Department of Music
2000 Lakeshore Drive
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA 70148 Phone:(504) 280-6381 Fax:(504) 280-6098 E-mail:music@uno.edu
Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The UNO Department of Music will be hosting Music Clinics January 24 & 26.
The UNO Department of Music is pleased to announce that it will be hosting its first two Music Clinics of the Spring 2012 semester, to be held January 24th and January 26th. The clinics are free and open to everyone with an interest.
January 24th: The Wee Trio at 1:30 pm in PAC 103
January 26th: James Dapogny at 3:00 pm in PAC 103. Mr. Dapogny is considered to be an expert on Jelly Roll Morten, and is in town to perform with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.
----------------------------------------UNO Jazz Studies Student Barry Stephenson Receives 2011 ASCAP Louis Armstrong Foundation Scholarship
The ASCAP Foundation 2011 Awards Ceremony was held December 7th in the Allen Room at the prestigious Lincoln Center in Manhattan. UNO Jazz Studies student, Barry Stephenson, was presented with the 2011 ASCAP Louis Armstrong Foundation Scholarship by Foundation President Stanley Crouch. The awards ceremony was followed by a performance of one of Stephenson's original songs. The performance was accompanied by a number of fellow UNO musicians, including graduate students Allen Dejan, Jr. on saxophone, Jamison Ross on drums, and Assistant Professor Brian Seeger on guitar. Congratulations Barry!
--------------------------------------------UNO Music presents Master Class featuring Guitarist Lionel Loueke
The Master Class will feature Guitarist Lionel Loueke, who also happens to be this week's Jazz at the Sandbar Guest Artist.
Praised by his mentor Herbie Hancock as "a musical painter," Loueke combines harmonic sophistication, soaring melody, a deep knowledge of African music, and conventional and extended guitar techniques to create a warm and evocative sound of his own." It goes without saying how pleased UNO Music is to have the opportunity to work with him in the production of this Master Class.
Everyone is welcome to attend!
The Master Class will be held in the Performing Arts Center, Room 203.
Thursday, November 3rd at 1:30pm.
--------------------------------------------The University of New Orleans Magazine Fall 2011 Issue features UNO Music Alum Sasha Masakowki
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Fall 2011 Jazz at the Sandbar Schedule
The University of New Orleans Music Department is pleased to announce the line-up for the Fall 2011 Jazz at the Sandbar series.
Wednesdays @ 7:00 PM
Homer Hitt Alumni & Visitors Center
Mineburg Road & Levee Road on the UNO Campus
(under the smokestack)
October 5 - Ellis Marsalis "Tribute to Thelonious Monk
October 12 - Wess "Warmdaddy Anderson
October 19 - Vocalist Rondi Charleston & Guitarist Dave Stryker
October 23 - Drummer Herliln Riley
November 2 - Guitarist Lionel Loueke
November 9 - Bassist Bill Huntington
November 16 - Trumpeter Leon "Kid Chocolate" Brown
Enjoy internationally acclaimed artists with a lakefront sunset, candlelight and a glass of wine or beer. The ambiance of a downtown jazz club at ¼ the price! And coming soon…the Series returns to its proper home: the REAL Sandbar!
Free for Student /Faculty/Staff with UNO I.D.
General Admission 5$
For more information call UNO Department of Music (504) 280-6381
Made possible through the generous support of UNO Student Government, New Orleans Jazz Celebration (http://nojc.org) Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro, UNO Alumni Association.
UNO Music Alum Reggie Varnado wins American Idol's Randy Jackson online contest
UNO Jazz Studies Graduate Reginald "Reggie V" Varnado was chosen from 5 finalists, by the public, in Randy Jackson's quest to find "the next Youtube star." Jackson stated that Varnado "definitely has done his homework." To listen to the winning song "Champion" and all of Reggie V's music, check out his Youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrReggieV
We here in the UNO Music department would like to offer Reggie our congratulations and best wishes in what is sure to be a successful future in music.
From the blog of James Blachly, Trinity Wall Street Church:
"A great dream of mine since our first camp was to facilitate a year-roud music program at All Souls, seeing what we could do in a week with these kids made me want to see what they could do in a year with consistent, excellent work. In the past year, this has crystallized into a vision for an El Sistema-model strings program, with kids coming for instruction and orchestra every day after school.
Trenton Thomas, UNO Music student, teaches violin.
This week, with the excellent work of Beth Hayes and her team of Rebecca Cranshaw, Trenton (Thomas), Denice (Bonis), Amelia, and James Hausman, this dream became several steps closer to being realized. i saw what it would look like to have 20 or so kids working with All Sould. I saw the concentration of the kids, their desire to learn, and the skill of the teachers.
Dr. Hayes, UNO Music faculty, works with Shaquille on the bass.
Most important, I heard the enthusiasm of the community. At the concert on Friday, I asked the audience, "If you would like to see a thriving youth orchestra right here at All Souls consisting of neighborhood kids, put your hands together." And the response was overwhelming. I'm hopeful, therefore, that we have what it takes to make this happen."
Denice Bonis, UNO Music student, shows Nicolas how to set up a cello.
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UNO Music Faculty and Students participate in Summer 2011 All Souls' Music Camp
With 7 days to the beginning of camps. Dr. Beth Hayes, music director of the All Souls' Music camp, found 7 people (including two Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra members) to teach violin, viola, cello, bass, piano, and recorder at the All Souls' Church Camp located in the lower 9th ward.
Dr. Beth Hayes teaching the recorder
UNO Music Education students Trenton Thomas and Denise Bonis are among the impressive line-up of teachers. As a comprehensive camp that is inspired to meet the needs of children, students receive free breakfast and lunch. To augment their academic progress, children spend time reading books and writing in journals ever day, in addition to learning music.
UNO student Trenton Thomas teaches violin to children ages 6-11.
Denise Bonis (not pictured) teaches cello to children ages 9-11.
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Congratulations to UNO Music's Jazz Education Network scholarship recipients!
UNO Music students numbered among inaugural recipients of the Jazz Education Network 2011 Scholarship Program.
Daniel Lorraine received the David Baker Scholarship for $3,000, 1-year membership to JED, and a certificate.
Megan Tengal received teh Women in Jazz Scholarship for $500-$1,000, 1-year membership to JED, and a certificate.
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UNO Jazz Ambassadors visit Colombia
The University of New Orleans Jazz Ambassadors are a select group of UNO Jazz Studies graduate students invited by Centro Colombo Americano to Colombia as part of a cultural and academic exchange.
In addition to performing concerts in Medellin and Marizales, the group will be teaching and coaching Colombian students as part of the "Promising Artists of the 21st Century" jazz camp. The combo will participate in cultural exchange events along with groups from the University of Massachusetts and Julliard from June 13th-25th.
The UNO Jazz Ambassadors combo performed at New Orleans' premier jazz club "Snug Harbor" on Tuesday, June 7th. The set included a variety of traditional and contemporary jazz standards as well as original compositions by the group members. Photographed from left to right, the combo features includes Josh Starkman (guitar), Barry Stephenson (bass), Allen Dejan (saxophone), and Sam Wiseman (drums.)
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UNO Music Alumna Sasha Masakowski performs for an audience of 19,000.
On May 24, 2011, UNO Music Alumna Sasha Masakowski performed at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for the Rotary International Conference. The audience numbered at 19,000 people with representatives from over 160 countries. Sasha performed a version of St. James Infirmary with adjunct faculty member Irvan Mayfield's band. For the full Times-Picayune article, visit: http://photos.nola.com/tpphotos/2011/05/bill_gates_and_the_rotary_inte_5.html
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The UNO Jazz Allstars Perform at the
2011 Jazz & Heritage Festival
On May 7, 2011, the University of New Orleans Jazz Allstars took the stage at the WWOZ Jazz Tent. The group is comprised of current UNO students and provides a great opportunity for students to perform in front of a wide and diverse audience.
Photo by Brian Epstein
The UNO Jazz Allstars include Oliver Bonie, David Harris, Devin Kerrigan, Nick Solnick and Chris Adkins. For the May 7th Jazz Fesf performance, the Allstars were joined by guests performers. Pianist Austin Johnson, bassist Sam Albright, and vocalist Megan Tengle joined the group for the special performance of Oliver Bonie's Svensen award-winning song, "Cloudy Day."
Chris Adkins, Guitar - Photo by Brian Epstein
Nick Solnick, Drums - Photo by Brian Epstein
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Oliver Bonie received the Ernest O. and Shirley Svensen Award for Jazz Composition on April 27 for his song, "Cloudy Day."
Presenting the award at the April 27 Jazz at the Sandbar concert were Ernest Svensen Jr., left, and Professor Steve Masakowski, the UNO Coca-Cola Endowed Chair of Jazz Studies.
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Spring 2011 Sandbar Schedule Released
Jazz @ the Sandbar features first tier professional performers collaborating with UNO student ensembles. Now in its 21st year, Jazz @ the Sandbar is a sneak peak into the future of jazz, and also the time-honored tradition of elder musicians cultivating the next generation of players through musical interplay and example.
The full Spring 2011 Jazz @ the Sandbar schedule is as follows:
3/16 Mulri-Reed player Victor Goines w/ UNOJO led by Victor Atkins
3/23 Vocalist SACHAL VASANDANI w/ the UNO Jazz Voices
3/30 Guitarist TODD DUKE w/ the UNO Guitar Ensembles I & II
4/6 Pianist LARRY WILLIS w/ Chris Adkins' Combo and Ed Petersen's Combo
4/13 Brazilian multi-instrumentalist CARLOS MALTA w/ the UNO Composer’s Forum led by Brian Seeger & the Outer Galaxies Ensemble
4/20 Clarinetist DR. MICHAEL WHITE w/ the UNO Trad Ensemble & the UNO Hot Club
4/27 Donald Harrison w/ Tate Carson's Combo and Chris Adkins' Combo
5/4 Special Guest TBA w/ the UNO Composer’s Forum led by Brian Seeger and UNOJO led by Victor Atkins
All performances are presented by the UNO Jazz Studies Program with support from the New Orleans Jazz Celebration, the UNO Student Government Association, and the Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro.
Concert times: 7:30 - 10:00pm.
Location: Homer Hitt Alumni Center, Lakefront Campus. General Admission: $5.00. Faculty, Staff & Student Admission: FREE w/ UNO ID Card. Tickets sold at the door.
All proceeds go to the George Brumat Memorial Scholarship Fund. For more information, call (504) 280-6039 or (504) 835-5277.
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Cindy Scott CD wins Best of the Beat Award
Let the Devil Take Tomorrow, the latest release from jazz vocalist, UNO adjunct faculty and alumna Cindy Scott, was named “Best Contemporary Jazz CD“ of 2010 at the OffBeat Magazine Best of the Beat Awards.
"Let the Devil Take Tomorrow" was produced by Assistant Professor of Music Brian Seeger. Seeger also performed on the disc and contributed one composition.
The CD features many UNO alums as well as Professor Ed Petersen on saxophone. Cindy Scott (MM 2007) is an adjunct faculty member in the UNO Department of Music and directs the UNO Jazz Voices ensemble.
Posted by: Music Office - Categorized under FACULTY NEWS
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Quintette 7
The Westpoint chamber group, Quintette 7 will perform a concert in PAC 103 on February 17 from 11:30-12:30. The group is comprised of piano, percussion, tuba, clarinet, sax, trumpet and trombone, and they perform virtuosic pieces in a high energy, interactive way that captivates and dazzles audiences.
The West Point Band’s Quintette 7 selected its name as a witty homage to composer
Raymond Scott, incorporating elements of two of his performing ensembles’ names (The
Raymond Scott Quintette and The Secret 7). The ensemble, a mixed septet of four rhythm
players and three horns, is comprised of members of the West Point Concert Band and the
band’s Field Music Group, The Hellcats.
Quintette 7 will hold a saxophone masterclass in PAC room 344 from 1-2PM on Feb 17th.
Mock auditions will occur in the recital hall from 1-2PM on Feb 17th. There is still time to register for a mock audition. Please email Beth Hayes, tbhayes@uno.edu, if you would like to have a classical or jazz mock audition.
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End of Fall Semester in Fun Award Winning Photos
Posted by: Music Office, Thursday, December 09, 2010 - Categorized under: STUDENT LIFE
DAZZLING– Stephen Thurber from Stagelight Louisiana instructs students Jamie Doyle and Nate Weidenhaft on how to use the brand new ETC lighting control console, installed Dec. 8 in the Recital Hall.
LEGENDS AMONG US – Wardell Quezerque, the legendary composer and arranger known as the “Creole Beethoven,” with Jazz Studies professor Steve Masakowski and grad assistants Nate Weidenhaft and Tate Carson.
IT’S HIP TO BE SQUARE – The UNO Jazz Studies program continues to interview luminaries of New Orleans music. Legendary arranger and composer Wardell Quezerque was interviewed by Jay Griggs and filmed by UNO student Tate Carson, December 8 2010.
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Alumna Sasha Masakowski makes it to The Gambit's 40 under 40 annual list.
Posted by: Music Office, Tuesday, November 02, 2010 - Categorized under: ALUMNI SUCCESSES
Sasha Masakowski
Whether it's in the arts or business, technology or community development, young adults are making the Crescent City a better place to live and work. Every year (with the exception of an interruption following Hurricane Katrina in 2005), Gambit solicits nominations from the public, then honors 40 people under the age of 40 for their accomplishments — and the contributions they have made to New Orleans.
Sasha Masakowski grew up in a musical family that includes her father, guitar virtuoso Steve, and mother Ulrike, a pianist — so singing has always been an "instinct," she says. "One of my dreams as a little girl was to be a backup singer for Antonio Carlos Jobim," she says. "That was my dream job — either [Jobim] or Pavarotti."
Masakowski has immersed herself in an acclaimed, dynamic range of Brazilian and traditional jazz, lending her airy, soulful vocals to jazz ensembles Musical Playground and Sidewalk Strutters and progressive pop outfit Bionica. A graduate of both the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and University of New Orleans, Masakowski also studied at the Netherlands' prestigious Rotterdam Conservatory of Music. But singing struck a chord while the musician was growing up in choirs and the New Orleans Children's Chorus. "Since then I've been fascinated by the voice and voice as instrument," she says.
She anticipates a spring release for an album with Musical Playground and hopes to hit the studio with Bionica in the coming months. "The key to my musical happiness and to keep myself going is just surrounding myself with really incredible musicians," she says. "If you constantly put yourself in a position working with people who are on a high level intellectually and musically, you're constantly being inspired."
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Watch the video below to learn more about the UNO Department of Music:
Posted by: Music Office - Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - Categorized under: MEDIA
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Let the Devil Take Tomorrow, the latest release from jazz vocalist, UNO adjunct faculty and alumna 
Sasha Masakowski