in 1994, and created a Blues in Schools program there that same year. She served as the Director of the Kalamazoo Blues Festival for its first two years. Annette studied Blues in Schools teaching methods at the University of Mississippi, Oxford and received continuing education certification from the Southern Studies Teachers Institute in 1996 and 1997. She worked with the International House of Blues Foundation's "Blues School House" program in Chicago during the 2000 school year. In 2003 and 2004 she taught Blues in the Schools in Los Angeles under the auspices of The Southern California Blues Society. Annette is in charge of PNBIS Program Development.

Christian Graphic CHRISTIAN SWENSON, President:

Seattle-based performing artist, Christian Swenson, is known for his pioneering work in what he calls "Human Jazz", a global fusion of dance/drama/music for body and voice. He tours nationally and internationally, and resides happily in Seattle with his wife, Abigail and two children. More information about Christian is found at www.humanjazz.com.

KAREN TABORN, Vice President

Doctoral candidate at Indiana University (Bloomington) in ethnomusicology studies (Gender and Race performance in Jazz). M.A. degree Hunter College in Ethnomusicology (2005). Teaching experience: The New School University, NYC. Developed and taught college courses on Race and Gender Issues and Harlem history (1993-1998). Worked on public sector projects in Harlem, New York (Strivers Center Project) and in Indiana recognizing jazz cultural history. Lastest project on Jazz from Indiana online at: http://jazzindianaavenue.wordpress.com/ (2010). See full resume at myspace.com/karentaborn/.

RON HALL, Treasurer:

Ronald Hall is a CPA and entrepreneur who has been involved with Pacific Northwest Blues in the Schools from the beginning. Mr. Hall plays the blues and rock & roll on the guitar, as well as playing piano, and the clarinet in a concert wind band. He has been a CPA for over 30 years and is also a former broadcaster who was very involved in the music scene. Ron has lived in the Northwest all of his life.

Mark von Walter

A Seattle architect with a forty year career, which includes designs for local jazz venues and music education facilities. Born in the Northwest, he has maintained a lifelong enthusiasm for music, with a personal interest in piano and guitar. Mark shares educational interests with his wife of 37 years, a public school teacher and counselor. His disabled adult son has given him an understanding of special educational needs, and an appreciation for the inspiration and opportunities that music provides.