USA/GBR/GER/ESP
Hilary Alexander is the co-bandleader and vocalist for all of the bands in the Campus Five family. Hilary was raised as the daughter of a Jazz pianist and a Brazilian samba dancer, and she grew up surrounded by the sounds of jazz vocalists Anita O’Day, Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Mae Morse, and Blossom Dearie. As a dancer, Hilary was among the group of Los Angeles-area dancers that rediscovered Dean Collins-Style Lindy Hop and Balboa in the late 1990’s. Growing out of her love of Swing dance, Hilary founded Camp Hollywood in 1998, and it has grown into one of the world’s premier Swing dance events.
Josh Collazo is a Los Angeles based drummer who specializes in playing 1930s and 1940s jazz and swing with Campus Five and various groups across the nation. In addition to drumming, Josh has been writing and arranging original jazz compositions for his own group - the Candy Jacket Jazz Band.
Chris Hopkins was born in Princeton/New Jersey and is German by choice. He has long been one of the renowned musicians on the international jazz scene with his swinging, melodic style and impresses with musical inventiveness and immense drive. He has played over 4,000 concerts and festivals around the world, worked on about 50 CD productions, and has received numerous prestigious awards.
Colin Thomas Dawson was born in South Shields, England. His life was influenced by jazz very early on through his father's record collection. He started playing the trumpet at the age of 10. His brilliant and powerful playing style is reminiscent of that of the great swing trumpeters Roy Eldridge and Charlie Shavers and was also played by other musicians such as Harry "Sweets" Edison, Cladys "Jabbo" Smith, Henry "Red" Allen & of course Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong influenced. In his long career, Colin has recorded over 50 LPs and CDs as well as for film and television. He received several prestigious awards and played in renowned formations such as Echos of Swing, European All-Stars and Allotria Jazz Band.
Duncan Hemstock was born in Australian and lives now in the UK. He is a jazz clarinet and saxophone player specializing in Swing. Influenced by Benny Goodman, Lester Young, and Ben Webster, he's graced stages at Lindy Hop Festivals worldwide with top bands.
Wally Hersom is a veteran of the U.S. roots music scene playing Jazz,
Rockabilly, and Western Swing. He has played bass with many of the top bands around Los
Angeles, including Jonathan Stout and the Campus Five, The Lucky Stars, Big Sandy and his
Fly-Rite Boys, Dave Stuckey’s Hot House Gang, and many others. Currently based in
Barcelona, Wally is now sharing his music on stages across Europe.
