John "JJ" Johnson ~ Cornet
John completed his education at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point after touring Europe with the UWSP Big Band Jazz. In addition to playing in the local big band The Swing Doctors, John also plays in The Peoples Choice variety band, Wisconsin Rapids City Band, theatre pit orchestras and the Justmann Band. He has played in the UW-Madison Badger band, and has joined in sessions with Frankie Valli and Maynard Ferguson.
Mary Schmidt ~ Tenor Sax
Info coming soon
Jenilee "Jen" Szymanski ~ Bass
Jenilee Klish is in college at UWSP with intentions of majoring in String Bass Performance. She isn't sure at this point whether she would like professionally to be a classical, jazz or other type of bassist, but she thinks music is just pretty great overall. Jen has studied bass under Catalin Rotaru, Chris Rose and Dave Story. She has played with many groups, including her high school symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble and chamber strings, the Wisconsin Rapids City Band, and The Swing Doctors, many pit orchestras and most pertinently, the Swanee River Oriole Orchestra. Jenilee Klish is in college at UWSP majoring in String Bass Performance. She also plays with Ladies Must Swing http://www.ladiesmustswing.com/, and is currently recording a CD with them.
E. Robert "E. Bob" Case ~ Keyboards
Rob started playing piano at age seven. By his early teens, he was playing many different instruments, including flute, oboe, and bassoon. Rob attended the University of Stevens Point with an emphasis in Music History. While there, he studied bassoon under David Beadle, piano under J. Michael Keller, and flute with Paul Doubler.
Kyle Dewitt ~ Banjo
Kyle Dewitt is a music major at UWSP, with emphasis on clarinet performance. He has played with the Wisconsin Rapids City Band, the Swing Doctors, his high school Ethnic Ensemble, and has been playing the banjo with us since his sophomore year in high school. Kyle enjoys playing music and learning to play different instruments in his free time.
Shawn Johnston ~ Clarinet
Shawn Johnston is a 2010 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and is currently the Executive Director of the Arts Council in Wisconsin Rapids. Shawn started playing music when he was 6 years old and has been learning ever since. He has had the pleasure of sitting in with Bob Hirsch, Rev. Al Townsend, Bob Schulz, and the Bunny Berigan Memorial Jazz Band. In addition to playing clarinet with Swanee River, he plays lead alto with The Swing Doctors, sax and clarinet with the Justmann Band, Sax and Clarinet with the Don Chesebro Bands, and keyboard and organ with The Kommissioners.
Eric Hendrickson ~ Drums
Eric is a practicing Attorney from Waupaca, WI. He graduated from UW Madison with degrees in business and law. For years (decades, actually) he has played a variety of instruments with several Central Wisconsin bands. He currently plays guitar with the River Cities Jazz Band and the Peoples Choice variety band among others in addition to his drumming duties for Swanee River Oriole Orchestra.
Larry Zunker ~ Trombone
Larry graduated from UW Stevens Point with a masters in music education and has over 49 years experience playing in a variety of bands from Central Wisconsin. He retired recently with 35 years as a high school band director in Suring, Wausau, Rhinelander and Merrill Wisconsin. Larry now devotes his time to directing the Mosinee Community Band and the Bull Falls Brass Band. He also manages and plays base trombone in the Swing City Dance Band, a 17 piece big band from Wausau he started in 2000. Along with being a full time member of Swanee River, Larry currently plays base trombone with Peoples Choice, a classic rock horn band from Wausau, River Cities Jazz, and the Wausau Symphonic Band and Orchestra.