BIOS
						Mariama Torruella enjoyed harmonizing with her three siblings growing up, singing hymns in church, and playing violin in school and community orchestras and chamber groups. At The George Washington University, Madi sang with the University Singers and the university's oldest a cappella group, the Troubadours, up and down the eastern seaboard and northern Italy. Madi arranged several songs for the Troubs, and was student Music Director from 1993-1995. Madi was also privileged to sing in master classes for Jon Hendricks, Tito Puente, and Claire Martin. Madi began jazz training in 1997 at the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University, with Rush Hour vocal jazz ensemble, under Jennifer Shelton (now Jennifer Barnes). Madi was an assistant director from 2000-2001. Down Beat awarded Madi an Outstanding Performance - Jazz Vocal Group in 1999, and in 2000 sh received a Special Citation for Outstanding Musicianship at the 27th annual International Association of Jazz Educators Conference. Rush Hour performed in concert with Darmon Meader in 2000. madi earned her Bachelor of Music in Composition from CCPA in 1999, and her Master of Music in Composition in 2003.
						Amanda Crumley sings, composes, teaches and arranges. She also makes a mean 'queso'. Born in Los Angeles, California, raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and currently residing in Chicago IL, she's slowly inching her way into the Atlantic. After having some instrumental lessons at a young age, singing became her main focus. She moved to Colorado to earn her bachelor’s degree in Music Education with an emphasis in classical voice at the University of Northern Colorado. While at UNC, she was introduced to the world of jazz, and proceeded to get funky. She has not recovered since. While at UNC, she performed with the school's top vocal jazz ensembles and became further acquainted with the music. Upon receiving a scholarship to study jazz voice with Patricia Barber at the Chicago College of Performing Arts a la Roosevelt University, Amanda joyously relocated to Chicago in 2003. While at Roosevelt, Amanda studied jazz with such notable musicians as Patricia Barber, Mike Molloy, Michael Raynor, Tito Carillo and Scott Mason, among others. She has studied classical voice with Donna McRae, Lesley Manring and Michael Best. Amanda performs in the Chicago area with her group, which takes various forms. Along with her love of jazz and Brazilian music, she remains faithful to her choral roots. She has sung with the New Mexico Symphony Chorus, and is beyond thrilled to be a member of both the Grant Park Chorus and the Chicago Symphony Chorus.Amanda is grateful for all of the truly amazing gifts in her life, and hopes to give back tenfold
						Leslie Beukelman is a Chicago singer on the upswing. Originally from Sandwich, Illinois, she started her musical endeavors at a young age, singing, playing piano, and playing trumpet. Leslie began singing jazz during her junior year when she was picked to sing in the Illinois All-State Jazz Choir. Besides singing with Stripped, she is recently graduated from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University with a degree in vocal jazz performance. Leslie was a member of the Downbeat award-winning vocal jazz ensemble, the New Deal, and was also the vocalist in the CCPA Jazz Orchestra, winning outstanding soloist at the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival. Leslie enjoys singing with various groups around the city, and is excited to establish herself as a freelance musician.
						Sean Archer began singing at the age of two in the car with his mom and grandmother, to whom he would call out, "Sing it, girls!" He began classical voice trainging at Downers Grove South High School, and was active in various bands there as well as choir, madrigals, and indoor percussion ensemble. In his senior year he was awarded the school's Music Department Senior of the Year, and sang at the opening of the Navy Memorial in Washington DC, as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the battle of Normandy. Sean Started his formal jazz training in 1995 at the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University. He studied with Jennifer Shelton and, along with Madi, performed in the Downbeat award-winning vocal jazz group, Rush Hour. Downbeat awarded Sean an Outstanding Performance - Jazz Vocal Group in 1999, and in 2000 Sean had the honor of performing one of his arrangements at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference in New Orleans. Sean has performed with such jazz luminaries as Darmon Meader, John Clayton, Nicholas Payton, Don Shelton, and the late Frank Mantooth.
						Tim Reid was born and raised in a western suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, and has been immersed in music and performing arts the majority of his life. With the fortune of countless musical influences, he explores a large variety of musical styles and has served as writer, arranger, performer, producer, and promoter at various points during the past two decades. Tim earned a Bachelor's of Music in Commercial Music from Millikin University in 2002. He sang with the Downbeat award-winning group, One Voice. Also while at Millikin, Tim co-produced, wrote, arranged, and performed on Millikin's first ever student songwriter sampler, "A Foot in the Door" - 2001. Currently living in Chicago, Tim participates in a number of various musical endeavors, and has enjoyed playing such venues as Double Door, Martyr's, Wise Fool's Pub, The Abbey Pub, Subterranean, Nevin's Live (Evanston), and Elbo Room among several other of Chicago's fine supporters of live music.