Christopher D. Azzara
Professor of Music Teaching and Learning
Affiliate Faculty, Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media
DEPARTMENTS
CONTACT INFO
585-274-1027
BIOGRAPHY
Pianist, arranger, author, and educator, Christopher Azzara has made important contributions to advancing the understanding of creativity and improvisation in the music learning process. An innovator in the area of music teaching and learning, Dr. Azzara is Professor of Music Teaching and Learning, and Affiliate Faculty of Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media at the Eastman School of Music. Teaching and performing internationally, he is the author of numerous articles, arrangements, and books, including Developing Musicianship Through Improvisation and Jump Right In: The Instrumental Series (GIA). His arrangements for instrumental and vocal ensembles include A la nanita nana for choir and chamber orchestra or piano (Oxford), and Concert Selections for Winds and Percussion (GIA). His research and publications are concerned with meaningful relationships among listening, creating, improvising, reading, composing, and analyzing music in vocal and instrumental settings. Dr. Azzara’s work has appeared in journals such as the Journal of Research in Music Education, the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, the Music Educators Journal, Early Childhood Connections, and in The New Handbook of Research on Music Teaching and Learning (MENC/Oxford), and Oxford Handbooks Online. He performs as a soloist and in various ensembles, including the Chris Azzara Quartet, and has played on and produced many studio and educational recordings. In Rochester, he performs with free-lance musicians, members of the Eastman School of Music faculty, and members of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
An active teacher and clinician, Azzara has taught and performed extensively throughout the United States, and in Canada, the Caribbean, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, China, Japan, and Australia. He has presented clinics and workshops in a variety of settings, including TEDxRochester, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, and leading music schools in this country and abroad.
Christopher Azzara is a native of Virginia and attended public schools in Fairfax County. After receiving the Bachelor of Music degree from George Mason University, he taught instrumental music in the Fairfax County Public Schools and performed as a pianist in the Washington D.C. area. He later received a Master of Music and a Ph.D. in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music. Prior to joining the Eastman faculty, Dr. Azzara was a professor at The Hartt School of Music, Dance, and Theatre of the University of Hartford, CT.
In 2022, as an Eastman professor, Azzara received the University of Rochester’s Edward Peck Curtis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, which recognizes a record of distinguished undergraduate teaching and a commitment to helping less experienced faculty colleagues and teaching assistants master their craft.
LINKS
WORKS AND PUBLICATIONS
Selected Works and Publications:
Christopher Azzara on TED Talks
Azzara, Christopher D., Grunow, Richard F. Developing Musicianship through Improvisation. Book/Audio 1-B, 2019.
The recordings for this publication include performances with members of the Eastman School of Music Faculty, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and various free-lance musicians:
- Christopher Azzara, Piano, Musical Director
- Edoardo Bellotti, Harpsichord, Organ
- Jeff Campbell, Bass
- Juliana Athayde, Violin
- Glenna Curren, Cello
- Erik Behr, Oboe
- George Sakakeeny, Bassoon
- Wes Nance, Trumpet
- Peter Kurau, Horn
- Amy Azzara, Lisa Azzara, Karl-Erik Jansson, Vocals
- Rob LaVaque, Recording and Mixing
Azzara, Christopher D., Snell, Alden H., II. Assessment of Improvisation in Music. Oxford Handbooks Online. Oxford University Press, 2016.
Azzara, Christopher D. Improvisation and Composition: Developing Musicianship in Instrumental Music. In “Engaging Music Practices: A Sourcebook on Instrumental Music.” Burton, S. & Snell, A., Editors, Rowman and Littlefield Publications, 2015.
Azzara, Christopher D., Grunow, Richard F. Developing Musicianship through Improvisation.
App for iPad. Chicago: G.I.A Publications, Inc., 2014.
Azzara, Christopher D., Grunow, Richard F. Developing Musicianship through Improvisation.
Book/CDs 1 for Strings. Chicago: G.I.A Publications, Inc., 2011. Books include: 1) Violin, 2) Viola, and 3) Cello/Bass.
Azzara, Christopher D., Grunow, Richard F. Developing Musicianship through Improvisation.
Book/CDs 1, 2, & 3, Chicago: G.I.A Publications, Inc. (2006, 2010) Books include: 1) Vocal – Treble Clef, Bass Clef 2) Instrumental – Treble Clef, Bass Clef, Bb, Eb, and F Instruments.
The recordings for this publication include performances with members of the Eastman School of Music Faculty, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and various free-lance musicians:
- Christopher Azzara, Piano, Musical Director
- Gene Bertoncini, Bob Sneider, Guitar
- Aleck Brinkman, Jeff Campbell, Bass
- John Beck, Mike Melito, Drums/Percussion
- Mark Filsinger, David Hart, Clay Jenkins, Mike Kaupa, Trumpet
- Al Regni, Ramon Ricker, Alto Saxophone
- Kirsten Edkins, Jose Encarnacion, Ramon Ricker, Walt Weiskopf, Tenor Saxophone
- Shirantha Beddage, Baritone Saxophone
- Mark Kellogg, Trombone
- Lisa Azzara, Karl-Erik Jansson, Jamie Jordan, Luann Saunders, Vocals
Azzara, Christopher D. (2008). Improvisation and Choral Musicianship. The School Choral Program: Philosophy, Planning, Organizing, and Teaching. (M. Holt & J. Jordan, Eds.) Chicago: G.I.A. Publications, Inc.
Azzara, Christopher D. A La Nanita Nana.
Arranged for Children-s Choir, Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Bass, Flute, and Clarinet. (2006)
Azzara, Christopher D. A La Nanita Nana.
Companion piece arranged for Choir (SATB), Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Bass, Flute, and Clarinet. (2006)
Co-author and Pianist for Jump Right In: The Instrumental Series, Solo Book/CD 1-A and Solo Book/CD 1-B.
Chicago: G.I.A. Publications, Inc. (2006)
Eight Books and CDs: 1) Violin; 2) Viola; 3) Cello; 4) Bass.
(Grunow, Richard F., Gordon, Edwin E., Azzara, Christopher D., Martin, Michael E., Jump Right In: The Instrumental Series for Strings.)
The recordings for these publications include performances with members of the Eastman School of Music Faculty, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and various free-lance musicians:
- Christopher Azzara, Piano, Musical Director – Eastman School of Music
- Gene Bertoncini, Guitar – Free-lance musician, New York, NY
- Bob Sneider, Guitar – Eastman School of Music
- Jeff Campbell, Bass – Eastman School of Music
- John Beck, Percussion – Eastman School of Music
- Marissa Regni, Violin – Principal Second Violin, National Symphony Orchestra
- George Taylor, Viola – Eastman School of Music
- Mimi Hwang, Cello – Free-lance musician and instructor of chamber music, Eastman School of Music
- James Vandemark, Bass – Eastman School of Music
Azzara, Christopher D. (2002). Improvisation. In “The New Handbook of Research on Music Teaching and Learning.” New York: Oxford University Press
For more information on Dr. Azzara’s publications, visit G.I.A. Publications.
ENGAGEMENTS
2022
January 17-21, 2022
Christopher Azzara
Developing Musicianship through Improvisation
Classes and Workshops, Online
Hochschule für Musik and Theater
Hamburg, Germany
Almuth Süperkrüb
January 26, 2022
Christopher Azzara
Creative Thinking in Music: Improvisation
Online Class
University of Florida, Gainesville
Peter Webster
February 11-12, 2022
Christopher Azzara
Classes & Workshops: Creativity at the Core
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
Paul Doerksen
February 13, 2022
Christopher Azzara
Developing Musicianship through Improvisation
“Eastman to Go” Chamber Music Program
Eastman School of Music
Rochester, NY
May 23-27, 2022
Christopher Azzara
Developing Musicianship through Improvisation
Classes, Workshops, Piano Performance
Trossingen, Germany
Claudia Ehrenpreis/Sigrid Reich
June 17, 2022
Christopher Azzara
Deepening Understanding of Piano Repertoire
through Creativity and Improvisation—Online
International Group of Piano Teachers, Europe/Canada
Greg Chase, coordinator
Regina, Saskatchewan
Canada
July 5, 2022
Christopher Azzara
Concert Performance, Piano
with Mark Kellogg (TB), Stephen Parisi (bass), Eric Schmitz (drums)
Hatch Recital Hall
Eastman School of Music
Rochester, NY
July 11-15, 2022
Christopher Azzara
Developing Musicianship through Improvisation
Gordon College
Wenham, MA
Kristen Harrington
Kristen.Harrington@gordon.edu
July 18-29, 2022
Christopher Azzara
Instrumental Methods and Techniques
Developing Musicianship through Improvisation
Eastman School of Music
Rochester, NY
Sylvie Beaudette
sbeaudette@esm.rochester.edu
August 1-3 2022
Christopher Azzara
Concert Performance and Improvisation Session:
Developing Musicianship through Improvisation
Eastman Summer Trombone Institute (ESTI)
with Mark Kellogg
Eastman School of Music
Rochester, NY
Sylvie Beaudette
sbeaudette@esm.rochester.edu
August 13, 2022
Christopher Azzara, Piano
Quintet Concert Performance
with Amy Azzara, vocals, David Azzara, tenor saxophone
Geoff Saunders, bass, Jake Goldbas, drums
Saundersfest
Caroga Arts Festival
https://www.saundersfest.com
September 16, 2022
Christopher Azzara
Music Literacy that Goes Beyond the Page
Michigan Music Teachers Association
Zoom Session
Joy Morin
October 19-21, 2022
Christopher Azzara
Artist in Residence
Developing Musicianship through Improvisation
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
November 6, 2022
Christopher Azzara
Concert Performance, Piano
Faculty Artist Series
with Mark Kellogg
Hatch Recital Hall
Eastman School of Music
Rochester, NY
November 26-December 1, 2022
Christopher Azzara
Developing Musicianship through Improvisation
Classes and Workshops, Online
Hochschule für Musik and Theater
Hamburg, Germany
Almuth Süperkrüb
December 12, 2022
Christopher Azzara
Developing Musicianship through Improvisation:
Music Literacy that Goes Beyond the Page
Zoom Lecture, Colloquium
Bar Ilan University
Israel
Barak Schossberger
2023
January 9-14, 2023
Christopher Azzara
Gunma Kokusai Academy
Concert Performance, Piano, Ota Civic Hall
Ota, Japan
Todd Lowery
March 10-11, 2023
Christopher Azzara
Classes & Workshops: Creativity at the Core
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
Paul Doerksen
April 13-15, 2023
Christopher Azzara
“Connect, Create, and Communicate through Improvisation”
Session, April 14, 2023 at 2:30pm
National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
Eastern Division Conference
Riverside Convention Center
Rochester, NY
July 10-14, 2023
Christopher Azzara
Developing Musicianship through Improvisation
Gordon College
Wenham, MA
Kristen Harrington
Kristen.Harrington@gordon.edu
July 17-28, 2023
Christopher Azzara
Instrumental Methods and Techniques
Developing Musicianship through Improvisation
Eastman School of Music
Rochester, NY
Sylvie Beaudette
sbeaudette@esm.rochester.edu
2024
May 27-31, 2024
Christopher Azzara
Developing Musicianship through Improvisation
Classes, Workshops, Piano Performance
Trossingen, Germany
Claudia Ehrenpreis/Sigrid Reich
MUSIC TEACHING & LEARNING
JAZZ STUDIES & CONTEMPORARY MEDIA
