Eastman School of Music named “Hottest Music School”

Newsweek named the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY as the “Hottest Music School” in their August 20th issue. “Eastman is heaven for instrumentalists, but students also get to study at the University of Rochester, of which it is a part. It’s perfect for aspiring musicians who don’t want to sacrifice academics.”

TBPAC was honored to host the school’s Eastman Jazz Ensemble and director Bill Dobbins for a week-long residency last October at the Patel Conservatory. The EJE boasts such accomplished alumni as Chuck Mangione. This generous and talented group of musicians performed three free concerts for the community, a master class on jazz piano, plus an all-day workshop for over 250 high school musicians. Credit for arranging the residency goes to Patel Conservatory music instructor and Eastman School of Music alumnus James Crumbly.

James is not only an incredibly talented musician - who plays piano, composes, arranges and conducts music for productions at the Conservatory and elsewhere - but he is also a enthusiastic and versatile instructor who inspires his students to reach musically. Students in his Adult Group Voice class range from folks who haven’t warbled a tune since high school chorus to those honing songs for performance gigs. James also created the Jazz Ensemble class for musicians in grades 8-12 who want to focus on jazz improvisation and ensemble playing. He’s already sent six of his Jazz Ensemble students off to college to study music and forge their own musical paths.

So, if you’d like to join James in a music class, visit our website soon as classes start Aug. 27. And if you ever have the opportunity to see James perform, don’t let it pass you by!

James Crumbly, on piano, warms up Voice Ensemble students for their Summer Showcase.

-Carol Cohen, Education Marketing Coordinator