More about the Shadow Captain Maties

Kyle Biggerstaff

Kyle greatly appreciates the opportunity to play guitar with many accomplished musicians in Denton. He was the rhythm guitar player in the Foo McBubba jazz big band (2 years) and the Mosaic Worship band (13 years), both housed at First United Methodist Church Denton. He's played in one musical at The Campus Theater. During college in the 1980s, he was in a trio playing folk-rock covers in Dallas. Kyle is a fan of blues, folk-rock, Americana, and classic rock. He is also an accomplished photographer, and is frequently hired to photograph sports and landscapes. Kyle has been a TWU faculty member for 24 years, teaching exercise physiology in the School of Health Promotion and Kinesiology.

Polly Maynard

Polly Maynard earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Classical Guitar Performance from UNT, where she taught for 10 years. Polly is the Owner/Director of The Denton Childbloom Guitar Program, with 3 locations in the surrounding area. She enjoys writing songs, and performing solo or with her band. Polly is thrilled to be working with such a fun and talented group! Polly lives in Denton with her husband Barry. Their sweet twins Amelia and Sylvia attend UT Austin.

Jett Cheek

Jett Cheek has been making music in Denton since being drawn to the jazz program at North Texas State University in 1987. More recently heard as pianist and music director for Theatre Denton, Jett teaches private piano at the FUMC Fine Arts Academy and in his home studio. Growing up in the ‘60s and ‘70s and listening to folk rock, jazz, classical, and sacred music, vocal harmony has always been almost second nature, and the harmonies of Crosby, Stills, and Nash, were a natural attraction. Upon Crosby’s death on January 18, 2023, Jett immersed himself in Crosby’s life & music, and discovered a wealth of songwriting that remains largely ignored. Shadow Captain is the growing vision of sharing Crosby’s music with new audiences while exploring the man, his perspective on life, and the people he knew.

Christie A. Wood

Christie enjoys every minute of singing and playing with Shadow Captain. She has a Bach. of Music Education from UNT, with a major in flute performance, and sang in one of the original jazz "jingle singing" classes. Since then she has played professionally in the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, and sang professionally with Voces Novae et Antiquea (Philadelphia), Texas Voices (DFW), and the Dallas Symphony Chorus. She enjoys being semi-retired after 29 years as a stained glass artist. Right now her focus is playing in the pit orchestra for Theatre Denton, arranging rag time music, and gardening.

Thad Bonduris

Thad Bonduris has been a professional “working musician” in the North Texas area (particularly Denton and Dallas-Fort Worth), for over thirty years. He holds a Masters from UNT in music education with Jazz as related Field. His work has always been divided between teaching music and performing, either with groups or a solo; as guitarist, vocalist, or bassist. He currently heads and books public and private events, with gypsy-swing band Le Not-So-Hot Klub du Denton (Gypsy Swing Music), The Roux (Dixieland/NOLA-inspired music), as well as variety bands The Fun-Addix, The Echoes, and Boo-Boo Jang, also plays lead guitar in the Dallas area’s Dwight Yoakam tribute band, Local Yoakam. His one-man private teaching studio had evolved into a medium-scale music school, which he has recently sold, but he is still teaching online.

Kyleen Hjembo

Kyleen Milton Hjembo is so excited and humbled to be involved in this collaborative project with so many talented people. She’s developed a knack for filling in where needed and has had some amazing opportunities since moving to Denton; from becoming a member of the Trammell Group to performing with Theatre Denton (favorite roles include Lina Lamont in Singin’ in the Rain and Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast). This project has her dusting off skills she hasn’t used much since college at NYU, and she’s doing her best to keep up!