Director
Saxophonist, educator and composer Kendrick Smith was born and raised in the city of East St. Louis. A pioneer of infrastructure and change, he is the owner of the company "Truly Reeds "Jazz Culture Magazine", the podcast "'Jazz Juice and Jam Show",' and has spearheaded multiple weekly jam sessions in the metro east for over a decade. He has been the recipient of many accolades and awards throughout his career and has three solo albums. Mr. Smith was most recently featured in a NY Jazz Critic article "Best Of " by Dave Pietro where he was named with jazz legends such as Wallace Roney and Dave Liebman.
Secretary
Dr. Erika Johnson is a remarkable figure in the St. Louis Metropolitan music community,
recognized for her multifaceted contributions as an educator, activist, and vocalist. She exemplifies the term "pay it forward" with her work as an educator at Central Visual and Performing Arts and Gateway STEM High School. Dr. Johnson has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a Doctorate in Education. She also serves as the Vice President of the Blues Society and serves on the board with the University City Orchestra.
Treasurer
John Covelli, a 38-year veteran of the St. Louis music scene, leads his Hard Bop Messengers in the mission of spreading the love of jazz. Deeply rooted in St. Louis, he combines young talent with top-notch seasoned veterans to bring new listeners to the jazz art form. John holds a master’s in Finance as well as an MBA, and a bachelor’s in Jazz Studies, all from Webster University.