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Dr. Bert Konowitz
is a Professor of Music at Teachers College - Columbia University
where he teaches courses in Jazz & Classical Music Improvisation.
He is the founder, conductor and pianist of Spirit, the
award-winning Teachers College - Columbia University In-Residence
Improvisation Ensemble. Mr. Alexander Bernstein, son of the late
Leonard Bernstein, serves as the Distinguished Trustee of this
musical organization which has performed recently with jazz greats
such as Dave Brubeck.
Dr. Konowitz was
trained initially as a classical pianist, studying with the renowned
Rebecca Davidson and Josef Fiedelman. His interest in jazz and
improvisation surfaced early in his development as he performed as a
pianist in many jazz and classical settings. Dr. Konowitz’s
dedication to developing meaningful relationships between jazz &
classical music grows out of his interaction with a diverse group of
artists such as John Cage, Morton Gould, John Denver, Dave Brubeck,
Dr. Billy Taylor, Dr. Donald Byrd and Dr. Robert Pace. His pioneering
work in jazz and improvisation is reflected in his many publications
that are distributed and translated around the world, including
texts, compositions and teaching guides for piano/keyboard, chorus,
orchestra, string ensemble, jazz ensemble and classroom activity. His
piece Impulse, for flute and piano, focusing on the
partnership between composition and improvisation, was recently
recorded on the SPIRIT label. He was awarded a National
Endowment for the Arts Award for composition, presented at Tully
Hall, Lincoln Centre New York, as well as receiving numerous ASCAP
Awards, several Leonard Bernstein Education Through the Arts Awards,
State Council of the Arts Re-grant awards, and the Raymond Burrows
Piano Award.
In 2000, Dr.
Konowitz was invited by the Chinese Culture University in Tapei to
teach courses in Jazz & Classical Improvisation. He was
commissioned by The Little Orchestra Society at Lincoln Centre to
compose “Salute to Ms. Liberty” for symphony orchestra,
chorus and jazz ensemble, performed at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln
Centre, with Dr. Konowitz as pianist. He was also commissioned by the
Lawrence Philharmonic to compose “100Years” for orchestra
and soprano.
New York
State’s Department of Education commissioned Dr. Konowitz to
create a new state-wide high school music curriculum, Music in
Modern American Society, as well as serve as a major writer to
their middle school curriculum. As an expert in the area of
improvisation, his impact covers a broad geographic spectrum from
teaching and presenting workshops to performing in universities and
music conferences throughout the United States, Taiwan, Malaysia,
Singapore, London and Canada. Since 2000, he has served as the
Improvisation Artist-in- Residence in the arts-award winning Syosset
New York Schools. After succeeding John Mehegan at Teachers College,
Dr. Konowitz proceeded to develop new and innovative jazz
instructional methods and programs which are being used with great
success by students around the globe. |
