Jason Patera is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he studied arranging and contemporary writing.

Jason is currently the head of Music Department at the Chicago Academy for the Arts, a private arts-oriented high school where he teaches jazz studies, music business, and ear training. He has been nominated twice for the Golden Apple Teacher's Award, twice for the Disney American Teacher's Award, has received a Nobel Distinguished Educator award, and is included in every “Who's Who of American Teachers” list since 2001. Jason is also the author of Rhythm Boot Camp, Basic Changes, and Piano One: Exercises in Harmonic Technique as well numerous letters and essays published in newspapers and magazines, including the Newsweek College Writing Guide.

As a performer, Jason has worked as a freelance drummer, bassist, and keyboard player. He has played with the Chicago-based funk/soul band BadCat, the Jeremy Callner jazz quartet, and currently leads his own quintet. He has also composed music for numerous independent films, theatrical productions, and multimedia projects.

Jeremy Callner completed his Bachelors of Music degree at Roosevelt University in Chicago in 1998. His first two years of college were spent in Hartford, Connecticut under the tutelage of jazz legend Jacky McLean (Miles Davis, Art Blakey, and Charles Mingus). While studying at Roosevelt, Jeremy received the Elmhurst Jazz Festival Soloist Award two years in a row.

Jeremy was on the faculty of the Chicago Academy for the Arts where he taught music theory, saxophone and jazz ensemble. In 2000 he was awarded the “Most Inspirational Teacher” award from Western Illinois University

Jeremy can be seen performing regularly with several recognizable groups including his own “Quartet” and several side projects. He has recently finished recording an album with Richard Bean and Chipito of Santana on the Tellstar Productions record label. Jeremy has performed at high profile fundraisers and private parties with guests including George Ryan and Tipper Gore. Jeremy is currently pursuing his PhD in High Energy Nuclear Physics at the University of Illinois at Chicago.