EDUCATION
Manhattan School of Music 1989-1991 New York, NY MM - Jazz Commercial Performance
Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford 1983 - 1986 Hartford, CT BM - Jazz Guitar
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TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Western Connecticut State University Danbury, CT. September 1991 - Present
Adjunct Professor 1991 - 2005 Assistant Professor 2005 - Present
Current duties as Coordinator of Jazz Studies include classroom instruction in Jazz Theory,
Sight Singing/Ear Training to all freshman music majors,
conducting the 17-piece
Jazz Orchestra, conducting Frankensax, conducting the jazz Guitar
Ensemble, coaching Jazz Combos and teaching Applied Jazz Guitar. Past duties have included class instruction in Jazz
History, Jazz Arranging, Jazz Pedagogy, Jazz Improvisation and Director of Jazz Lab
Band. New York University New York, NY. January 2001 - May 2005 Adjunct Professor. Teach private guitar lessons to non-music majors.
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PERFORMING EXPERIENCE
The Jamie Begian Big Band 1998 - Present Leader, Composer and Arranger for 17-piece Jazz Orchestra. The
Jamie Begian Big Band was featured prominently at the 2003 IAJE Conference in Toronto.
The band also performs frequently at such notable NYC venues as The Bahai
Center's Dizzy Gillespie Auditorium, The
Knitting Factory, The Cutting Room and has completed 2 separate 4-month
residencies at El Taller LatinoAmericano. The band was also a headline
performer at SUNY Orange in October 2003 and the Western Connecticut State
University Jazz Festival in April
2001.
The Jamie Begian Trio 1995 - 2005 Leader, Guitarist and Composer for Guitar, Bass and Drum Trio. The trio performed regularly at Merchants Restaurant and
was also been heard many times at K'AH'VEH'AZ, Internet Cafe and other venues in Manhattan
WCSU Faculty/Alumni Quartet 2005 - Present The quartet began hosting a weekly
jam session at City Ale House in Danbury, CT and has since performed every
semester at the WCSU Midtown Coffee House as well as a weekly performance at
Chef's Table - Groovy's Cafe in Fairfield, CT |
AWARDS and GRANTS
Western Connecticut State University Danbury, CT. March 2004 Received
Distinguished Adjunct Appreciation Award. The School Of Professional
Studies bestowed the award in recognition of outstanding teaching as recognized
by full-time Music Department faculty. The Royal Conservatoire The
Hague, Netherlands. December 2003 Performances of "Fuzzy
Math" and "Oops!" Music performed as part of a two-week
festival honoring composer Steven Reich and featuring other minimalist-oriented
music in Jazz.
BMI Jazz Composers Workshop New York, NY. JULY 2001 Named Composer of the Year for composition "Fuzzy Math." Received "Charlie Parker Award" and a
commission for a new work which was premiered at their 2002 annual concert.
ASCAP PLUS AWARD New York, NY. 2002 - present New works
submitted on an annual basis for review by awards committee These awards
are given to deserving members of ASCAP whose work falls outside the realm of
popular/commercial music
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OTHER STUDIES
BMI Jazz Composers Workshop New York, NY. 1993 - 2002 Former Participant New works premiered at the annual concert in
1996 ("Trance"), '97 ("Passion Shuffle"), '99 ("Sorry
Officer"), 2000("Oops!" - nominated for the Charlie Parker Award), 2001("Fuzzy Math"
- winner of the Charlie Parker Award) and 2002 ("Suddenly Summer
Falls" - Charlie Parker Commission). The workshop is under the musical direction of Jim McNeely and Mike Abene.
Bob Brookmeyer Grantham, NH 1998 and 1999 Private lessons in
composition. These lessons were funded by faculty development grants from
Western Connecticut State University. Sal Salvador Stamford, CT. 1992 - 1995 Private Guitar lessons
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OTHER INTERESTS
British sports car enthusiast Owner of a 1967 Triumph TR4A with a frame-up restoration done from 1987 - 1988.
Ultimate Frisbee " Commissioner" of year-round Ultimate Frisbee league in Central Park
from 2002 - 2006 |