Board of Directors & professional staff

Ultimate the responsibility for the Festival rests with the Board of Directors. Members of our Board are not entertainment industry professionals or entrepreneurs. They are local residents who share a profound love for jazz and derive immense satisfaction from bringing top-quality performers to the region we call home.

Executive Members

William Savino, Chairman

Senior partner at the Buffalo law firm of Woods Oviatt & Gilman, began playing bass guitar in bars at 16 with fake proof. At the University of Rochester, Bill took Eastman’s two-year music theory program and Chuck Mangione’s jazz lab. At the University of Buffalo, he and fellow Niagara Falls residents Bobby Previte and Richard Shulman were the jazz trio in residence. As a music reviewer for various publications, Bill interviewed Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, B.B. King, and more. His jazz program, “Inside the Changes,” ran for over four years on WBFO. He performs today in WNY in a soul band, “Jelly Jar,” and for ten years performed with award winning jazz octet, “My Cousin Toné.”  Bill also serves on the board of Niagara Falls Music Hall of Fame.

Carol Clato, 1st Vice Chair

Carol is former owner and President of Calato Manufacturing / Regal Tip, manufacturer of drumsticks, drum brushes and percussion accessories. She is currently Chairwoman of the Jazz Festival Board of Directors and has volunteered for the festival for the past 14 years.Carol has served as a board member on the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), Youngstown Yacht Club and Niagara Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.  She has also served on Governor Mario Cuomo’s World Trade Council.

Margaret Toohey, Treasurer

Margaret has been involved with the event from its inception. Margy has been involved in many community organizations within Western New York. She has served as secretary of the Board of Trustees of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, a sustaining member of the Junior League of Buffalo, Secretary of the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Greater Lewiston Business & Professional Association. She has received several awards including business of the year, business person of the year and a nomination for the Athena award. Margy is committed to the continuation of the Jazz Festival as  a  preeminent entertainment event in our area. Margy is married, lives in Lewiston and has three grown children, two of whom live in New York City and one in Washington D.C.

Marie Smothers, Secretary

 

Board Members

 

Matthew DiCamillo,  DiCamillo Bakery

As President and CEO of Di Camillo Baking Company. He and his younger brother Daniel represent the 4th generation of DiCamillo family members to carry on the family business. Matthew currently serves on the board of directors for the Upward Niagara Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Niagara, and the NFC Development Corporation. He holds an MBA from the Jacobs School of Management at the University at Buffalo. Previously, Matthew was a board member at Nickel City Opera in Buffalo from 2011-2015. In addition, Matthew is also a trained and accomplished classical singer and former music professor. He was a 2009 National alternate finalist in the Grand Concours de Chant French Art Song Competition and worked professionally as a soloist under prominent conductors Lukas Foss, John Rutter, and Robert Page. He has performed as soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Greensboro Opera Company/EMF, Capital Opera Raleigh, the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, Nickel City Opera, Bel Canto Company, and the Kensington Consort, among others. From 2006-2011 he also served as an adjunct professor of music and musical theatre at Elon University in Burlington, North Carolina. He holds a B.A. in Music from SUNY Fredonia, and a M.M. degree in Vocal Performance from the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Fred Fadel

Fred , a retired CFP® practitioner, once served in leadership roles in many community organizations, including the Shea’s Buffalo and the former Tralfamadore Jazz Institute. He studied at UB’s Graduate Program in Architecture and Planning before being recruited to a reenergized Buffalo City Hall in the 1980s. Assignments included the reorganization of the Broadway Market and Theater District redevelopment. Relationships with Tralf founders Ed and Bob Lawson, Jazz in the Nighttime broadcaster Al Wallack, Developer Alan Dewart, then Commissioner Larry Quinn (whom Fred would eventually succeed), and others helped to bring the Tralf downtown with designs first hatched in his Elmwood Village apartment. But long before this Fred had found a listening post at the Ontario House in Niagara Falls. 

Simon Fletcher

Simon Fletcher is an alumnus of Eastman School of Music and NYU in jazz performance and music theory who has enjoyed a nearly 25-year career as a musician, composer, and educator. A recent arrival in Western New York, Simon currently teaches band and general music in the Buffalo Public Schools. Simon brings to the Board his experience as a jazz musician, festival volunteer, and prior employment with the Rochester International Jazz Fest. He has already been impressed with the dedication of the Lewiston audience, community, and festival staff.

Frank Fracassi, Sevenson Environmental Services

Frank is Vice President and General Superintendent at Sevenson Environmental Services, Inc., and Vice President of the Niagara Falls Music Hall of Fame. Frank is proud to bring to the Board his 55 years of experience as a performer on piano, organ, and synthesizer, along with a profound admiration for the creativity and independence of those who live in the Jazz sector.

James Gardner, University at Buffalo School of Law

Jim leads a double life. He is a lawyer and longtime professor at the University at Buffalo School of Law, where his service includes a stint as Interim Dean. In his other life, he is a working jazz pianist who honed his chops studying with Johnny Morris, longtime pianist for the legendary drummer Buddy Rich.

Claudia Marasco

Having resided in the Village of Lewiston since 1982, Claudia has taken advantage of many opportunities involving community service projects. Claudia has been awarded for her efforts: receiving the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce Lewiston Citizen of the Year Award, twice. She is also a Paul Harris Fellow Award selected by the Rotary International, former elected Trustee to the Village of Lewiston Board & Deputy Mayor, and sole owner of several rental properties. Claudia graduated from the University Minnesota (Bachelor of Science, Niagara University, Ed.M. and Advanced Graduate degree, school counselor. World traveling includes International Graduate Studies.

Curt Stuart

Curt is a lifelong resident of Lewiston and owner of a local business for the past 40 years. He takes pride in serving on the Northwest Jazz Festival board in order to contribute to what he considers to be Lewiston’s premier (and free) event of the year.  Curt recognizes that making an event this popular doesn’t happen by mistake, and he is inspired by the passion and tireless efforts of the Chamber, volunteers, businesses and other board members.  The atmosphere at this musical (and social!) event is like no other and Curt is proud to be a small part of it.

Lisa Sweeney, Northwest Bank

Lisa is Vice President &  Branch Manager of the Town of Niagara Branch of Northwest Bank. She lives in the Lewiston community and has been involved in many community events throughout the years. Currently on the board of The Lewiston Jazz Festival, presented by Northwest Bank where her and her  daughter Jenna  have volunteered and  both help with the hosting of the Northwest Tent. Lisa is also on the board of  Stella Niagara Educational Park Board.

Fred Albrecht
John DiMino, DiMino's Lewiston Market, Inc.

David Hobba

 

Professional Staff

Amanda Haseley, Jazz Coordinator, [email protected]
Suzanne Raby, Jazz Co-Coordinator, [email protected]
Terri Ciccarelli, Jazz Co-Coordinator, [email protected]
Tony Zambito, Artistic Director, [email protected]