Saxophones & Woodwinds

Bryan Willard
Lead Tenor Sax
Bryan has played lead Tenor Sax with DCJB since 2013. In addition to DCJB Bryan plays with Swingtime, a Dallas area big band, and is a charter member of the orchestra at First Baptist Church of Sunnyvale, where he is a member. When not making music Bryan is a State Farm Insurance Claims Adjuster and he is also an avid outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman. Watching Boots Randolph play Tenor Sax on HeeHaw inspired Bryan to take up the instrument, which he played through college at East Texas State on a music scholarship. Bryan has been featured at TMEA and also played with the Mal Fitch Orchestra. About his membership in DCJB Bryan says: “I dearly love everyone in the band. I enjoy the fellowship and the opportunity to help others see Christ and feel his presence through the music we play”.

Andrew Balettie
Lead Alto Sax
Andrew is lead alto in the DCJB and has been a member of the band since 2016. He is currently Director of Bands at Bishop Lynch Catholic High School in Dallas and has previously worked in Frisco and Denton ISD's. Andrew earned his bachelor's degree in music education from the University of North Texas where he performed with many of UNT's world class ensembles. When he's not playing or teaching, Andrew loves spending time with his wife Liz and son Cole and following the Cowboys and FC Dallas. Andrew says: "I love the opportunity to share God's message and the only truly American art form (jazz) at the same time!"

Scott Williams
Bari Sax
Scott has been a part of the DCJB sax section since 2007. While attending Lake Highlands High School in Dallas Scott was selected as First Chair bass clarinet in the Texas All-State band. He played baritone sax in the Texas Tech jazz band, tenor sax in the marching band and bass clarinet in the concert band (no wonder Texas Tech awarded him a music scholarship!). Scott currently plays in such varied ensembles as the Metropolitan Winds wind symphony and the Metropolitan Saxophone Quartet. Scott serves as Captain of Holy Rollers golf cart ministry at his home church, St Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano and he is Managing Partner at BridgeStreet Partners.

Lynn Denson
2nd Tenor Sax
Lynn retired from Coca Cola in 2011 and is enjoying his retirement playing in a number of area groups in addition to DCJB, including: Dallas Praise Orchestra, Dallas Praise Jazz Orchestra, Town North Community Band, the New Horizon Band, Dixie Swing, Up-Swing and the orchestra at Mimosa Lane Baptist Church, where he is a member. Regarding his busy musical schedule Lynn says, “I enjoy traveling to the many diverse venues and sharing styles of music with audiences throughout the DFW area that they otherwise might not get a chance to hear”.

Lauren Nowacki
2nd Alto Sax
Lauren joined DCJB in 2019. She is currently Associate Band Director of two middle schools in Plano. She is a proud graduate of Baylor University, where she majored in Biology but spent as much time as possible in band. Her involvement with community ensembles, church choirs, and teaching private lessons helped her realized she needed to switch careers from science to music education. Although she has played with wind ensembles, marching band, full orchestra, and many church choirs, this is her very first jazz band. Her excuse is that she's a flute player (and now, a woodwind doubler wannabe). She is thrilled to have the opportunity to play sax in a group like this. She currently plays flute with the Carrollton Wind Symphony and the St. Rita Dallas church choir.

Tanya Benson
Flute
Tanya, who joined DCJB only two years after it formed, adds the flute voice to a woodwind section dominated by saxophone! Other areas of service for Tanya include playing in the Wilshire Winds at her home church, Wilshire Baptist Church and she also is on the Board of “Garland Relay for Life”. In her professional life Tanya is a Speech Pathology Supervisor. Of her association with DCJB Tanya says: “I love being able to share God's grace through jazz music”.