Elmhurst College honors Jazz Band director

Elmhurst College Jazz Band Director Doug Beach recently received the Dr. Andrew K. Prinz Faculty Merit Award for his dedication and commitment to students.

Beach, an Elmhurst resident, is a performer, composer, publisher, educator, arranger and Grammy Award winner. He has taught at Elmhurst College since 1978 and is director of the college’s jazz studies program, as well as director of the acclaimed Elmhurst College Jazz Band.

He received his award Oct. 13 during the college’s 2012 Homecoming and Family Weekend.

Under his direction, the jazz band has performed in festivals around the world and has appeared regularly with jazz greats such as Clark Terry, Dianne Schuur, Nicholas Payton, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Pete Christlieb, Lee Konitz, Louie Belson and Bobby Shew.

In 1996, the Count Basie Orchestra and New York Voices recorded Beach’s arrangement of “Cottontail” on a CD that went on to win the Grammy Award for best large jazz ensemble.

In 2003, Beach received one of Elmhurst College’s highest honors, the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award.

Andrew Prinz was a longtime professor of Urban Studies at Elmhurst College (1969-2003), who epitomized the qualities that this award honors. An awardee is nominated by alumni and voted on by the Faculty Merit Award Committee of the Elmhurst College Alumni Association.