Jazz Studies
Richard DeLaney (piano)
Richard Felice (R & C)
Mark Kraszewski (saxophone) (R & C)
Nate Rawls (trumpet)
Craig Snyder (C)
Fred Stone (acoustic and electric)
Norm Tibbils (guitar, electric bass)
Nick Weiser (C)
(C) = Canandaigua, (R & C) = both Rochester and Canandaigua locations. All others teach in Rochester.
Instrument/Department: Percussion; Jazz Studies
Joined Hochstein Faculty in: 2002
Music studies at Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) and SUNY Brockport.
Instrument/Department: Saxophone
Joined Hochstein Faculty in: 2009
Doctor of Musical Arts in Saxophone Performance and Literature with a minor in Jazz Studies, Eastman School of Music; Masters in Music in Performance and Literature (saxophone), Eastman School of Music; Bachelor of Music with High Distinction in Applied Music Performance (saxophone), Eastman School of Music. Past teaching experience at Cornell University and the Eastman Community Music School. Soloist in various ensembles and past performer with Dave Rivello Ensemble (clarinet and bass clarinet).
Instrument/Department: Trumpet; Jazz Studies
Joined Hochstein Faculty in: 1979
Studied at LA Valley State College and the Eastman School of Music. Founder of the Nate Rawls Big Band and the Sound Spectrum Band, which perform throughout the U.S. and internationally. Recipient of the coveted Duke Ellington Award for excellence in music. Brass instructor for the Empire Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, Associate Member of the RPO's Music Collaborative Program and Project U.N.I.Q.U.E.'s Artist-in-Residence Program.
Find out more on my website: www.naterawlsband.com
Instrument/Department: Guitar; Jazz Studies
Joined Hochstein Faculty in: 1985
Graduate of the Navy School of Music and Berklee College of Music. Pursued special studies at Central Texas College and SUNY Geneseo. Soloist and performing lecturer on The History of Music Through the Guitar. Author of Almost Everything About Guitar Chords, Position Primer for Guitar Students, and Incentive Pieces for Guitar Students. 1995 and 1998 NYSCA grant recipient. Recipient of the 2010 Faculty Service Award.
Instrument/Department: Guitar; Bass Guitar; Electric Guitar; Ensembles; Jazz Studies
Joined Hochstein faculty in: 2002
Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Jazz Guitar Studies through SUNY Empire, September 2006; Associate Degree in Music with High Honors from Finger Lakes Community College and a Berklee College of Music Scholarship recipient (1984). Adjunct music faculty member at Finger Lakes Community College where he teaches jazz guitar and bass. Extensive experience as instructor of guitar and bass, as well as a performer and producer.
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Favorite place to travel: In our own beautiful Finger Lakes region.
Favorite or most influential teachers were: Dr A. John Walker (retired-FLCC).
When I’m not at Hochstein, you can find me: at Finger Lakes College or home practicing.
People with whom/Places I’ve performed include: New Hampshire to Florida (show bands), numerous studio sessions, thousands of live shows, NAMM Show (California in 2007 as an endorser).
My pets include: my miniature pinscher dog.
Favorite things to do in Rochester are: perform music, attend the RIJF jazz festival.
People would be surprised to know that I: am a good swimmer.
What I most admire about my students is: their desire to understand the mechanics of music.
My favorite restaurant is: Rising Sun Chinese (Canandaigua).
Find out more on my website: www.craigssnyder.net
(and also www.youtube.com/snydercs)
Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Jazz Guitar Studies through SUNY Empire, September 2006; Associate Degree in Music with High Honors from Finger Lakes Community College and a Berklee College of Music Scholarship recipient (1984). Adjunct music faculty member at Finger Lakes Community College where he teaches jazz guitar and bass. Extensive experience as instructor of guitar and bass, as well as a performer and producer.
Instrument/Department: Electric Bass; String Bass; Jazz Studies
Joined Hochstein Faculty in: 2003
Master of Music degree in Jazz History and Contemporary Media from the Eastman School of Music; Bachelor of Music degree in Performance and Jazz History from the Berklee College of Music. Former faculty member of the Eastman School of Music, Berklee College and Genesee Community College. Performed with Stan Kenton/Four Freshman, Chet Baker, Mike Stearn, John Scofield, and Mark Elf among others and on tour with Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett, Buddy Rich, Eddie Daniels and jazz vocalist Mark Murphy. Stage performances with Joan Rivers, Sandler & Young, the Smothers Brothers, the Fifth Dimension, the Letterman, and the Inkspots among others. Author of two books and has released a recording, Scenario, on the Cadence Label. Principal bassist and featured soloist for Brighton Symphony Orchestra and performs with Diane Armesto Group at the Little Theatre Cafe. Classical bass studies with J.B. VanDemark and Bill Curtis, jazz bass studies with Slam Stewart, Major Holley, Ray Brown, among others and jazz composition study with Russ Ferrante of "The Yellowjackets", Jerry Bergonzi and Bill Dobbins.
Instrument/Department: Guitar/Jazz Studies
Joined Hochstein Faculty in: 1988 originally, and more recently in 2009
Master of Science degree in Instructional Technology from Rochester Institute of Technology; Bachelor of Music degree from University of Miami. Subsequent studies at Eastman School of Music. Instructional designer and music teacher in public, parochial schools and maintains a private studio.
Instrument/Department: Piano; Jazz Piano; Jazz Studies
Joined Hochstein Faculty in: 2010
Nick Weiser is steeped in both the jazz and classical idioms and has performed at events as far reaching as the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and the Perry and Price Morning Show on Honolulu, Hawaii’s KSSK Radio. During his formative years in western Kansas, Weiser studied piano with the late jazz pianist, composer, and arranger Frank Mantooth before matriculating to the University of Kansas. There, he developed his classical background while maintaining an active involvement in the jazz program, winning the prestigious Dick Wright Jazz Award in 2006 and performing with such greats as Peter Erskine, Ingrid Jensen, Rich Perry, John Abercrombie, and Gary Foster, to name a few.
He received his Bachelor of Music degree with highest distinction in 2008 before attending the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. At Eastman, he has studied with artists such as Harold Danko and Bill Dobbins, and was a member of the Downbeat Award-winning Eastman New Jazz Ensemble, whose performance with renowned trombonist, composer, and arranger Bob Brookmeyer garnered international acclaim. Actively sharing his passion for music with others, Weiser has given lectures and master classes at universities and institutions nationwide and continues to teach privately while maintaining an extensive jazz and classical performance schedule throughout central and western New York.
Master of Music degree in Jazz & Contemporary Media-Piano from the Eastman School of Music; Bachelor of Music degree with highest distinction in Piano Performance from the University of Kansas (Lawrence). Extensive solo and ensemble performance experience.
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