Bio : Brubeck Collection
Caroline Mandler Bio
Caroline Mandler is the Executive Director of Wilton Library. In her role as Executive Director, she works closely with the Board of Trustees, leads the incredible staff through every phase of library operations, and is responsible for executing the Library’s mission to inform, enrich, connect, and inspire our community. Caroline received her Master’s in Library Science from the Pratt Institute in New York City. Prior to working in libraries, she worked in donor relations and management for nonprofit organizations in New York and Washington, DC.
Michael Bellacosa Bio
Michael Bellacosa is the Head of Adult Programming and Curator of The Brubeck Collection at Wilton Library. In the former role, he is responsible for the full range of adult programs at the library including its Hot & Cool Jazz series, which started in 2006. In the latter role, he is responsible for The Brubeck Collection, Dave Brubeck’s personal archive, in its physical and digital form. Michael received his BA from Yale, his Master of International Affairs from Columbia and his Master’s in Library Science from St. John’s University in New York City. He moved into the library field after a 20-year career on Wall Street. He has been a huge jazz fan since childhood, playing several instruments in two bands, and was fortunate to have met Dave Brubeck and seen him perform on several occasions.
Christopher Brubeck Bio
Grammy-nominated composer Chris Brubeck continues to distinguish himself as a multi-faceted performer. A talented bassist and trombonist as well as an award-winning writer, Chris is tuned into the pulse of contemporary music. The respected music critic for The Chicago Tribune, John von Rhein, calls Chris: “a composer with a real flair for lyrical melody--a 21st Century Lenny Bernstein.”
Chris has created an impressive body of symphonic work while maintaining a demanding touring and recording schedule with his various groups. Chris was a member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet for 16 years, and a frequent guest artist with the Quartet before and after that time period.
Chris currently tours the world with his brother, drummer Dan Brubeck, guitarist Mike DeMicco and pianist Chuck Lamb in the Brubeck Brothers Quartet. Their recordings have all landed in the Top 10 on Jazz Radio Charts. Additionally, he tours with Chris Brubeck’s Triple Play where he also plays piano, sings and records with guitarist Joel Brown and harmonica legend Peter Madcat Ruth. This eclectic trio released a phenomenal live CD with Dave Brubeck as their special guest and it turned out to be Dave’s last recording.
Chris is a much sought-after composer, and has received commissions from Boston Symphony, New York Pops, Kennedy Center, and Baltimore Symphony among others, and written new concertos for such Grammy winners as guitarist Sharon Isbin, Canadian Brass, Jamie Laredo & Sharon Robinson, and Time for Three (amazing string trio and 2023 Grammy winners). Chris’s latest work, “Confluence,” a double guitar concerto for Blues and Classical guitars, was commissioned by the Memphis Symphony, and premiered in the Fall of 2023. It received an extraordinary reaction -- standing ovations after the 1st and 3rd Movements. Reviewing Chris’s own performance of his second Bass Trombone concerto, Fanfare Magazine wrote: "Brubeck's skill both as composer and soloist is extraordinary"
Chris and his wife, Tish, are deeply involved in the work of Brubeck Living Legacy, a 501c(3) which promotes, gives scholarships, and supports the ideals of Dave & Iola Brubeck. And, in conjunction with Classical Tahoe, Tish and Chris are guiding forces for The Brubeck Jazz Summit, an exciting annual gathering of the brightest High School Jazz talents in the U.S. and abroad. The Brubeck Collection at the Wilton Library is the manifestation of one of the most complete Jazz archives in the world. Tish and Chris are devoted to expanding its vast content and reach.