Organist and DMA Candidate Thomas Gaynor Wins First Prize in St. Albans International Organ Festival Competition Eastman School of Music DMA and Artist Certificate candidate Thomas Gaynor has won First Prize Interpretation and Audience Prize in the 2017 St. Albans International Organ Festival Competition, one of the leading competitions in the world. The competition was…
Eastman Masterclass to Give Aspiring Conductors an Opportunity to Enhance Their Skills Up-and-coming orchestral conductors will have an opportunity to sharpen their skills at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music during a conducting masterclass on Friday, October 20, and Saturday, October 21. Professor of Conducting and Ensembles Neil Varon will lead the program,…
Karl Stabnau performing at the Rochester Public Library during Jazz Festival 2016 By Dan Gross Karl Stabnau graduated from Eastman (BM ’11); MM in Music Education with jazz emphasis in December 2013. Among many other things, he is currently the Jazz Director at SUNY Brockport and the college’s music business coordinator. Instead of playing as…
By Kameron Ghanavati Beethoven’s most celebrated work, the finale from his Ninth Symphony, will be performed as part of the annual program of Summer Sings! here at Eastman on Thursday, July 6 at 7:30 p.m. in Kilbourn Hall. It is the first performance in the Eastman “Summer Sings” series of readings of great choral masterworks.…
The Wee Trio: James Westfall, Dan Loomis, Jared Schonig By Dan Gross The Wee Trio is James Westfall (vibes) plus two Eastman alumni: Dan Loomis (bass), and Jared Schonig (drums), and they’re coming to the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, following their release of Wee + 3. While it’s mostly just the trio, a few…
Trombonist and composer Nick Finzer By Dan Gross An award-winning composer, arranger, and trombonist, Eastman alumnus Nick Finzer is bringing the joy and power of Jazz to both traditional fans and the most modern 21st century audiences. He’s on a mission to be a passionate voice defining the sound of Jazz in this age while…
Trumpeter Mike Cottone By Dan Gross Jazz trumpet player Mike Cottone is a native of Rochester, New York, and attended Eastman and Juilliard. He has performed and recorded with Al Jarreau, Robin Thicke, Neil Diamond, Ruben Blades, Mike Garson, Paul Anka, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and attended the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, led…
Bassist Danny Ziemann Eastman graduate (2012) Danny Ziemann is a rising star bassist, teacher at the Eastman Community School and at SUNY Oswego, and author of The Low Down: A Guide to Creating Jazz Bass Lines. Danny is playing with the Vince Ercolamento Quintet tonight, Monday, June 26, at 6 and 10 p.m. in the…
Composer, arranger, and Eastman’s new Beal Institute director Mark Watters By Dan Gross Mark Watters is joining Eastman to lead the new Beal Institute for Film Music and Contemporary Media. Watters is a six-time Emmy Award winning composer, conductor and arranger. Mark served as the music director of the Centennial Olympics in 1996, and the…
Members of the The Fuego Quartet are, from left, Erik Elmgren, Harrison Clarke, Nicki Roman, and Gabriel Piqué. The Fuego Quartet, a saxophone quartet composed of graduate students from the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music, was awarded a Gold Medal in the 44th annual Fischoff Competition. Sponsored by the Fischoff National Chamber Music…