Jazz Studies

The Hartwick College Summer Music Festival and Institute (HCSMF) is a gathering place for young jazz musicians from all over the world seeking to study and perform alongside world renowned artists from prestigious organizations: The Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and Ornette Coleman’s Prime Time, to name a few.

HCSMF offers a comprehensive experience in jazz and contemporary music for students of all levels. Courses and ensembles benefit not only advanced young artists seeking a focus in jazz performance, but also students wishing to experience and learn about jazz for the first time.

Jazz Ensembles

Festival Jazz Orchestra

This advanced level ensemble performs weekly and showcases students performing alongside counseling staff, faculty and guest artists in advanced level jazz orchestrations. Provides practical experience for students interested in the professional world of jazz performance.

Concert Jazz Orchestra

The big band of the Hartwick College Summer Music Festival. This ensemble highlights student improvisers and group interaction and performs arrangements of contemporary and traditional jazz.

Festival Jazz Combos

These small ensembles provide students of any level with opportunities to develop their improvisational skills.

Jazz Guests Artists

• Lenny Pickett, Saxophone
• More to come...

Private Jazz Instruction

Private lessons in all instruments are offered by highly acclaimed jazz faculty associated with prestigious institutions, such as The Manhattan School of Music, Eastman School of Music, and New York University.

Rich Shemaria, jazz band;
New York University, Sibelius Academy (Finland)

NYU Jazz arranging and composition faculty member Rich Shemaria moved to New York City from Southern California in 1985, forming his own big band, the Rich Shemaria Jazz Orchestra. During the early 1990s, he was a participant in the BMI Composers Workshops under the direction of Bob Brookmeyer and Manny Albam. Rich later moved to Helsinki, Finland where he served as musical director for the UMO Jazz Orchestra, the national radio big band of Finland. While in residence, he toured with Natalie Cole and conducted performances with artists Michael Brecker, Mercer Ellington, Roy Hargrove, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Marvin Stamm, Steve Turre, Houston Person, Randy Johnston and Nicholas Payton.

Alex Berti, double bass;
Doral Conservatory & Children's Orchestra

Venezuelan musician, bass player, composer, arranger, and orchestra conductor. Began his musical studies at the early age of five and at very young age he is admitted in the Youth Symphony Orchestra of his country where he performs the Double bass. Two years later he joins one of the most prestigious Orchestras of Venezuela, The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra and while being member of it, he had the opportunity to tour and perform in several of the most important concert halls of the world like: Concertgebouw of Amsterdam, Carnegie Hall in New York, Royal Festival Hall in London, Teatro de la Ópera in Madrid, UNESCO Hall in Paris, Teatro Colón in Argentina, Heitor Villalobos in Brazil, Teatro Teresa Carreño in Caracas, among many others.

His incredible musical versatility has leaded him to participate in recognized International Music Festivals like Tangle wood, Montpellier, Trinidad. In 1991 he auditioned in the Venezuelan Symphony Orchestra and obtained the position for the principal Double bass. This Orchestra performs some of his musical compositions; Concert for Clarinet and Orchestra and Symphonic Overture.

In 1995 Alex is invited to audition in the School of Music of the Florida State University where he is awarded a full scholarship to complete his musical studies in Double bass performance and Composition. Through his extensive musical career, Alex has had the opportunity to share stage with important personalities like: Plácido Domingo, Yo Yo Ma, Montserrat Caballet, Eduardo Mata, Jean Pierre Rampal, Paco de Lucía, Zubin Meta, Arturo Sandoval, among others...

Alex founded the Doral Conservatory Children's Symphony Orchestra and conducted it for four years. At the present, he resides in the city of Miami, is the Principal Double bass of The Miami Symphony Orchestra and is dedicated to the musical education of children and young adults in his own Music Academy. He presently works on his new venture: the "Miami Youth Symphony Project", a non-profit organization that will benefit hundreds of students providing them with a special College Fund for their superior studies.

His extensive trajectory, in the symphonic, jazz and popular music, and his solid musical background, make him an extraordinary performer,conductor, professor and composer.

Gil Alexander, percussion

Gil Alexander grew up in Columbia, Missouri, where his drumming began at a young age and continued though high school. After studying percussion performance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Gil moved to New York to expand his musical horizons. As a drummer and percussionist, he has played with groups across many styles, from jazz to classical to traditional African music. He has performed and played with the DrumCafe African Drumming Ensemble, Ethos Percussion Ensemble, Martha Graham Dance School, Mark Morris Dance School, Larry Kelly Steel Bands, and many more groups and fine musicians. His performances have taken him across the United States as well as overseas, with stops at the prestigious Carnegie Hall and Symphony Space. In addition to his playing, Gil is involved with numerous outreach programs, helping to bring music and dance to the New York City Public Schools.