Ted received a Master's Degree in Jazz Composition with Distinction from DePaul University in 2005.  He is a well-respected jazz educator with a private teaching studio and leads master classes at various schools and universities in the Chicago metropolitan area. Ted is also a composer who has written compositions and arrangements for schools such as Illinois Wesleyan University and Roosevelt Middle School, as well as features for individual performers such as Mark Colby.

He has recorded with many world-class artists including Phil Woods and Slide Hampton and has performed with a wide array of musicians including Joe Lovano, Lennie Niehaus, Buddy DeFranco, Johnny Griffen, Ramsey Lewis, Kevin Mahogany, Vinny Colaiuta, Bill Hollman, actor Gary Sinise, Cedar Walton, Von Freeman, Lonnie Brooks, Lee Konitz, Gerald Wilson, Dave Valentin, Claudia Acuna, Eric Alexander, Dr. Billy Taylor, Bill Dobbins, Alvin Batiste, Mary Wilson and the Supremes, Robbie Folks, Ten Thousand Maniacs, Wayne Newton, and Steven Bernstein.

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