Earnest Jackson
The founder of Alliance Music Academy, a jazz enthusiast and professional bass player for over 20 years. During college he was privileged to play and study with these artists – Jon Faddis, Kevin Mahogony, Clark Terry, Manhattan Voices, and The Count Basie Band.
In addition to inspiring students he is professional electric and upright bass player in the DFW area.
Earnest also is the founder of The Complete Bass Player website which is an online learning site for bass players!
Paige Jackson
One of the co-founders of Alliance Music academy. She teaches private lessons in the areas of voice, flute, and piano. She has been the Head Choir Director at local Junior high and High schools in the DFW area.
She graduated with a BA in music performance (flute and voice) from Kansas State University, and her MM in Music Theory from the University of North Texas.
Paige is accredited as instructor, educator, and performer. She is currently the vocalist with SaPaJa, the jazz ensemble and Paige Jackson Music an original music project.
Carleigh Reese
Hailing from the DFW area, Carleigh Reese got her start in high school as a classical singer, having the privilege to perform with TMEA’s all-state women’s choir two years in a row. Sometime during her junior year, she found a love for a different kind of music when she joined her school’s jazz ensemble. So, when it came time for college, it was no surprise that she chose the University of North Texas, where she was able to sing with the premier UNT Jazz Singers and graduated with a degree in Vocal Jazz Studies. Also while at UNT, she had the amazing opportunity of studying music abroad in Barcelona Spain, and received a minor in Spanish.
When she is not teaching piano or voice at Alliance Music Academy, you can find her around the DFW area singing her original music (an eclectic mix of Pop, R&B, and Jazz).
Christian Ortiz
Christian Ortiz is excited to be joining Alliance Music Academy after completing his first national and international tours with America’s favorite big band musical, IN THE MOOD!
Originally from Walnut Creek, CA, Christian’s musical foundation started with piano lessons at age 5. At age 12, he began studying saxophone, clarinet, and flute with accomplished Stan Kenton alum, Mary Fettig, who taught him the value of learning each instrument as if it were his primary one.
From 2011-2015, Christian continued his education at the University of North Texas where he studied saxophone with Brad Leali. While at UNT, he recorded on an album with the renowned Two O’ Clock Lab Band and on two Downbeat Award winning albums with the Latin Jazz Ensemble.
Christian has toured in Europe, performing at the North Sea, Montreaux, and Umbria Jazz Festivals among others, and has performed and recorded recently with jazz greats James Morrison, Jon Faddis, and Bob McChesney.
He is currently an active performer in the DFW area and beyond leading his own groups, and also as a sideman with the David Whiteman Band.
George Bond
While living in Raleigh, North Carolina for a brief period of time after high school, he discovered a love for Jazz, Country and Jazz/Rock fusion guitar styles. He moved back to Texas and began his studies at Richland Community College in Dallas with guitarist Joseph Lee, pianist Bert Ligon, bassist John Adams, and music theory professor Jerry Wallace. He earned the Texas Music Educators Association All State Jazz Guitarist Award in 1992.
George continued his studies at the University of North Texas in 1994, and studied under guitar professors Fred Hamilton and Tom Johnson. He graduated in 1999 with a BM in Jazz guitar and a minor in music theory.
Since college, George has had more than 20 years of combined professional work in the Dallas area with original music groups, Top 40/Variety shows and Dallas/Fort Worth area churches.
Joseph Drake
Joseph has been playing drums for over twenty years, and teaching drums more than ten. He is a former Marine Corps Musician who was stationed in Hawaii from 2006 – 2010.
During his time with the Marine Band, he had the distinction of performing alongside local and nationally recognized talents such as The Black Eyed Peas, Jim Nabors and Jake Shimabukuro, as well as the President’s Own Marine Band.
Currently, Joseph teaches English Language Arts at Ann Richards Middle School and continues to share his drumming at his local church.
Sylvia Garcia
Sylvia Garcia graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelors in Music Education with a concentration in voice. She has toured for a couple of years with the U.S with La Sonora Dinamita de Carlitos Xivir, a Cumbia band. She is also the Handbell choir director at the UNT MS/JHS Summer choir camps.