Eastman School of Music faculty, alumni, and students play prominently in the line-up for the upcoming Rochester International Jazz Festival. From the opening session on Friday, June 8, with the Dave Rivello Ensemble, through Bob Sneider’s nightly jam sessions, Eastman musicians will be performing on various stages throughout the nine-day event.
In addition to Rivello, an assistant professor of jazz studies and director of the award-winning New Jazz Ensemble, and Sneider, who teaches jazz guitar in both the collegiate and community education divisions, other Eastman faculty who can be heard during the Rochester International Jazz Festival include Tony Caramia, professor of piano; Dariusz Terefenko, assistant professor of jazz studies and regular performer with the Smugtown Stompers; and Jose Encarnacion, who teaches saxophone and Latin jazz in the Eastman Community Music School and is an Eastman alumnus.
Of special interest to local residents will be the Eastman School of Music/Rochester International Jazz Festival Scholarship Concert, scheduled for 8 p.m. Monday, June 11, in Eastman Theatre. The scholarship is awarded annually to area high school seniors who plan to pursue jazz studies at Eastman School after graduation. This year’s recipient, Karl Stabnau of Brighton, plays baritone saxophone and is a member of the Eastman Community Music School’s Youth Jazz Orchestra. The concert will be preceded at 7:30 p.m. with a performance by the Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Howard Potter, associate dean for community and continuing education.
The scholarship concert features the Eastman Jazz Ensemble, directed by jazz studies professor Bill Dobbins, with guest artist John Fedchok, a jazz trombonist and Eastman alumnus who was a soloist and musical director for the legendary Woody Herman Orchestra. Another Eastman alumnus, saxophonist Dave Glasser, also will perform during the jazz festival with his quartet.
Two groups composed of Eastman School of Music students, the Mike Cottone Quartet and the Matt Valerio Trio, will headline their own festival sessions. Other Eastman School jazz trios are also scheduled to perform. In addition to its appearance at the scholarship concert, the Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra will perform on June 14. Members of the orchestra include students from Brighton, Greece, Webster, Gates, Penfield, Fairport, and Pittsford.
The full schedule of performers and venues can be found on the Rochester International Jazz Festival website at www.rochesterjazz.com. The Eastman School of Music has been involved with the jazz festival since it was founded in 2002.
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Note to Editors : If you would like to speak to students or do a story featuring students who are performing during the Rochester International Jazz Festival, please contact Helene Snihur.