SPARKY KOERNER BIO
Sparky Koerner is in his
24th year as the director of Instrumental Music/Jazz Studies at College
of the Mainland (COM) located in Texas City, TX. He is the chairman of
the Performing and Visual Arts at COM. Koerner was recognized as COM’s
Piper Professor Nominee in 2001 and also COM’s Outstanding Teacher for
2001. He was named in 2006 in the Biltmore Who’s Who. In 2003 he
received the IAJE Outstanding Service Award.
Koerner is a professor of music and directs the COM Jazz Ensemble and
Jazz Combo. The ensemble and combo have won first place honors at
various jazz festivals throughout the state of Texas and many
individuals in the ensemble have received awards for “Outstanding
Musicianship” and “Outstanding Soloist”. The COM Jazz Ensemble was the
backup group for Doc Severinsen (1988) and Diane Schurr (1990) for the
Galveston Island Jazz Festival performances at the Grand 1894 Opera
House. Other guest artist who have performed with Koerner’s groups
include: Marvin Stamm, Bobby Watson, Rich Matteson, Dr. Bill Lee, Jack
Peterson, Kim Richmond, Clay Jenkins, Bruce Foreman, Mike Steinel and
Tony Campise, to name a few.
Koerner is a trumpet player who performs in many types of playing
ensembles including the Galveston Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Sunday and
The Galvanized Brass. He is the leader of “Sparky’s Jazz Express”. He is
a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 74. His trumpet
teachers have included George Foss, Leonard Candelaria, John Haynie and
Don Jacoby.
Koerner currently serves as the Texas Music Educators Association All
State Jazz Ensemble audition chairman and was audition coordinator for
the IAJE South Central Regional Conference held in April 2005. He is the
past president for the IAJE’s Texas unit. He has served on the IAJE
Resource Team for Community Colleges the past 15 years. Koerner served
as the music coordinator for the Texas Teachers Community College
Association for the year 1299-2000. During the 1996 IAJE Conference in
Atlanta, GA, he directed the IAJE All Star Community College Jazz
Ensemble. Koerner has served as organizer for the Texas Community
College All State Jazz Ensemble, as well as organizer of the Gulf Coast
Intercollegiate Conference Jazz Festival. Koerner served as the
Executive Director of the Galveston Island Jazz Festival from 1991-1994.
Koerner received his degrees from Louisiana State University (B.M.) and
the University of North Texas (M.M.E.). While at UNT he received the One
O’Clock award for his contributions to the lab band program. He was also
named in Who’s Who Among Students at the University of North Texas, and
Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. Koerner
is also in Who’s Who Among American Teachers.
Koerner lives in Texas City with his wife Chris and their three
children, Aaron, Heather and Chad and his grandchildren Jareth, Kennedy
and Collin.
