About the Artists
Mark Kellogg
Throughout his career, Mark Kellogg has embraced a wide range of musical roles as a performer, teacher, and administrator. Whether it’s taken the form of appearing as a concerto soloist, playing in a variety of chamber ensembles, performing as an orchestral musician or as a jazz player, teaching students of all ages, or overseeing artistic programs or festivals, he has been most fortunate to experience a rich array of musical opportunities. In addition to holding the position of Professor of Trombone, Euphonium, and Brass Chamber Music at the Eastman School of Music, Mr. Kellogg is chair of the Winds, Brass and Percussion Department and an affiliate faculty member in the school’s departments of Jazz and Contemporary Media and Music Teaching and Learning. Co-Director of the Eastman Trombone Choir, he also serves as Director for the school’s community engagement program, Eastman To Go.
Amy Azzara
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Amy Azzara is a vocalist born in Simsbury, CT and raised in Rochester, NY. Immersed in music from day one of her life, Amy learned songs by ear and found herself surrounded by musicians. Amy earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Vocal Performance at the Frost School of Music of the University of Miami and recently moved to New York. Her originals are available on streaming services, with more projects coming soon. Amy prioritizes making art that is genuine and honest, being creative, and spending time with the people she loves.
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Christopher Azzara
Pianist, arranger, author, and educator, Christopher Azzara has made important
contributions to advancing the understanding of creativity and improvisation in the music
learning process. An innovator in music teaching and learning, Dr. Azzara is Professor of Music
Teaching & Learning and Affiliate Faculty of Jazz Studies & Contemporary Media at the
Eastman School of Music. Teaching and performing internationally, he is the author of numerous
articles, arrangements, and books, including Developing Musicianship Through Improvisation
and Jump Right In: The Instrumental Series (GIA). His arrangements for instrumental and vocal
ensembles include A la nanita nana for choir and chamber orchestra or piano (Oxford), and
Concert Selections for Winds and Percussion (GIA). His research and publications are concerned
with meaningful relationships among listening, creating, improvising, reading, composing, and
analyzing music in vocal and instrumental settings. Dr. Azzara's work appears in journals such as
the Journal of Research in Music Education, the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music
Education, the Music Educators Journal, Early Childhood Connections, and in The New
Handbook of Research on Music Teaching and Learning (MENC/Oxford), and Oxford
Handbooks Online.
contributions to advancing the understanding of creativity and improvisation in the music
learning process. An innovator in music teaching and learning, Dr. Azzara is Professor of Music
Teaching & Learning and Affiliate Faculty of Jazz Studies & Contemporary Media at the
Eastman School of Music. Teaching and performing internationally, he is the author of numerous
articles, arrangements, and books, including Developing Musicianship Through Improvisation
and Jump Right In: The Instrumental Series (GIA). His arrangements for instrumental and vocal
ensembles include A la nanita nana for choir and chamber orchestra or piano (Oxford), and
Concert Selections for Winds and Percussion (GIA). His research and publications are concerned
with meaningful relationships among listening, creating, improvising, reading, composing, and
analyzing music in vocal and instrumental settings. Dr. Azzara's work appears in journals such as
the Journal of Research in Music Education, the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music
Education, the Music Educators Journal, Early Childhood Connections, and in The New
Handbook of Research on Music Teaching and Learning (MENC/Oxford), and Oxford
Handbooks Online.
Kyle Vock
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Kyle Vock earned a Masters Degree in Jazz Bass Performance from the Eastman School of Music in 2010. In 2008, he earned a Jazz Studies degree at SUNY New Paltz, where he founded the New Paltz Jazz Society. As president of the student-run club, Kyle brought workshops and performances to campus by world renowned jazz musicians like Jack De Johnette and Rufus Reid. After graduating from Eastman, Kyle taught for three summers at the Performing Arts Institute of Wyoming Seminary, directing the jazz program in his final season.
Kyle performs extensively in the western New Your area in many groups spanning a variety of Rock, Blues, Jazz and Contemporary styles. |
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Eric Schmitz
Eric Schmitz is Professor of Jazz Studies at SUNY Oswego, where he directs the Oswego State Jazz Ensemble and Latin Jazz Ensemble, co-leads and performs with the Oswego Jazz Project (faculty jazz quartet), and teaches jazz and rock history, improvisation, jazz arranging, music theory and composition, and applied drum set.
He has lectured on music and given performances at universities throughout the United States as well as in Havana, Cuba; Kielce, Poland; and Cartagena, Colómbia. Eric is an active composer and performer, as well as a clinician at schools throughout New York state. Eric has a passion for Cuban music and has made frequent trips to the island since 2007, where he has studied with Cuban percussion legend Emilio Del Monte since 2012.
Eric’s original compositions and arrangements for big band and chamber groups have been published by Really Good Music, LLC and Hip-Bone Music. Several of his original pieces are featured on ACE Composers and ACE Composers II, both released by Ravello Records. Schmitz earned his Bachelor of music degree from the University of Northern Iowa and his MM and DMA in Jazz and Contemporary Media from the Eastman School of Music.
He has lectured on music and given performances at universities throughout the United States as well as in Havana, Cuba; Kielce, Poland; and Cartagena, Colómbia. Eric is an active composer and performer, as well as a clinician at schools throughout New York state. Eric has a passion for Cuban music and has made frequent trips to the island since 2007, where he has studied with Cuban percussion legend Emilio Del Monte since 2012.
Eric’s original compositions and arrangements for big band and chamber groups have been published by Really Good Music, LLC and Hip-Bone Music. Several of his original pieces are featured on ACE Composers and ACE Composers II, both released by Ravello Records. Schmitz earned his Bachelor of music degree from the University of Northern Iowa and his MM and DMA in Jazz and Contemporary Media from the Eastman School of Music.
