Success Stories

MSM alumnus Tony Mazzocchi (BM ’95, MM ’97), who studied classical trombone at MSM, has been named the new Executive Director of the Kaufman Music Center in New York City, a performing arts complex that houses Lucy Moses School, Special Music School, the Merkin Hall concert venue, and the new Pathways program for low-income middle school students.

“A visionary leader who has dedicated his career to shaping the future of music education and performance, Mazzocchi has served since 2020 as Director of the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University, and Executive Director of the Kinhaven Music School in Vermont since 2010,” writes the Kaufman Music Center in a website statement. “An accomplished trombonist, Mazzocchi has performed with leading ensembles including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony and San Diego Symphony, and in numerous Broadway productions.”

In a statement,Tony Mazzocchi says he is deeply honored to assume the leadership role and calls the Kaufman Music  “a truly extraordinary organization that stands at the unique intersection of education, performance and public service. I am excited to further demonstrate the power of the arts to develop individuals and strengthen communities.”

Learn more here.

MSM alumnus Christopher A. Watkins (MM ’10), Classical Trumpet who studied at MSM with Mark Gould, honored the Harlem Hellfighters of the 369th Infantry Regiment by playing Taps at the World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Juneteenth, June 19, 2024.

The tribute not only honored the highly decorated 369th Infantry Regiment, but it also honored and embraced diversity within US fighting forces going back to WWI.

Originally from Marietta, Georgia, Watkins sounds Taps for the Doughboy Foundation, a nonprofit organization; the World War I Memorial is one of D.C.’s newest memorials, and is scheduled for completion in September 2024.

Jude Morris (BM ’23) studied classical tenor trombone at MSM with Per Brevig. In January, he was named principal trombone for the New Hampshire Symphony.

“He nailed the blind audition,” the symphony’s Executive Director Deanna Hoying told the local publication Manchester Link in New Hampshire.

“It was apparent from the first note that whoever was behind that screen was the one we wanted,” she said. Jude also received unanimous approval from the selection committee.

This is Jude Morris’ first professional appointment.  At MSM, Morris distinguished himself as a concerto soloist in Martin’s Concerto for Seven Winds. He is currently studying for his master’s degree at Yale.

Learn more about the appointment here.

Arcadia, the interactive sound and light installation by acclaimed Australian-born trumpet player Sam Nester (DMA ’17) is featured in the residency. It uses the biorhythms of plants to create music and corresponding light cues. “It works by converting the fluctuations in galvanic conductance of plants to MIDI data to control MIDI instruments in real time so you can experience ‘plants making music'”, explains Sam.

Learn more about the Arcadia installation here.

Nester has performed for Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival & Lincoln Center Out of Doors, the Beijing Modern Music Festival, BAM Next Wave Festival, the Paris Opera Ballet, and the Mark Morris Dance Group, among others. For these ensembles and others, Nester has premiered works by Pulitzer Prize winning composer John Luther Adams, John Cale (Velvet Underground), and John Zorn.

The recipient of numerous awards, Nester has been a Fulbright Scholar and a recipient of the Australian Music Foundation Award. At MSM he earned the Helen Cohn Award for outstanding performance.

Learn more about the residency here.

Alumnus Anthony Barfield (MM ’10, classical trombone) was commissioned to write a 15-piece brass ensemble work that was recently premiered and filmed on the Lincoln Center campus.

“Invictus” (or “unconquered”) pays tribute to the resilience of New York and its people, “reflecting hope and the anticipation of a better future on the horizon.” Weaving together elements of classical, gospel, jazz and hip hop, “Invictus” brings together brass players of different stylistic backgrounds from across Lincoln Center’s campus. You can read more about the piece in this Forbes article.

The new piece premiered last week on Facebook and on Lincoln Center’s website, and is available on demand here.

MSM alumna Karen Greer (MM ’85, bass trombone) took over on June 1 as president of the South Shore Conservatory, a regional music and art school in Massachusetts.

Geer has been executive director of the Interschool Orchestras of New York, and was previously executive director of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. Before that, she was a music teacher and administrator at the Opus 118 Harlem School of Music.

Read the full news story from The Boston Globe here.

Montclair State University has announced the appointment of Anthony J. Mazzocchi (BM ’95, MM ’97) as the new director of the John J. Cali School of Music.

“I am honored and humbled to accept the Directorship of the Cali School of Music – an institution that I love so very much and full of people whom I love, as well,” Mazzocchi told the Cali School community in an email message. “We all share a great passion for this place; its past, its current state, and especially what we all believe could be its bright and rewarding future. It is also clear that we are all ready to play our own unique part in moving the Cali School forward together, and that excites me beyond measure.”

Most recently, he has served as the associate director of the Cali School as well as the executive director of the Kinhaven Summer Music School in Weston, Vermont. Read the full press release here.

MSM alumnus Anthony Mazzocchi (BM ’95, MM ’97) was selected to give a TED Talk at TEDxMaplewood this past February at their 2020 conference in Maplewood, NJ. Anthony’s lecture, which opens with a performance from a trombone choir, focuses on how we learn collaboration from musical ensembles. You can watch his TED Talk here.

The trumpet ensemble in the video includes Manhattan School of Music alumni Jennifer Wharton, Mark Broschinsky (DMA ’12), Mike Lormand (MM ’03), and Paul Bellino (MM ’93).

Anthony is currently the Director of the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University in New Jersey. He is also Co-Executive Director of the Kinhaven Summer Music School in Vermont with his wife, Deborah. In 2013, Anthony was nominated for the first ever GRAMMY music educator award; he was one of 25 finalists among over 30,000 candidates.

Hornist Jeff Scott (BM ’90) will join Oberlin Conservatory’s Brass Faculty beginning July 1. Jeff founded the Grammy nominated wind quintet Imani Winds with fellow MSM alumni Toyin Spellman-Diaz (MM ’97 and PS ’98), Monica Ellis (’98), and Mariam Adam (’99).

“Jeff is extraordinary not only in the depth of his accomplishments—particularly as a performer and teacher—but also in the sheer breadth of his skills, and his unparalleled versatility as a musician,” says Dean of the Conservatory William Quillen.

Read Oberlin’s announcement of Jeff’s appointment here.

Alumnus and Alumni Advisory Council member Eganam Segbefia (MM ’18, Classical Trumpet) shares his musical journey and how he plans to give back to his community in this video feature on News12 Bronx.

“I wanted to go to Manhattan School of Music, so I just said I’m going to dive in and play every day, play every day, play every day, then doors just started opening for me,” says Eganam.

Mr. Segbefia will perform as a special guest artist during the Johnny Pacheco Latin Music and Jazz Festival at Lehman College, which runs through Friday (Nov 15). You can find more information about the festival here.

Stephen Slater (BM ’01, French Horn) accepted the position of Second Horn with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra for the 2019-20 season after playing Fourth Horn last year. Previous positions include Assistant/Utility horn of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Guest Principal horn of the Israel Chamber Orchestra of Tel Aviv, and Substitute horn of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

Learn more about Stephen Slater by visiting his website.

The award recognizes talented emerging artists in music, dance, and visual arts, in particular, those who contribute to international cultural collaboration and who push the boundaries of their artistic and performance practices. Brittany is the 2nd Place winner of the 2017-2018 American Prize, and is Assistant Professor of Trombone at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.

More about the award here

Manhattan School of Music alumnus Mike Lormand (MM ’03) will be performing the U.S. premiere of Marius Constant’s “Gli Elementi” Trombone Concerto (1977) on January 26, 2019 with Riverside Symphony at Alice Tully Hall.

Learn more here

A commission from Judd Greenstein of Manhattan’s Ecstatic Music Festival and Kate Nordstrum of St. Paul’s Liquid Music Series, the album is a study in contrasts combining contemporary classical wilding alongside deconstructed hip-hop, with bursts of left-field jazz, funk, spoken word, and soul.

MSM Precollege and College alumna Karen Geer and the InterSchool Orchestras of New York program she leads are profiled in the Epoch Times. The non-profit is at the forefront of grooming the next generation of musicians. Geer “has watched kids go from not knowing how to play anything, to performing an outstanding piece at shows at Carnegie Hall and beyond.”

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Performer, teacher and clinician Jeffrey Kaye is both principal trumpet and Artistic Director of The Symphonia in Boca Raton, FL.

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The feature discusses everything from how he got his start to his lessons with fellow MSM graduate Ambrose Akinmusire (BM ’05) and beyond.

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