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Meet the Board

Matt Langley – President
Matt’s work with his own digital media company, Microwave Graphics,  brings an additional aspect to his work with the SJS board. Matt relocated to Nevada City from southern Maine in July 2020 via a six week cross country tour in a Class C camper with his wife Pam.

Though he studied briefly with Lou Marini, David Baker, Ted Dunbar, and Stan Strickland, most of Matt’s musical education has come on the bandstand. He has recorded extensively with the Charlie Kolhlhase Quintet, his own group Color, with pianist Pandelis Karayorgis’ group System of 5, and with Mike Effenberger’s weirdturnpro. Mr. Langley has also shared the stage or recording studio with Ron Carter, Richie Cole, Fred Hersch, John Medeski, Billy Martin, Chris Wood, Matt Wilson, Tiger Okoshi, Roswell Rudd, Dave Douglas and many others.

Nora Nausbaum – Vice President
The SJS benefits greatly from Nora’s vast experience in the Nevada County arts community.

After completing her masters in Music at Boston’s New England Conservatory Nora taught at Northern Michigan University and Arkansas State University at Jonesboro. Nora is currently performing with the Amaryllis Trio, Jazz Alibi and is active in the jazz community while maintaining her private teaching practice.

 

John Lace

Dr. Lace grew up near Pittsburgh PA. He is a third-generation physician and has been in Grass Valley since 1999 as our area’s only pulmonary physician. He chose medicine over a musical career, but continues to be an actively performing musician on keyboards and double bass.

John studied jazz piano with Frank Cunimondo, the dean of Pittsburgh jazz pianists. He also studied classical piano at college, in addition to his premedical studies.

Dr. Lace developed an interest in playing bass later in life and is largely self-taught. He continues to perform frequently at local venues as well as being a regular member of the house band for the Sunday jazz jams.

Rich Celio
Rich, and his wife Charlene, relocated from the Bay Area to Nevada County in 2016. He is a retired professional engineer who started his own business in 1994.
Near the turn of the century, facing the “possibility” of a mid life crisis, he decided he would pick up the instrument he loved but abandoned in high school. When compared to other mid-life-crisis options, this seemed to the wife and kids a reasonable alternative.
After a few years shedding on the Roland Vdrums late at night, he got a real kit and started venturing out, first at the local jams. He has had the great fortune of playing with fantastic musicians in the Bay Area. Now, having plugged into the great music scene here in Nevada County, he considers it a real privilege to be able to help the Sierra Jazz Society, support the local artists, and promote this music that we love so much.