Bitter Jester Original Song Competition, 2020

- Preliminary Week One -

June 1 - June 5, 2020

Every week in June, fourteen songs will be posted to Bitter Jester Music Fest social media. Judges will select one Finalist and you, the audience, will pick a “Fan Favorite” each week to advance to the Final Round!

Visit us on Instagram or Facebook to listen to this week’s music and CAST YOUR VOTE for “Fan Favorite” by liking the songs you think should move on.

Winners will be announced on Saturday, July 4!

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This Week’s Song Lineup:

Austin and Ally by 9 A. M.

Crispy by Mia Pucci

City in the Sky by Lucy Rowe

Hold On Dear Brother by Mono Valley

Papa Lasagna's Fine Italian Dining by Papa Squat & the Magic Treehouse

Potty Mouth by The Invaders

Senior Discount by Vegan Steakhouse

Sleigh by Tess Clare

Styley and Smiley by Charly MaC

Take it Back by Cowboy Jones

The Beautiful Things You Do (Piano Version) by Ian Jake Robleza

Velvet Skyline! By Downside and Away

Where My Life Remains by Watchtower

Winter Love by Onto Autumn

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This week’s Judge’s Bios:

(On mobile? Click the photo!)

Caroline Baran (aka 'KÆYRA')

Caroline Baran (KÆYRA) is a 19 year old singer from Chicago, IL who currently lives in LA. She was the lead singer in Caroline & the Priority (2016 Bitter Jester Grand Champions) as well as the singer and bass player in the band PROFUSION (2015 Bitter Jester Grand Champions). In fact, PROFUSION beat the 2014 Grand Champion Band (Xazz) in 2015 and it was the musicians from Xazz who joined forces with Caroline to form Caroline & the Priority.

A few years ago Caroline started her solo career going by the name KÆYRA.

KÆYRA started her journey with music at only 6 years old. She went to her mom's music school, ABC Music Academy, and took lessons for every instrument possible. She ended up playing piano, guitar, flute, and drums.

In 2016, KÆYRA submitted a video to Postmodern Jukebox for their online talent search. This led to being able to produce four videos with the band. She recorded covers of "Time after Time,” "Nothing Else Matters,” “In the Air Tonight,” and “Love on the Brain.” The videos have been very successful, generating over 10 million views on YouTube and over 30 million views on Facebook!

In August, 2017, KÆYRA released her debut album “Fountains of Gold.” She went on to be told “you are star material, I think that you really are” by Howie Mandel before getting four Yes’s on America’s Got Talent in 2018.

KÆYRA is currently working on an upcoming project that will be released later in 2020.

John Blane

John Blane is a professional bass trombonist/tubist and music copyist/engraver. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University. In addition to his early years as a music educator, Blane has been most active in show and recording work over the past 25+ years in the Chicago area.

His performance credentials include the Ringling Bros. Circus, Johnny Mathis, Manhattan Transfer, Liberace, Tony Bennett, Wayne Newton, Lou Rawls, Gladys Knight, Burt Bacharach, Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Mel Tormé, Bob Hope, Sammy Davis, Jr., Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole plus many more. He has performed in the Chicago runs of Miss Saigon, Show Boat, Beauty and the Beast, Will Roger’s Follies, Damn Yankees, The King and I, His Way, Ragtime, The Lion King, Mary Poppins, and Les Misérables.

He has been active in the recording of T.V. and radio commercials including spots for United Airlines, Miller Brewing Co., State Farm Insurance, Samsonite, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Ameritech, Kelloggs, WBBM-TV News, among many others.

Currently, the bulk of his energies are spent doing computer-aided music preparation for publication, recording and performance. Major clients include Hal Leonard Publishing Corp., Alfred Publishing (formerly Warner Bros. Publications, Inc.), Disney, Kendor Music, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Music Theatre International, Theatrical Rights Worldwide, G. Schirmer, Inc., among others.

Some of his publishing work includes the music of Frank Mantooth, Bob Mintzer, Bill Holman, Louis Bellson, Joe Henderson and Bill Watrous as well as Andrew Lloyd Webber, Alfred Reed, Michael Kamen, Alan Menken, and John Williams. Significant musical theater projects include composers Julie Shannon, Paul Libman, Stephen Flaherty, Eric Whitacre and Jason Robert Brown.

He is a former member of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and is currently on the faculty of The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and at the University of Illinois - Chicago where he developed and teaches a course on music notation and copying.

Michael Brook

2014 & 2016 Bitter Jester Grand Champion

Michael Brook is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and future music educator.

He recently graduated with a Bachelor in Music Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and plans to pursue songwriting and producing professionally post-coronavirus.

“As a seasoned veteran of this competition and music festival, it’s amazing how vast the networking opportunities are that come from it!

I’m still in touch with people I met through Bitter Jester. I’ve even created bands and played shows with people I’ve met through this event.”

— Michael Brook

Michael has performed in the Bitter Jester Music Festival with several bands over the years, placing 3rd twice, 2nd once, and 1st twice (quite possibly a record in and of itself)! He made many connections over the years having performed with Out of Pocket in the festival most recently and with FIZZ, comprised of multiple other Bitter Jester Judges and former competitors.

He’s excited to finally participate in Bitter Jester from the other side as a judge and is looking forward to all the great music he'll be listening to!

“Also, the thousands people in attendance for the final show is a cool bonus! All around a well-coordinated and thought-through event with amazing perks for young musicians everywhere!”

— Michael Brook

Jonah Brooks

2012 Bitter Jester Grand Champion

Jonah Brooks is a musician, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from Highland Park, IL. He studied jazz guitar with Henry Johnson of the Ramsey Lewis group and Music Business at Columbia College.

Jonah was a Semi-Finalist in the Wilson Center International Jazz Guitar Competition in 2017. He also started a music production collective called Byoko and he releases his own music online under the name "Mayer Brooks.”

Jonah can play the guitar, trumpet, bass, keys, as well as make beats, mix, and master. An graduate of Highland Park High School, his band Midnight in Montana won the Bitter Jester Music Festival back in 2012 and he is excited to return this year as a judge for the first time!

“This event is such an important staple in the community for local young musicians and creatives in their formative years.

Participation is time well spent whether you win or not. There are good times to be had and important lessons about your craft to be learned.”

— Jonah Brooks

Andy Burrows

2009 & 2010 Bitter Jester Grand Champion

Andy is a creative artisan. He is a producer of video, meetings, music, art, and more.

A two-time back-to-back Bitter Jester Music Festival Grand Champion himself (along with his former band, The Burrows Four, in 2009 & 2010) and former touring musician, Andy moved into the role of producer in 2013 and has since made his place in the artistic production community.

He enjoys returning to this festival to witness musical talent that would have blown his band out of the water back when he was a competitor!

Craig Collins

Craig Collins has been working at radio stations since he was 19. He was a co-host at ESPN in South Bend, a podcaster / producer / host for WGN Radio in Chicago, and produced Afternoon Drive with Garry Meier.

He is the founder of PodsLoaded Media and loves the Yankees. Craig seems to think he works for the team (or he at least emails Brian Cashman ideas very often). Craig is also on a personal quest to make every item in his home “smart.” His wife Betty isn’t exactly thrilled with this plan.

He is the host of The Craig Collins Show on Cumulus Media in Bloomington, IL from 2-6pm. The show is a collection of the crazy news stories that Craig finds each day plus interviews with local newsmakers and a whole lot of fun. he is also a fill-in host for nationally syndicated shows from Radio America including The Chad Benson Show.

“I have covered the Bitter Jester Music Festivals July 4th Grand Finale event for WGN Radio in Chicago in the past.

It’s executed flawlessly. It’s also a wonderful way to spend the holiday. The energy from the bands is contagious!”

— Craig Collins

Jackson Dreyer

2013 Bitter Jester Grand Champion

Jackson Dreyer is an artist, songwriter, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist from Vernon Hills, IL, currently residing in Nashville, TN. Along with fellow judge John Williams, Jackson’s former Band, Van Buren & Wells, was the 2013 Bitter Jester Music Festival Grand Champion.

After attending Stevenson High School, he graduated from Belmont University where he studied Guitar, Music Business, and Songwriting in addition to being a three year member of The Beltones, an internationally ranked a cappella group.

Since graduating, Jackson has released sixteen records, seven of which made up a self-titled mini-album. The first single, "Can't Fake It," has garnered over 375,000 streams on Spotify alone and has gotten radio play in Nashville alongside his 2019 single, "Better Man."

In harmony with playing shows with his band and maintaining a busy songwriting schedule with other artists and writers, Jackson works closely with a non-profit, People Loving Nashville, a group dedicated to weekly community building, feeding, and clothing Nashville's homeless community. As his career grows, Jackson looks to find new ways to leverage his platform to serve the underprivileged and forgotten, no matter the city.

“The 4th of July Bitter Jester shows I got to play in were some of my favorite memories with my old band, Van Buren & Wells. But more than being a big stage with a fun crowd, it was a community - some of which are artists or musicians I still catch up with to this day.

Bitter Jester has done a lot of good for young musicians and I’m so excited to be on the judging side. Can’t wait to hear these songs!”

— Jackson Dreyer

Dionté L. Durham

Dionte Durham, Chicago native, Entertainment Attorney, and Co-Founder of The House Chi, Chicago’s premiere live music showcase. Dionte’s passion for music resonated at an early age, from singing in his church’s young adult choir to playing trumpet for his middle school’s beginning band. In high school, Dionte went on to join Chicago’s All-City Jazz Band and became first chair in his high school’s Symphonic Band.

While at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Dionte decided to continue his passion for music through singing. He sang with many groups including, the U of I Black Chorus, Soul Premier, The Musiq Xperience and local gospel groups His Children and Noah I Brown and Company.

After graduation, Dionte returned to Chicago and auditioned for Grammy Nominated / Stellar Award & Dove Award-winning gospel group, New Direction. Dionte recorded and toured on their 5th studio album entitled Destiny. New Direction was also featured three times on Fox’s hit series, Empire and toured as backing vocalists on Diddy’s Bad Boy Reunion Tour.

Still with the passion to become an entertainment attorney, Dionte enrolled in the University of Illinois at Chicago Law School, graduating in 2012. Dionte is currently Senior Legal Counsel for global tech company, Infosys Ltd, and had his own law practice handling real estate and entertainment law matters.

In 2018, Dionte and his business partner cofounded The House Chi, an intimate live music showcase, which provides local and seasoned artists a unique platform to show off their music and grow through live performance. Shameless plug: be sure to follow The House Chi on IG: @thehousechi and Facebook: @thehousechi.

“The Bitter Jester Foundation for the Arts is such a wonderful organization and I’m excited to be a part.

Any organization out there to support the youth in pursuing their artistic talents and goals, I will always be in support of. Thank you guys for doing what you do.”

— Dionte Durham

Jessie Fisher

Jessie Fisher is a Chicago-based actress, improviser, musician, and award-winning composer originally from Highland Park, IL. She trained at the University of Colorado and The School at Steppenwolf Theatre.

Jessie has created music for theatre companies across the country, most recently winning a Barrymore Award for People's Light Theatre's "There are Such Things as Vampires."

She is the co-creator and co-host of the musical Variety Show Erik and Jessie and Everyone You Know, which performs high energy live shows in Chicago and New York.

As an actress, her theatre and musical credits include work across Chicago, Milwaukee, and on Broadway, where she was seen in "Once" and "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" (along with fellow BJMF judge Nathan Salstone).

On screen she has appeared in “Boss,” “Chicago Justice,” “Chicago P.D,” and in a web pilot called “The Engagement Party” with Bitter Jester Music Festival producer and fellow HPHS alum Nicolas DeGrazia.

Rachel Levinson Fisher

Rachel Levinson Fisher is a violinist who grew up in Highland Park, IL (where she played in the Highland Park High School orchestra with Bitter Jester Music Festival founder Nicolas DeGrazia).

She studied Materials Science and Engineering and Violin Performance at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has spent many years working as both an engineer and professional violinist. She was a member of the Virginia Symphony and Virginia Opera before moving back to Highland Park to raise her family.

Rachel is the currently the Co-Concertmaster of the Highland Park Strings, was the Assistant Principal Second Violin in the former Lake Forest Symphony, and is a frequent chamber musician.

When she’s not being musical, Rachel is a high school math and ACT tutor.

Chase Frankel (Copy)

Chase Frankel is a musician in the Chicagoland area.

His experience includes advising and coaching the wind sections of marching bands (Sullivan High School, Glenbrook North High School) and has conducted musicals with full and reduced orchestras.

On weekends you can find him at the Music Institute of Chicago where he conducts the Introduction to Orchestra Class, known as the Preludio Orchestra.

He currently resides in Northbrook, IL, and is extremely happy to be involved with Bitter Jester!

Laura Byarley Harris

Laura Byarley Harris, whose primary instrument is the viola, is a University of Illinois, Urbana, School of Music graduate and also attended Rice University, Houston. She is a recipient of the String Educator Award at UIUC. Ms. Harris also has her Masters degree in Education Leadership from Concordia University, Chicago.

She has conducted orchestras for Illinois Music Educators Association Junior District festivals and Illinois Summer Youth Music at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. Ms. Harris has served as adjudicator in middle school and high school organizational and solo festivals. She has also served as guest lecturer in string pedagogy at Concordia.

Ms. Harris has enjoyed the privilege and honor of sharing music in performance with her students during her thirty year career as an orchestra director in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and for the majority of those years, as Director of Orchestras in Mount Prospect School District 57.

Lindsey Hayes

2017 Bitter Jester Grand Champion

Although you may not have guessed, tween pop singers like Hannah Montana and Justin Bieber are what drove Lindsey's passion to begin singing.

Born in Northbrook, IL, Lindsey's family relocated to Lake Geneva, WI, during her childhood years. This is where she found a love of performance while taking vocal lessons at the local School of Rock. From there, her and a few other students in her group decided to form a band outside of their current instruction.

And ever since, Lindsey has held music close to her life throughout various projects - including forming the metal band, Audiophilia. The young teen group participated in the Bitter Jester Music Festival two years in a row - taking the title of Runner Up in 2016 and becoming the Grand Champions in 2017!

Although the ensemble has since disbanded, Lindsey still performs with her acoustic duo, Chinsey, throughout the Lake Geneva area (in an admittedly much mellower setting).

“As a participating musician multiple years in a row, I can truly say that the Bitter Jester Music Festival has been one of the best experiences of my life! ”

— Lindsey Hayes

Mike Nehs

Mike is one of the principals of Periscope Post and Audio, a sponsor of the Bitter Jester Music Fest, donating studio recording time to past winners. He is a seasoned post-production supervisor with nearly twenty years in the industry. He oversees the daily operation of Periscope including the recording studio where the music for Empire, the hit show on FOX, is recorded. He works closely with all of the musicians that come through the studio and is involved in all aspects of recording.

Mike also works closely with Donda’s House and Oscar and Grammy winner Rhymefest helping mentoring the youth that are working towards a career as a musician at Donda’s house. The last event was the writing, recording, and mixing of original music with eight groups over four weeks with the winner playing the main stage at Blues Fest in Chicago.

Additionally, he has produced multiple films, overseeing production and post production. His producing and post production background spans a long history in film and television, with credits that include films (Almost Salinas, Heavens Fall, No God No Master, Kickboxer: Vengeance, and television: Empire, Mind Games, Betrayal, Sirens, Crisis, APB, and The Exorcist. Check out Mike's IMDB page to view more of his credits.

Prize money generously provided by First Bank of Highland Park