Neil Wetzel is the saxophone instructor at Moravian College (Bethlehem, PA). His other duties include teaching jazz courses, directing the College’s big band and overseeing the jazz combo program. In addition, he is director of instrumental music at Moravian Academy, a private college preparatory school in Bethlehem.
He received a Bachelors of Music in Jazz, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where he studied saxophone with Marshall Taylor. He is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Teacher’s College, Columbia University in Manhattan.
Mr. Wetzel plays in groups around Eastern Pennsylvania including the Eric Mintel Quartet, a straight ahead jazz ensemble dedicated to performing jazz originals and the repertoire of Dave Brubeck. As founder and music director of Moravian College’s summer music camp, July Jazz Getaway, Mr. Wetzel has worked and played with many jazz greats including Clark Terry, Ellis Marsalis, Al Grey, Terrel Stafford, Jimmy Heath, Milt Grayson, Stanley Turrentine, and Bobby Watson. He is also director of Archbishop Ryan’s (Philadelphia, PA) summer jazz camp. He was the featured soloist with West Chester University Big Band at the 1999 West Chester High School Jazz Festival, and as judge, clinician and featured soloist at the Daniel Boone H.S. Sound Spectacular Jazz Band Festival 2000.
As a performer, he has backed many of the great performers in show business including: Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Bob Hope, Johnny Mathis, Bernadette Peters, Tommy Tune, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, the Temptations and the Four Tops. He has also played in all of the major theaters in Philadelphia, playing in the pit orchestras for shows such as Evita, Chicago, Cats, Titanic, Chorus Line, Crazy for You, Grand Hotel, City of Angels, State Fair, and Kiss of the Spider Woman. Mr. Wetzel was musical contractor at Valley Forge Music Fair until its closing. As a free-lance musician, he also appearances with the Philly Pops Orchestra including a performance with singer Patti Page in Carnegie Hall, which was recorded and released on CD by DRG records and won the 1999 Grammy for best pop traditional performance. He has also appeared with the Pops on the Fourth of July television broadcast.