Brian McCarthy Instructor of Fine Arts: Music

Bio

B.M. in Jazz Studies, Classical Flute Performance, Minor – William Paterson University
M.M. Composition and Arranging Jazz and Commercial Music – William Paterson University

Areas of Expertise

Jazz Studies, Performance, Improvisation, Composition, Arranging, Classical Performance, Ear Training, Jazz History

Courses I Teach:

Jazz Orchestra
Concert Band
Piano Lab
Private Lessons

To learn more about Professor McCarthy, go to www.BrianMcCarthyJazz.com.

Awards and Recognitions

Selmer-Paris and Conn-Selmer Endorsed Artist
D’Addario Woodwinds Endorsed Artist
Truth Revolution Records Recording Artist

Recent News

William “Bill” Ellis of the Saint Michael’s fine arts/music faculty in June curated a stage of five concerts for Burlington’s Discover Jazz Festival called “Conversations” that paired local jazz musicians with those from world traditions. Brian McCarthy, also of the Fine Arts/Music faculty, who also had his own band set, was one of the acts that Bill booked for the series; he performed with Ghanaian American rapper Edwin Owusu. Other concerts included Amber deLaurentis (who teaches voice at Saint Michael’s) with Costa Rican performer Maiz Sandoval; Kenyan singer Irene Kerubo Webster with Tom Cleary; Malagasy guitarist Mikahely with jazz/blues guitarist Paul Asbell; and Bhutanese percussionist/flautist Gopal Niroula with the great violinist DBR. “A lot of fun to put together and the musicians had a blast playing with one another,” says Bill.
(posted July 2021)

Brian McCarthy, adjunct faculty of Fine Arts/Music, unearthed his project “The Better Angels of Our Nature” on March 7, at the McCarthy Arts Center. The jazz composer first issued the suite of music in 2015. After considerable research and study, Brian deconstructed and reworked a collection of Civil War-era music, tunes such as “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “The Bonnie Blue Flag,” transforming the 19th-century pieces into a fresh selection of modern jazz. McCarthy released the work as an album in 2017 to local and national critical acclaim. Rounding out his nonet is a group of players from Boston and New York City, including Matt Aronoff, Adam Birnbaum, David DeJesus, Andrew Gutauskas, Bill Mobley, Cameron MacManus, Felipe Salles and Jared Schonig. The show was free and open to the public.
(posted June 2020)