“Real Men of Genius"

University of Wyoming

The Jacks

Erik Stratton 

Erik Stratton is from Lyman, Wyoming.  He sings first tenor in the Happy Jacks and is the group’s musical director.  He arranges much of the Happy Jacks repertoire.  Erik is pursuing a double major in Vocal Performance and Music Theory/Composition.  He plans to continue his education in Grad school and hopes to eventually teach music theory at the university level.  Erik’s arrangements can also be heard performed by the “Fresh Aire Trio”, a faculty ensemble at UW.  Stratton will also be starting a publishing company in the near future.

Westin Grabow 

Westin is a junior majoring in business administration with minors in International Business and Communication/Marketing. When not rehearsing with the Jacks, Statesman or Collegiate Chorale he volunteers as the newsletter editor for the Choral PR Committee, heads the alumni relations chair for the UW business fraternity, "Alpha Kappa Psi" and interns with the marketing team for the Cavalryman Restaurant. Spring 09 marks Westin's 4th semester singing tenor with the group.  Westin says: “I love to cook, E.T. freaks me out, and Conan O'Brien is my favorite celebrity.”

JC McCann

JC has been singing bass and beat boxing for the Happy Jacks since his first semester at UW in the fall of 2006. He is a senior vocal performance major and hopes to sing in a professional a cappella group after college.  Other future goals are to be an announcer for the Denver Nuggets and travel with the team.  JC says: "The guy who would play me in a movie about my life would have to be Jamie Foxx , HAHA, just kidding, actually it would totally be Jim Carrey, he is the man."

Jacob Gantz

Jacob is a senior Music Education major from Hulett, WY.  He sings baritone for the Happy Jacks, and was one of the founding members of the group in 2005.  Gantz has transcribed a number of songs for the group, and in the past has also been the tour coordinator for the Happy Jacks.  He hopes to teach high school or middle school choir after graduation, and someday plans to go back to school for a masters, and finally a doctorate in Music Education, and Choral Conducting respectively.

David Webber

David has been a member of the Happy Jacks for three years.  He sings tenor two and got his start singing in his hometown of Lander, Wy.  David is a senior set to graduate in December with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  After graduating David would like to “find a job”! 

Happy Jacks LogoKarl Heimbuck

Jacob Means

Jacob is originally from Lexington, KY but he lives and goes to college in Laramie, WY. He is currently receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a vocal emphasis. Jacob sings Bass as a first year member of the Happy Jacks. He is not sure exactly what the future holds, but some of his aspirations include teaching vocal music at the collegiate level, conducting an orchestra, opening a gourmet restaurant in Italy, designing concert halls, sound engineering, and playing the mandolin in a bluegrass band (or any combination there of). Jacob says: “I love basically any Italian food, drawing and painting, and almost any kind of music especially acoustic!”

Mike Morgan

Originally from Douglas, Wy, Mike is currently in his second semester of the Happy Jacks.  Mike is a sophomore, majoring in Music Education and he sings bass/baritone for the Jacks.  Mike also plays percussion and Keyboard and hopes to; “become really famous in an indie rock band, make lots of money, and hang out for the rest of my life.  Realistically I’ll probably become a choir teacher!”  Mike’s favorite color is black and he loves to eat enchiladas.  

David WebberErik Stratton Mike MorganJacob GantzJC McCann

Jordan Willie

Jordan is a math and economics major from Lyman, Wyoming.  Spring 2009 marks his first semester as a baritone for the Happy Jacks.  Jordan is a junior at UW and is planning on going to grad school after obtaining his degree.  Jordan said “I will probably be in school for the rest of my life” as he hopes to become a college professor of mathematics.  If a movie were made of Jordan’s life, Owen Wilson would play the leading role.

Jake Humphrey

Jake is a freshman from Jackson, Wy.  It is his first semester in the Happy Jacks as a tenor two, and he has not yet declared a major.  Jake loves the Denver Bronco’s and his favorite pet was Shag the Dog.  For the future Jake would like to: decide on a major, graduate from college, and join the family business: The Bar-J Wranglers. 

 

Karl Heimbuck

Karl has been singing tenor two and bass one in Happy Jacks for three years and is currently the Front Man. He is a senior at UW majoring in math. His future aspirations include obtaining a PhD in Mathematics and hopefully becoming a professor at a University. In a movie Karl would play R2-D2 from Star Wars because “that little robot is smart and fearless.  I like to think I'd be the same way in a movie.  Plus he's short and so am I.”