Summary of Qualifications

  • Forty years diverse professional experience performing and recording
  • Extensive experience as an enesmble leader, organizing and leading ensembles ranging from trio to 15-piece
  • Forty years experience writing and arranging for standard and non-standard ensembles, including percussion-based ensembles, big band and full orchestra
  • Thirty-five years teaching experience providing master classes, ensemble classes, vocal workshops, individual and group instruction in piano technique, theory and composition
  • Recipient of numerous grants and honors as a composer and performer
  • Board member at Chamber Music America from 2016-2022

Teaching Experience

  • New School University Faculty, ensemble/piano instructor 1993/1997 – present
  • Piano and Composition instructor Home studio 1973 – present
  • Jazz House Kids Faculty, ensemble/composition instructor 1995 – present
  • Jackie McLean’s Artists Collective Vocal workshop instructor 2001- 2003
  • Arts I.N.C., NYC Artist in Residence   1998 – 2003
  • New York University Faculty piano instructor 1993 – 1996
  • Boys & Girls High School Director-Contemporary Youth Choir 1993 – 1996
  • NYC Parks Department  Director/Founder Contemporary Youth Choir 1987 – 1989
  • New York Kids on StageMusic Director, NYC chapter1985 – 1989
  • Haight-Ashbury Music Workshop Ensemble Instructor 1975 – 1978

Clinician (1990 – present)

  • Amherst College Amherst, MA
  • Berklee College of Music Boston, MA
  • Birmingham School of Fine Arts Birmingham, AL
  • California State University, Fresno, CA
  • California State University, Monterey, CA
  • California State University, Sonoma, CA
  • Mannes College of Music New York, NY
  • Montclair State University Montclair, NJ
  • New York University New York, NY
  • Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts Philadelphia, PA
  • Queens College Queens, NY
  • School of Visual Arts New York, NY
  • Smithsonian Institute Washington, DC
  • Stanford University Stanford, CA
  • Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA
  • Yale University Cambridge, MA

Panelist/Consultant

  • Chamber Music America (Jazz ensemble awards) Panelist 2001/2004/2005
  • New York State Council for the Arts Panelist 1999
  • Brooklyn Arts Council Panelist 1998
  • Montclair State University Summer Jazz Workshop-  Consultant 1998
  • Jazz Masters Awards Midwest Panelist 1995
  • New York Foundation for the Arts Panelist 1989

Professional Studies

  • 1988 – 1991,  Vocal technique with Joyce Bryant    New York, NY
  • 1981 – 2008, Cuban folkloric music with Cuban master percussionist and vocalist Orlando  ‘Puntilla’ Rios New York, NY
  • 1974 – 1975, Traditional Shona style of mbira (African thumb piano) Seattle, WA with Zimbabwean master Dumisani Mareire    
  • 1972 – 1974, Laney Community College Music Department   Oakland, CA
  • 1972 – 1974, Piano with Edwin Kelly    Oakland, CA
  • 1972 – 1977, Traditional Cuban, Haitian and Brazilian folkloric music with master drummer Marcus Gordon San Francisco, CA
  • 1971 – 1972, University of California at Berkeley Music Department   Berkeley, CA