Pianist Alma Macbride is currently an honor roll, full scholarship student at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, CT and is the piano chair of the Jazz Band. Alma was the first ever recipient of the Susan Freydberg Scholarship for her musical talent. This scholarship enabled Alma to attend the International Festival of Jazz Educators in Toronto, Canada in 2007. She is also the 2009 Winner of the
Jazz at Lincoln Center Mary Lou Williams Competition, where she performed with Wynton Marsalis and the JALC Orchestra in NYC. In addition to performing Alma composes music as well and is a recipient of the
ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award for 2012 for her composition
Full House She is a member of The Duo Con Alma, a performing group that performs at senior centers, libraries, and the like throughout the community. The money raised is donated to the instrumental music funds of Whiting Lane School in West Hartford, CT. To date, this group has raised over $5,000. Other community involvement included a self-produced performance at the Hartt School, where donations were collected for West Hartford’s Gifts of Music Program. This program provides funds for needy students to have private music lessons as well as providing instruments for these children. Alma performs freelance throughout the Greater Hartford area. In addition, she has been a member of the
Jazz Standard Youth Orchestra, a group of talented high school students who rehearse and perform weekly at the
Jazz Standard in NYC. Summer of 2010, Alma attended the Skidmore Jazz Workshop as well a the Stanford Jazz Residency Workshop, having been awarded scholarships from both these institutions. She also received a full scholarship that summer to attend Grammy Camp in Los Angeles. Recent performances include the
Pittsfield City Jazz Festival, where Alma was invited to perform as the first pianist in the festival's new
Piano Prodigy Series. She recently opened for trumpeter Eddie Allen at Killingworth Arts Center Jazz Night Out Series in February, 2012.
Awards
2012 - ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award
2012 - Opener for Eddie Allen Group at Killingworth Arts Center Jazz Night Out Series
2011- Featured performer in the Pittsfield City Jazz Festival "Piano Prodigy Series"
2010 - Selected as a member of the Jazz Standard Youth Orchestra
2010 �" Full Scholarship to attend Grammy Camp, LA
2010 �" Scholarship to attend the Stanford Jazz Residency
2010 �" Scholarship to attend the Skidmore Jazz Workshop
2010 - West Hartford Superintendent’s Award for Excellence in the Arts
2010 �" Keyboard Magazine feature article in April issue
2009 - West Hartford Superintendent’s Award for Scholarly Excellence
2009 �" Winner of the Jazz at Lincoln Center “Who is the Next Mary Lou Williams?” Competition
2007 �" Susan Freydberg Scholarship for saxophone to attend the International Association of Jazz Educators in Toronto, Canada.
Gear
Casio PX-330
"I am convinced that she could do pretty much anything she wants in life, with the exception of playing professional basketball. (I think she's still well under 5 feet tall.) If Alma wanted to be the next Renee Rosnes, it wouldn’t be a problem for her. She has the talent, and she knows how to get things done. For that matter, if she set her mind to becoming the first woman President of the United States, I could see it coming to fruition. I think she currently aspires to be a comedic actress on Saturday Night Live. For me, its refreshing to work with a student who has talent, but is also a normal kid, with many different interests." - Earl MacDonald Ever Up and Onward
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"I am convinced that she could do pretty much anything she wants in life, with the exception of playing professional basketball. (I think she's still well under 5 feet tall.) If Alma wanted to be the next Renee Rosnes, it wouldn’t be a problem for her. She has the talent, and she knows how to get things done. For that matter, if she set her mind to becoming the first woman President of the United States, I could see it coming to fruition. I think she currently aspires to be a comedic actress on Saturday Night Live. For me, its refreshing to work with a student who has talent, but is also a normal kid, with many different interests." - Earl MacDonald
Ever Up and Onward
"One of the festival's best
ideas resides in the new Jazz
Prodigy Series, and Alma
Macbride, the first participant,
displayed surprisingly
stunning maturity and poise
at the keyboard
Wednesdayevening at the
Berkshire Music School.
Joined by the other members
of her trio, bassist Matt
Dwonszyck, drummer James
Macbride, her brother, and,
for one number, trumpeter
Kyle Athayde, Alma
Macbride, only 16, explored
standards and original repertory
with digital strength and
dexterity reminiscent of Gina
Bachauer. One hesitates to
say she plays like a man, but
certainly like a seasoned
artist." - Berkshire Eagle, Richard Houdeck October, 18, 2011
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