Staff
Scott Simon - Curricular Percussion Instructor
Email: simons@eths202.org
Scott Simon grew up in northern Illinois, and began playing percussion at the age of ten. While actively involved in his middle/high school band programs, Scott was exposed early on to the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. He marched four years with the Phantom Regiment Cadets/Phantom Legion drum corps, where they won two Division Three Drum Corps Midwest Championships (1997-98) and one Division Three Drum Corps International Fred Sanford Percussion Award (1999). His competitive marching experience continued with the Phantom Regiment in the summers of 2000, 2002, and 2003. In the 2002 season, he was awarded first place in the Drum Corps International Solo Competition in Madison, WI. After aging out, Scott then joined the percussion staff for Regiment for the 2009 and 2010 seasons and the Santa Clara Vanguard staff for the 2011 season. He is now on percussion staff with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from Rosemont, IL.
Scott received his BM at Illinois State University, and his MM at Central Michigan University, both with an emphasis in percussion. At both institutions, he was involved with the concert bands, jazz ensembles, and percussion ensembles. While completing his masters at CMU, the percussion ensemble was among the three groups selected to play at the 2006 Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Austin Texas.
Currently, Scott lives in Chicago, Illinois where he maintains a career in music education and performance In addition to ETHS, Scott also spends his fall season working with the Northwestern University Marching Band, where he serves as instructor and arranger. As a performer, Scott can be found playing in pits for numerous musical theater productions throughout the Chicagoland area.
Brian Gephart - Jazz Saxophone
Email: brian@briangephart.com
Phone: (847) 212-3872
Brian Gephart is a jazz tenor player and composer in the Chicago area. He has been a member of the ETHS Jazz combo faculty since 2010 and teaches several of our jazz saxophonists.
Emma Taylor - Jazz Bass
Email: taylore@eths202.org
Emma Taylor is a bassist, composer, and educator based in Chicago. She has taught at Millikin University, Purdue University, and Richland Community College, and currently teaches at Wheaton College and Evanston Township Highschool. Emma received her Masters Degree and Doctorate of Musical Arts in Jazz Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, studying under the direction of Larry Gray.
Known for her full-bodied, warm, and lyrical double bass sound, Emma is an in-demand sidewoman. She has played with renowned musicians such as Brian Lynch, Carl Allen, Jim Snidero, Derrick Gardner, Gary Smulyan, Tito Carrillo, Troy Roberts, Joel Spencer, and Ben Markley. Aside from playing in the US, Emma has also toured in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, and Mexico—most recently completing a two week-long residency performing and teaching classes in Brazil at the Federal University of Uberlândia.
Emma is a proud 2026 Ravinia Steans Fellow. She regularly teaches and presents masterclasses at universities, conferences and jazz camps. She has performed at national conferences including Jazz Education Network, Midwest Band and Orchestra Association, North American Saxophone Alliance, and the International Society of Bassists Convention.