Jeff M.

Boston-based composer and jazz pianist Jeffrey earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he studied with Frank Carlberg, Anthony Coleman, Kati Agocs, Bert van Herck, and John Malia. An experienced and devoted teacher of piano and composition, he has a particular interest in training students in the skills of improvisation, composition, and music theory.

At NEC, Jeff wrote a number of original compositions, all performed by the NEC Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra under Jeff’s direction. After three years at NEC, he took a leave of absence in order to research different tuning systems and gain a better conceptual understanding of harmony. During this time, he worked as a showband pianist with Norwegian Cruise Lines and traveled throughout the East Caribbean, West Caribbean, the Canadian Maritimes, and Alaska, playing jazz sets and accompanying cabaret singers and other guest entertainers on the mainstage. While aboard ship, Jeff devoted his free time to his own musical development and composition, culminating in the work All the Anthills, an etude for solo violin in 5-limit extended just intonation. (This piece was later premiered by violinist Isabella Costanza and was the subject of Jeff’s Capstone project for his Theory Minor at NEC.)

Jeff’s teaching career began coaching musical theater students at the Theater Arts Workshop in his native Westchester County, New York. While still in his early teens, Jeff maintained a busy performing schedule, participating in and having works performed by ensembles such as the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Jazz Big Band and Small Jazz Ensemble and the InterSchool Orchestras of New York Symphony. He was concurrently selected to conduct a six week internship directing the school bands in his own elementary and middle schools. During the summers, he worked as a counselor at summer music festivals such as the New York State Summer Music Festival and French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts. During his time at NEC, Jeff completed another semester-long teaching internship, which included mentoring a college student at Emmanuel College in music reading skills, piano, and music theory. Since his recent graduation from NEC in May 2018, he has kickstarted a private music teaching studio in a pursuit to give back to the musical community from which he has learned so much.