CURRICULUM VITAE
Education
2002 | Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance and Literature, Eastman School of Music |
1993 | Master of Music in Performance and Literature, Yale University School of Music |
1992 | Diploma of Advanced Studies in Guitar Performance, Royal Academy of Music, London |
1988 | Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance, Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus, Denmark |
1986-present | Private studies of viola da gambe, baroque lute, baroque guitar, theorbo, vihuela, flamenco, and jazz guitar in Europe and the United States |
Professional Activities
2006–2023 | Full Professor, Nyack College School of Music, Manhattan Campus (later Alliance University), New York City. |
Areas of responsibility:
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1997–present | Associate Professor (adjunct), Director of Guitar Studies, Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music, City University of New York |
1999–2002 | Teaching Assistant, Guitar Department, Eastman School of Music |
1998–2002 | Teaching Assistant, Collegium Musicum, Eastman School of Music |
1990–1992 | Teaching Assistant, Guitar Department, Yale School of Music |
1998–2002 | Substitute Guitar Instructor, Juilliard Pre-College |
1997–2006 | Guitar and Piano Instructor, the Hewitt School, New York City |
Courses Taught
2007-2023 Literature and Materials 1-5 (Nyack College and Alliance University) An integrated music history survey and theory course, integrating the history and theories of Western music and art from our present-day to Antiquity. The course curriculum, which I designed,
can be forwarded on request
2009–2023 Form and Analysis (Nyack College and Alliance University) Introductory course for music majors to the common forms in Western concert music, from the 12- 16- and 32-bar forms in jazz standards, to sonata forms, rondo, fugue, and concerto styles of the canonic
concert literature. Special emphasis is placed on the techniques to analyze and understand form and structural reduction techniques.
2006-2023 Elementary and Advanced Counterpoint (Nyack College and Alliance University) Introductory and continuing courses in two- and three-part counterpoint, composing species counterpoint and beyond, using both historical and contemporary sources.
Counterpoint texts: Felix Saltzer and Carl Schachter: Counterpoint in Composition: The Study of Voice Leading. Johann Joseph Fux: The
Study of Counterpoint (Gradus ad Parnassum), translated and edited by Alfred Mann. Online courses in both elementary and advanced
counterpoint developed (2017)
2023 Culture and the Arts (Alliance University) An online summer course for non-majors in contemporary cultures and arts of New
York City
2006–2023 Music to 1700 (Classroom and online. Nyack College) Historical survey of Western music. Students develop listening skills and examine compositional designs and cultural contexts for the major musical genres. Special emphasis on the history of music theory and aesthetics during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, particularly with respect to text setting and rhetorical procedures
2006–2023 Music to 1800 (Nyack College) Historical survey of Western music. Special emphasis on the development of opera and instrumental genres
2006–2023 Basic Music Theory (Nyack College) Introduction to musical notation, clefs, scales, intervals, triads and seventh-chords, basic vocabulary and syntax of music from the common practice period
2006–2023 Theory I and II (Nyack College) Tonal harmony and syntax, phrase models and common practice harmonic vocabulary in part-writing, analysis and two-part first- and second-species counterpoint.
Theory text: Steven G. Laitz The Complete Musician
2006-2023 Theory III and IV (Nyack College) Building on the skills from theory I and II, this course further develops and examines the prolongation of phrase models through a detailed study of part-writing, analysis, listening and counterpoint exercises in several species. The fourth semester includes sketching of shorter tonal pieces from the canonic literature. It also introduces students to non-tonal theory (PC set-theory and twelve-tone matrix.)
Theory text: Steven G. Laitz The Complete Musician.
Supplemental material for non-tonal theory is drawn primarily from Joseph N. Straus: Post-Tonal Theory
Counterpoint texts: Felix Saltzer and Carl Schachter: Counterpoint in Composition: The Study of Voice Leading. Johann Joseph Fux: The Study of Counterpoint (Gradus ad Parnassum), translated and edited by Alfred Mann. Online course in both elementary and advanced counterpoint developed (2017)
2012–2023 Orchestration (Nyack College) online course developed (built) and taught, using Samuel Adler’s textbook The Study of Orchestration
2012–2023 Senior Seminar (Nyack College) writing skills, application to graduate school; audition techniques and recording; Curriculum Vitae writing; review of undergraduate history and theory skills for application to graduate school
2007–2011 Director of Nyack College Collegium Musicum (Nyack College) Focusing on chamber music from the Renaissance and Baroque eras, the Nyack College Collegium is a conducted ensemble that comprises both vocal and instrumental soloists, choir and basso continuo
2008 Foundations for Excellence (Nyack College) Introductory course in basic academic skills: writing skills, research methods, time management, oral presentation and practicing
2007–2023 Classical Guitar Studio, (Nyack College) Undergraduate private classical guitar lessons
2023 Music 1400 Fundamentals of Music (Brooklyn College) A music theory fundamentals course for non-majors
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1997–present Associate Adjunct Professor and Director of Guitar Studies (Brooklyn College.) Undergraduate and graduate studio classical and jazz guitar
1997–present Director of Guitar Ensemble (Brooklyn College.)
The ensemble commissions and works with contemporary composers from within and outside the college. The ensemble has premiered more than 20 new works by student composers and others, featuring both the classical as well as the electric guitar.
The college hosts a professional classical guitar quartet (the Brooklyn Guitar Quartet) whose repertoire includes music by all the major composers, including ten piano works by Felix Mendelssohn in guitar quartet transcription, works by Leo Brouwer and other contemporary composers
1997–present Fretted String Workshop (Brooklyn College.) A guitar pedagogy course for undergraduate and graduate music education majors
1998–2002 Music Appreciation, Core 2.2 (Brooklyn College.) Introductory course in music from the Western Tradition (classical and popular genres) for non-majors
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1997–2000 Chamber Music Coach (Apple Hill Summer School for Chamber Music, New Hampshire.) Comprising an international faculty with members of the Chicago, New York, and London Symphonies, I was the first guitarist to appear at the Apple Hill Summer Festival. I coached chamber music at Apple Hill for five consecutive concert seasons
Academic Service
2008–2023 | Director for Theory and Ear Training Studies, Nyack College, Manhattan Campus. |
The theory and ear training director is responsible for curriculum development and the supervision of adjunct faculty. Our theory and ear training curriculum is based on the basic tenets of Shenkerian theory, using Steven Laitz’s textbook The Complete Musician (London: Oxford University Press, 2007) as its foundation | |
2006–2023 | Jury Member for vocal and instrumental auditions and juries at Nyack College |
2000–2023 | Supervisor for Independent Studies. Graduate and undergraduate students from Nyack College and Brooklyn College. |
Topics for independent studies have included:
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1997–present | Chair, Guitar Auditions and Juries, Brooklyn College |
1998–2000 | Jury Member, Wood Winds Auditions and Juries, Bklyn College |
University Service
2018-2023 | Chair, Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, Nyack College |
2010-2023 | Faculty Affairs Committee, Nyack College |
2017–2023 | Task force Curriculum Committee, Nyack College |
2006–present | Curriculum Development, Nyack College. |
Syllabi and course rubrics available upon request | |
2008 | Coordinator for Outreach and Development Concerts, Nyack Performances, Nyack College |
2000 | Member of the Curriculum Committee, Brooklyn College |
Other Professional Service
2008-present | Consultant for Christie’s Auctions, New York City. |
Consultant regarding the sale of Francisco Tarrega’s Torres guitar (FE. 17), including a live televised performance for an invited audience |
Presentations
2019 | Lecture recital in Hong Kong on the Siete Canciones Populares Epañolas by Manuel deFalla at the International Guitar Research Institute |
2017 | Lecture on the harmonic procedures (the Augmented Sixth of Giant Steps) common to both John Coltrane and Ludwig van Beethoven at the Rockland Campus of Nyack College |
2015 | Lecture recital (on Hans Werner Henze’s Royal Winter Music) at the Royal Academy of Music in London and at Surrey University, U.K. |
2013 | Lecture recital (on Hans Werner Henze’s Royal Winter Music) and master classes at Mersin University, Turkey |
2013 | Lecture recital at New York City Classical Guitar Society on Hans Werner Henze’s Royal Winter Music |
2011 | Presentation for Nyack Scholars’ Symposium, Manhattan Campus |
2010 | Presentation at CUNY on the life and works of Hans Werner Henze |
2010 | Presentation for New York City Classical Guitar Society on Analysis and Performance |
2002 | Presentation at the Eastman School on sound reinforcement for the classical guitar |
1998 | Presentation at Yale School of Music on sound reinforcement for the classical guitar |
Master Classes
2006 | Aalborg International Guitar Festival (Denmark). Other festival artists included Carlo Machione (Italy), Paul Gregory (England), Duo Spinoza (France) |
2004 | Guest Lecturer, Houghton College, NY |
2003 | Guest Lecturer and Performer, Mansfield University, PA |
2002 | Concert tour and master classes in South America |
Master Class Performances
2018 | Brazilian Guitar Duo (with Brooklyn Guitar Quartet) |
2017 | Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (with Brooklyn Guitar Quartet) |
2003 | Canadian Guitar Quartet (with Brooklyn Guitar Quartet) |
SOLO | |
1989-1992 | John Williams (three times) |
1988-2002 | David Russell (four times) |
1988 | Nicola Hall |
1988 | Seppo Siirala |
1986 | Manuel Barrueco |
1985 | Vladimir Mikulka |
Recordings
2024 | Recording of guitar quartets by Joao Luiz with the Brooklyn Guitar Quartet, released by New Focus Recordings |
1994 | World Music album The Colour of Silence with English flamenco guitarist Jason Carter, |
recorded under the name of the Jason Carter Project at Sony Studios in Bombay, India, for CBS records. Later re-released on Jason Carter’s private label as incd001. Also including Sharafar Ali, tablas; Rajinder Singh, violin; and Sunil Das, sitar |
Awards
1990-2003 | Recording of guitar quartets by Joao Luiz with the Brooklyn Guitar Quartet, released by New Focus Recordings |
2009 | $10,000 Yale Alumni Award from Yale University to Further the Cause of Music |
by performing in fifty maximum-security prisons in California and New York with double bass player Richard (Dobbs) Hartshorn |
Selected Performances
2024 | Scheduled concert tour with mezzo-soprano Christina Lamberti with concerts in Brighton, England, Leipzig, Germany, Oslo and Kristianssand, Norway, and Sondermarks Kirken, Viborg, Denmark |
2024 | Recital at Elsinor Theatre, Elsinor, Denmark, with mezzo-soprano Christina Lamberti and pianist Kim Lindgreen |
2024 | Recital with mezzo-soprano Christina Lamberti at Sondermarks kirken in Viborg, Denmark |
2020-2023 | Recital tours (in private homes during Covid) of Denmark with mezzo-soprano Christina Lamberti |
2019 | Recital at David Geffen Hall (formerly Avery Fischer Hall) at Lincoln Center, with faculty and students from Nyack College |
2019 | Invitation to give lecture recital on DeFalla songs in Hong Kong with mezzo-soprano Christina Lamberti |
2018 | Invitation to give lecture recital at Yale University on Henze and deFalla |
2018 | Two recitals in the Boston area with mezzo-soprano Christina Lamberti as part of the production of Terence McNally’s Masterclass |
2018 | Recital at Merrimack College in Andover, MA with mezzo-soprano Christina Lamberti |
2018 | Recital at Steinway Recital Hall in Manhattan with mezzo-soprano Christina Lamberti |
2017 | Recital at Avery Fischer Hall, Lincoln Center with faculty and students of Nyack College |
2017 | Recital at Brooklyn College, CUNY in Roosevelt Hall with mezzo-soprano Christina Lamberti |
2017 | Guitarist for the Broadway play In The Heights at the Actors’ Theatre in MidTown Manhattan |
2015 | Lecture recitals at the Royal Academy of Music in London and at Surrey University, England |
2015 | Faculty concert at Brooklyn College with the Brooklyn Guitar Quartet (brooklynguitarquartet.com) |
2014 | Faculty concert at Brooklyn College |
2013 | Lecture recital at Mersin University, Turkey |
2013 | Recital with the Brooklyn Guitar Quartet at the Manhattan Campus of Nyack College |
2013 | Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center: celebration performance with Nyack College faculty and students |
2013 | Recital with the Brooklyn Guitar Quartet at the Manhattan Campus of Nyack College |
2013 | Recital with the Brooklyn Guitar Quartet at the Rockland Campus of Nyack College |
2013 | Faculty Recital, Nyack College |
2013 | Faculty recital, Brooklyn College |
2012 | Faculty recital, Brooklyn College |
2012 | Recital with the Brooklyn Guitar Quartet at Nyack College |
2011 | Faculty and Alumni recital, Nyack College |
2010 | Faculty recital, Brooklyn College |
2010 | Nyack College Collegium Musicum (Director), Opera Workshop, Chamber Singers and Student Awards joint recital |
2009 | Nyack College Collegium Musicum (Director), Chamber Music and Student Awards joint recital |
2009 | Tour of California and New York with double bass player Richard (Dobbs) Hartshorn. |
The tour was made possible through an award from Yale University. Fifty recitals in maximum security prisons across California and New York | |
2008 | Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, as part of the 125th Anniversary Concert for Nyack College |
2008 | Faculty Recital, Nyack College School of Music |
2008 | Director, Nyack College Collegium Musicum recital |
2007 | Director, Nyack College Collegium Musicum recital |
2006 | Recitals in Manhattan and Brooklyn with Joseph Trent, flute, performing on 19th century original instruments |
2005 | Walt Whitman Hall, Brooklyn College, with the college chorus and symphony orchestra, celebrating Brooklyn College’s 75th anniversary |
2005 | Performance with the Gotham Chorus at St. Paul and St. Stephen’s Church in Manhattan |
2003 | Solo recital, Mansfield University, PA |
2003 | Brooklyn Guitar Quartet at Yale University |
2002 | Electric guitar performance with Kevin Gallagher in Steve Reich’s Nagoya Marimbas, transcribed for electric guitars by Kevin Gallagher |
1999 | Recitals at Brooklyn College with Uli Speth, violin |
1998–1999 | Recitals with violist Peter James Sulski of the London Symphony Orchestra, and double bass player Richard (Dobbs) Hartshorn of the Apple Hill Players |
1998 | Recitals in Manhattan and at Brooklyn College with flautist Janet Axelrod of the Radio City Orchestra of New York |
1997 | Recital at Park Avenue Christian Church, Manhattan |
with flautist Janet Axelrod of the Radio City Orchestra and harpist Susan Jolles of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. World premiere of Mark Grant’s solo guitar work, Alba | |
1997 | Solo guitar recital at the American Institute of Guitar, Manhattan |
1992 | Recital tour (10 duo recitals) in England and Denmark with Paul Gregory, guitar. |
Professional Recommendations
Dr. Steven Laitz, Professor & Chair of Music Theory, Juilliard School of Music
Dr. Jefferey Taylor, PhD, Professor and Director for the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College, CUNY
Dr. Jason Eckardt, Professor of Composition and Theory, Brooklyn College
Dr. Peter Holsberg, PhD Former Dean of Alliance University School of Music
Dr. Darryl Jordan, PhD, former colleague at Alliance University
Former Students
Carlos Cuestas, PhD Candidate (ABD)
Dr. Hale Birgul, PhD, Professor of Music, Mersin University, Turkey
Roberto Sanchez, DMA Candidate
Romulo Viana, DMA Candidate
Contact Info available upon request