Stephen Anderson

Stephen Anderson is a critically acclaimed composer and pianist whose music has been published on fourteen compact discs through Summit, Albany, Nagel Heyer Records, and other labels. Four of Anderson’s recordings have appeared on the Grammy® Awards ballots representing Summit Records—Nation Degeneration (53rd), Believe (56th), 360˚ Jazz Initiative, Distracted Society (58th), and The Dominican Jazz Project (59th). The Dominican Jazz Project similarly represented the label at the 17th Annual Latin Grammy® Awards in the categories of “Best New Artist” and “Best Jazz CD.” Both the Stephen Anderson Trio Nation Degeneration and Forget Not CDs received 4½ stars (out of 5) from the All Music Guide, and Forget Not was nominated best jazz “Debut CD” (3rd Annual Village Voice Jazz Critics Poll 2008). Previously, Anderson was pianist with the Lynn Seaton Trio (2000-03), the North Texas One O’clock Lab Band (Lab 2000-01), was winner of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival piano competition (1997), and keyboardist for gold-recording country artist, Kevin Sharp (1996-97).

Stephen Anderson is a critically acclaimed composer and pianist whose music has been published on fourteen compact discs through Summit, Albany, Nagel Heyer Records, and other labels. Four of Anderson’s recordings have appeared on the Grammy® Awards ballots representing Summit Records—Nation Degeneration (53rd), Believe (56th), 360˚ Jazz Initiative, Distracted Society (58th), and The Dominican Jazz Project (59th). The Dominican Jazz Project similarly represented the label at the 17th Annual Latin Grammy® Awards in the categories of “Best New Artist” and “Best Jazz CD.” Both the Stephen Anderson Trio Nation Degeneration and Forget Not CDs received 4½ stars (out of 5) from the All Music Guide, and Forget Not was nominated best jazz “Debut CD” (3rd Annual Village Voice Jazz Critics Poll 2008). Previously, Anderson was pianist with the Lynn Seaton Trio (2000-03), the North Texas One O’clock Lab Band (Lab 2000-01), was winner of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival piano competition (1997), and keyboardist for gold-recording country artist, Kevin Sharp (1996-97).

As a composer, his works have been performed by ensembles throughout the United States, including the West Point Military Academy Band, Dallas Chamber Orchestra, Montclair State Wind Symphony, Crested Butte Chamber Orchestra, the MIT Concert Band, North Carolina Central Percussion Ensemble, UNC Symphony Orchestra, UNC Wind Ensemble and many others, and at such venues as the College Band Directors National Association, the International Tuba Euphonium Association, and the Australian Trumpet Guild.

Awards include two commissions from the Barlow Endowment (2005, 2010), finalist, West Point Jazz Knights Composers Forum competition (2011), Chapman Family Foundation Teaching Award (2014), Junior Faculty Development Award-UNC (2008), United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, the UNC Research Council, the “Village Pride, Hometown Hero Award” WCHL Chapel Hill Radio (2008), Endeavors magazine features (2013, 2008), and reviews in All About Jazz, Jazz Times, All Music Guide, and PAS.

Anderson holds a D.M.A. from the University of North Texas (2005), served as Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano at Western Illinois University (2003-2005), and is currently Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Composition and Jazz Studies. He studied composition with Cindy McTee, Joseph Klein, Tom Clark, Joseph Butch Rovan, Phil Winsor, Paris Rutherford, Stephen Jones, David Sargent, Michael Hicks, and Murray Boren. He studied piano with Dan Haerle, Stephan Karlson, Dan Waldis, Gary Freeman, Wilson Brown, and Mona Smith. Through visiting artist-in-residence series, Anderson has also received personal instruction from Joseph Schwantner, Brian Ferneyhough, Stephen Hartke, Maria Schneider, Bob Brookmeyer, and Jim McNeely. Dr. Anderson is Associate Professor of Composition and Jazz Studies at the University of North Carolina and is Director of the UNC Summer Jazz Workshop (http://music.unc.edu/summerjazzworkshop).