The John Chadwick Trio are:
Adam Wilhelm | piano
As a regular on the local music scene, Adam Wilhelm has played piano for many years in rock, blues and jazz bands across Illinois. Playing classical piano since the age of five and trained to play jazz in high school, Adam received a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Knox College. With his diverse musical talents, he has an appreciation for various jazz styles, and even creates his own compositions. The list of venues he has played, to name a few, includes the Old St. Pat’s World’s Largest Block Party, the Elbow Room, House of Blues, Salt Creek Wine Bar, Double Door and the La Grange Jazz and Blues Festival. In addition, he still plays regularly in the central Illinois area with a group of his mentors, music educators from various universities. Since becoming a member of the John Chadwick Trio in 2008, he enjoys bringing jazz to a new group of listeners across Chicagoland and providing a fresh take on old jazz favorites.
Dan Lopatka | bass
Daniel Lopatka is an upright bassist from Chicago, Illinois. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music degree in 2010 from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he studied with bassist Stewart Miller. Daniel went on to receive his Master of Music degree from Northern Illinois University in 2012, where he studied with bassist Kelly Sill. Daniel has performed with many well-known artists such as Larry Coryell, Martha Reeves, Gary Smulyan, and Grammy Award winners Stefon Harris and Orbert Davis. He has also made several appearances on nationally syndicated television shows like Green Screen Adventures and Jerry Springer and has performed the national anthem for professional league games on the NBA and MLB networks.
John Chadwick | drums
John Chadwick is a long-time music educator and performer in the Chicago area with extensive experience as a musical-theater drummer and percussionist. His playing credits go back to 1981, when he began working as a side musician for several Chicago-area wedding/party bands and playing for numerous community-based and professional theater production companies. After earning a Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University, John started a career as a school band director and music teacher, during which time he served as a frequent substitute drummer for several Chicago-area professional theaters including the Candlelight Dinner Theater, the Marriot Lincolnshire Theater, the National Jewish Theater, and the Drury Lane Theater. In 1993, concurrent with his teaching and playing, John earned a Master of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. A supporter of the wind band tradition, John co-founded an adult community band in Westchester, Illinois in 1990 and served for six years as the group’s associate conductor and as the drummer for the Westchester Community Big Band. He formed his current trio in September of 2008.
