BECCA KAUFMAN

Becca Kaufman, a native New Yorker, moved to Chicago in 1987 to attend Northwestern University’s renowned theatre program. She realized singing and songwriting was her true passion and quickly became one of the most sought after jingle writers/session vocalists in the city. Becca’s talents are featured on commercials for Coke, Diet Coke, Bally's, Buick and many others. Her character voices can be heard on many games and toys from manufacturers such as Konami, Hallmark and the smash CD-ROM series 'You Don't Know Jack'. In 2003, she was featured on WGN-TV as “Chicago’s Very Own” spotlighting her many successful adventures.

Becca’s passion for Weddings has led her career down many different paths, covering every aspect of Wedding organization, planning and execution. She has shared the knowledge she has acquired through the years with her own radio show, I Do, I Do, on 105.9FM, WCKG, Chicago.

MEET THE BAND

Angie Wendt

Vocals

Angie Wendt, a Chicago native, is an amazingly talented and powerful vocalist. For the past fifteen years she has been performing professionally across the country. Her versatility makes her a well-rounded entertainer - from rock to pop, R&B to jazz, she can sing it all! Her extensive performing experience also gives her dynamic stage presence, having performed for such companies as Bailiwick Repertoire and the children's theatre group Theatre BAM Chicago, of which she is currently a member.  Angie is also currently studying improv performance at Second City.

Parrish Collier

Vocals

A seasoned performer, Parrish has been on television and stages across the US, Europe, and Japan. Theater credits include national and international tours of West Side Story, 5 Guy’s Named Moe, Show Boat, Singing in the Rain and Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat .Chicago credits include shows at The Goodman Theatre, The Chicago Shakespeare Theatre,  Drury Lane, The Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre, The Rosemont Theatre with the world famous Rockettes, The Ravinia Festival, The Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, and The Chicago Lyric Opera. As a session singer, backing vocalist, and lyricist, Parrish has worked with German Rock singer AVA and was a backing vocalist and dancer for British Pop icon Patulah Clark and British pop band THE LONDON BOYS. Parrish has lived and worked as a performer in Nashville, Tampa, St Louis, Kyoto, London, Amsterdam, Hamburg, and New York. He's thrilled to now be in Chicago performing for you!

Chris Clemente

Bass/ Vocalist

Chris is widely recognized as one of the nation's best young fusion bassists and composers who writes and produces out of Vanedawg Studios. Chris is also a contributing music writer to Harpo Studio for the Oprah Show and recently appeared on the show playing for Golden Globe and Oscar Winner Jennifer Hudson. Bass Frontiers Magazine says, "funks, swings, and solos with style and ease."  He is a clinician and product specialist for Warwick Basses and Amps. Notable projects are: Kick the Cat, Drop Q, Ernie Hendrickson and the Make Believe and Ladies of the Canyon

Daryl Boggs

Guitar/ Vocals

Guitarist/vocalist Darryl has traveled and performed professionally since 1972.  Along with radio and television commercials, he has performed in clubs and arenas around the country.  He has played with Tony Bennett, Bill Cosby, Tyrone Davis, The Imaginations, Bunky Green, Harry Caray, Frank D’Rone, The Treniers and others.  He is also dedicated to the field of music education, in which he has taught for over 20 years.

Paul Mutzabaugh

Keyboard

Keyboardist Paul Mutzabaugh works consistently in both live and studio projects throughout Chicago, enjoying a wide variety of musical genres. In addition to BKO, he currently leads his own original jazz/fusion group The Renegades, and is a founding member of the band Crawl. He performs regularly with notable local artists such as Typhanie Monique, John Elmquist's Hard Art Groop, and Aaron McEvers' M13. Paul also serves as a musical director for Casa de Luz church, which has included performances with renowned Hispanic artists including Héctor Hermosillo & Torre Fuerte, María del Sol, Ernesto d'Alessio, Olga Breeskin, and Julissa. Holding a Bachelor of Music in Composition from DePaul University ('98-'02), he also enjoyed a 4-year tenure on tenor drums with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps (FMM '97-'00).

Rich Stitzel

Drums

Drummer Rich Stitzel was trained at the prestigious University of North Texas in the early 1990's and was a top-call studio & touring drummer in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for nearly a decade before moving to Chicago in 2001. It didn't take long before Rich was at the top of the Chicago musician's list as the go to rhythm man for virtually all genres of music. Rich keeps a very busy playing & recording schedule (he played 290 shows in 2009!). Rich has toured the United States extensively, and has also performed in Mexico, Canada, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, the Sinai Peninsula, and Egypt.

Most recently Rich has drummed for the Grammy nominated rocker Cathy Richardson (Jefferson Starship), multi-platinum selling country superstar Miranda Lambert, Jazz Violin Master Christian Howes, world pop songstress Anne Harris (Otis Taylor, Jack's Big Music Show), and many, many more. He has performed on over 60 albums to date, and the list grows almost daily.

Rich is co-leader of the instrumental groove fusion band, "crawl", and co-founder of the children's band & outreach/after school program, "The Sparklemonkeys". Rich is also an artist in residence for Ravinia's Reach, Teach, and Play program where he presents music education & enrichment to several Chicago public elementary schools throughout the year.

Kevin Kizer

Saxophone/ Clarinet & Flute

Kevin has performed with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, the Rob Parton Big Band, Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls, and the Ken and Jim Show led by Ken Haebich and Jim Gaillereto. He has toured several European countries from Russia to France performing in orchestras featuring such artists as Herbie Hancock, Ramsey Lewis, Charles Earland, and Donald Rafael Garrett. He has also shared the stage with a diverse range of musicians, among them Ray Manzarek of the Doors, Ray Charles, Bernadette Peters, and Faith Hill. In addition to his performing career, Kevin is a well-respected music educator who has encouraged many young local musicians.

Doug Scharf

Trumpet

Doug has performed with Ray Charles, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Glen Campbell, Chuck Mangione and Whitney Houston.  He has also performed at jazz festivals in Chicago, New York, and Jerusalem.  While living in Los Angeles he worked on the Late Show with Joan Rivers writing music and playing in the house band.  He has also arranged music for George Benson, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne, Thomas Dolby, Cher, Bobby Caldwell, and major movies and TV shows.  He is on faculty at North Central College in Naperville.

Ryan Miller

Trombone

Ryan R. Miller received his Bachelors degree in music performance from Northern Illinois University and his Masters degree in music performance from Roosevelt University. He has performed with the orchestras of Glenn Miller, Mel Torme, and Natalie Cole and local groups like The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, The Sykyliners Big Band, The Illinois Philharmonic, The Peoria Symphony, The Chicago Trombone Authority, as well as The Becca Kaufman Orchestra. He is the low brass instructor and founding director of two non-for-profit music teaching studios: The Hinsdale Conservatory of Music, and The Downers Grove Conservatory of Music. He is also the Instructor of Trombone and Euphonium at Bradley University in Peoria, IL.