Jerry Zar has been a member of the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra trumpet section since 1984. He played in bands and orchestras in high school and at Northern Illinois University and then completed a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana and embarked on a career as an NIU biology professor, department chair, and Dean of the Graduate School. His son, David, played bassoon in the KSO while in high school and got his father interested in returning to trumpet playing after a 22-year hiatus. Now retired from NIU, Jerry enjoys participating in musical ensembles more than ever and is also a member of the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra's brass quintet and of the Kishwaukee Area Concert Band.