Creative Industry Professional

Temple University class of 2009
Bachelor of Music Music Education and Jazz Performance Cumulative GPA: 3.8 / Dean’s List

Pennsylvania State Certification K-12

I completed a unique five-year BA Program in Music Education and Jazz Performance at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music in 2009. This comprehensive, state-certified program went beyond standard approaches to classroom instruction and band methodology to create a hybrid of classical approaches and jazz foundations. It inspired a thorough assimilation of the piano, which I believe is an essential instrument for every life-long musician to learn accompaniment skills on and use as an effective tool for personal growth, composition, arranging and teaching.

For three years I performed in the Temple University Big Band – directed by world renowned trumpet master and jazz department chair, Terrell Stafford. This 17-piece band was comprised of the strongest undergraduate musicians in the jazz program. The band performed with legendary musicians at prestigious venues and festivals, including a residency with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra (Former Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra).

Guest Artists Performed With:
Branford Marsalis (saxophone)
Benny Golson (saxophone)
Nicholas Payton (trumpet)
Karrin Allison (vocal)
Dick Oatts (saxophone)
Sean Jones (trumpet)
Tim Warfield (saxophone)
Bruce Barth (piano)

Performance Highlights:

2009 Detroit Jazz Festival, Detroit, MI
2009 All-City Jazz Festival, Philadelphia, PA
2008 North Sea Jazz Festival, Den Hagg, Netherlands
2008 Villanova Jazz Festival, Villanova, PA

Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, New York, NY
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA
National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA
Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus, Philadelphia, PA

PERFORMANCE, PROJECT MANAGEMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Pericopes, USA and Europe April 2014 – Present

Independent progressive jazz trio comprised of musicians from USA and Italy.

Artistic Administrator
Research and develop working relationships with international performing arts, cultural and educational organizations
Maintain a categorized database of festival directors, programming committees, education and publicity contacts
Serve as a primary logistical contact between Pericopes and partner organizations for promotion and touring preparation
Prepare and secure contracts, work permits, travel visas, international flights, transportation schedules and accommodation

Project Manager
Write materials supporting press releases, concert proposals, education seminars, funding and special project focuses
Review and edit digital content material for use in public affairs, sales, website and social media marketing platforms
Interface with agents, advisors and artists across multiple cultural backgrounds within the international area

International Festivals:
2016 Sound Scotland Festival, Aberdeen, Scotland
2016 Jazz on5 Festival, Prague, Czech Republic
2016 Jazz and Wine of Peace, Cormons, Italy
2016 Gateshead International Jazz Festival, England
2016 Burg Jazz Festival, Billerbeck, Germany
2016 Brooklyn Folk Festival, Brooklyn, NY
2015 Graz Jazz Nacht, Graz Austria
2015 Jazz Ravne Festival, Ravne Koroskem, Slovenia
2014 Summer Jamboree Festival, Senegalia, Italy
2014 Rugby Sound Festival, Milan, Italy
2009 Detroit Jazz Festival, Detroit, MI
2009 All-City Jazz Festival, Philadelphia, PA
2008 North Sea Jazz Festival, Den Hagg, Netherland

International Venues:
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, New York, NY
Smalls Jazz Club, New York, NY
Shapeshifter Lab, New York, NY
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA
National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA
Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus, Philadelphia, PA
Chris’ Jazz Café, Philadelphia, PA
Sunside Jazz Club, Paris, France
Bimhuis, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Café Stockwerk, Graz, Austria
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, Scotland
The Jazz Dock, Prague, Czech Republic
The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen, Scotland

Television, Radio, Newspaper and Magazine Highlights:

ORF (Austria)
RAI Radio 3 (Italy)
Radio France (France)
Herald Scotland (U.K.)
Downbeat Magazine (USA)
JazzTimes (USA)
Musica Jazz (Italy)
Jazzwise (U.K.)
Jazziz, (USA)

Album Credits
Legacy – Pericopes + 1 2017
These Human Beings – Pericopes + 1 2014
Wine Country, Fried Jazz – Izzy Zaidman 2013
Live in Parma, Italy – Izzy Zaidman 2012

EDUCATION WORK EXPERIENCE:

University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland

Teaching Artist, Clinician, Featured Performer October 2016
Collaborated with music department faculty to establish teaching goals and creatively assimilate lesson plans
Hosted workshops on jazz improvisation, repertoire, arrangement, business methods, creative concepts and style
Performed as a guest artist at the historic Jazz at the Blue Lamp venue as part of the Sound Scotland Music Festival

School Professionals, New York, NY Aug 2013 – Present

Guest Teacher – Various Independent and Charter Schools in New York City
Certified guest teacher of all subjects, K-12, working in independent and charter schools throughout New York City
Coordinate with school administration regarding assignments, logistics, student behavioral, and other special procedures
Create, modify, implement inclusive and inspiring lesson plans to fulfill case-by-case requirements

Long Term Middle School Music Teacher – The Cathedral School May 2015 – Present
Annually requested to fulfill a three week replacement for 4th-7th grade general music during late May to early June
Assist with year end music projects that focus on composition using digital tools such as Garage Band and Apple Loops
Perform other administrative duties, academic support and provide assistance and accompaniment to theatre production

Long Term General Music Teacher – Harlem Village Academy High School April 2014 – June 2014
Taught weekly lesson plans and group projects for introductory keyboard, general music and appreciation classes
Conducted daily choir rehearsals, accompanied students on piano and assisted with annual theater production
Assessed individual student’s progress and recorded grades, attendance and behavior notes using school’s online network

Calderone School of Music, East Hanover, NJ Aug 2011 – Nov 2016

Teaching Artist, Ensemble Director
Taught weekly percussion students techniques fundamental to orchestral percussion, drum set, theory and jazz band
Guest taught for brass, woodwind, piano, voice and strings instructors when requested
Taught advanced jazz concepts and repertoire to students who prepared for recitals, competitions and college auditions
Inspired students to excel to levels beyond their expectation, communicating regularly with parents to facilitate growth

Jazz House Kids, Montclair, NJ Sept 2014 – June 2016

In-School Teaching Artist, Program Accompanist
Plan and conduct weekly middle school jazz band rehearsals at The Oliver Street School in Newark, New Jersey
Instruct 6 – 8th grade brass, woodwind, piano and drum students on foundations of technique and jazz improvisation
Communicate weekly with school and Jazz House Kids administration regarding attendance and other logistics

• Critical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Microsoft Office
• Google Docs
• Mac
• Research
• Oral and Written Communication
• Detail Oriented
• Entrepreneurial
• Collaborative
• Independent
• Self-Motivated
• Multitasking
• Creative Thinking
• Logistics
• Travel and Culture
• Creative Writing
• Classroom Management
• Curriculum Writing
• Proposal Writing
• Contract Writing
• Program Writing

English