Commercial Music

Steve Young

Program Director | Keyboard

Steve Young is the founding Director of CUI's Commercial Music program. After more than 25 years as a studio and touring keyboard player, composer, arranger, producer and church musician, Steve brings a depth and breadth of knowledge and experience to educating next-generations musicians, preparing them to thrive in the ever-changing landscape of the music industry. Steve has worked extensively in New York City, Nashville and Los Angeles and is at home playing rock, pop, folk or jazz, producing a record for a singer/songwriter, or writing orchestral works. Steve is a graduate of CUI and received his Masters in Fine Arts in Music Composition from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Andrew Doolittle

Guitar

Andrew Doolittle has performed with a broad palette of artists representing a wide variety of styles, including Rita Wilson, Idina Menzel, Taylor Hicks, Joy Williams (The Civil Wars), David Tao (陶喆), A-Mei (阿妹), Patti Page, the Pasadena Pops and the Houston Symphony. He has performed on TV shows including the The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Today Show. Andrew earned his BM in jazz performance from The Oberlin Conservatory of Music and his MM in jazz performance from The New England Conservatory of Music. He keeps an extensive live performance schedule and his guitar work can often be heard in film trailers, video games and TV shows.

Jaime Van Der Sluys

Vocals

Jaime Van Der Sluys is an accomplished performer, educator, studio singer, arranger, and songwriter. She entertains audiences with her sincere approach, wide stylistic range, and natural presence. Jaime has performed at many exciting venues across the country including Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Jazz Grill, the Dolby Theatre for the Pitch Perfect 3 Premier, The Queen Mary, Disneyland's Club 1901, and The Blue Whale Jazz Club.

Jaime studied under the renowned Christine Guter and was a member of the award-winning vocal jazz ensemble, Pacific Standard Time. She has received numerous accolades, including the outstanding vocalist award at the Next Generation Monterey Jazz Festival, the 2017 Graduate Jazz Soloist award from DownBeat magazine, and was the recipient of the Ella Fitzgerald scholarship.

Mark Converse

Drums

Mark Converse is an accomplished teacher of drum set, Latin and ethnic hand percussion, and symphonic percussion. He has recorded with Daft Punk, Ray Charles, Barry Manilow, and The Sherman Brothers, among other artists. He has performed and recorded with a wide variety of ensembles including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Santa Barbara Symphony, Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, Pasadena Symphony, and the Pageant of the Masters Orchestra.

Ernie Nunez

Bass

Ernie’s versatile and diverse styles can be heard on hundreds of recordings, including those with Jane Monheit, Lou Rawls, Les Brown, Brian Setzer, and scores of others. Ernie was a member of the Brian Setzer Orchestra when the album “The Dirty Boogie” won the Grammy Awards in 1999 for Best Pop Performance by a Group with Vocal for “Jump Jive An’ Wail” and for Best Pop Instrumental of the Year for “Sleepwalk.” He is currently performing with a Steps Ahead tribute band known as Magnetiq, as well as continuing studio work and freelancing domestically and internationally.

Donovan Raitt

Guitar

Donovan Raitt is an emerging voice in the world of modern fingerstyle guitar. At home in rock, jazz and classical styles, Donovan incorporates percussive techniques, strong melodic hooks and innovative performance techniques to create a unique sound all his own. A graduate of the prestigious Studio Guitar program at USC, Donovan completed a Masters in Music in Jazz Studies from Long Beach State University and is currently completing his Doctor of Musical Arts from USC. Donovan is the Director of Music at Aliso Creek Presbyterian Church, has written a guitar instruction textbook, and has released several recordings of original compositions.