Maria Schneider Orchestra
2:00–3:30PM, Carhartt Amphitheatre Stage
A former assistant to legendary composer and arranger Gil Evans, Maria Schneider became widely known through the orchestra she founded in 1992. After appearing at Visiones in Greenwich Village for a stretch of five years, the orchestra went on to perform at festivals and concert halls world wide. And Schneider herself has received numerous commissions and guest-conducting invitations, working with over 80 groups from over 20 countries spanning Europe, South America, Australia, and the United States. One of her more notable commissions includes the Norrbotten Big Band’s and Danish Radio Orchestra’s commission to arrange and conduct concerts with Toots Thielemans. Her most recent work, Carlos Drummond de Andrade Stories, was commissioned by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra for soprano Dawn Upshaw. She is also working on a piece commissioned by the Kronos Quartet for a 2010 premier.
Schneider is also a distinguished band leader and recording artist. Her debut recording, Evanescence, was nominated for two 1995 Grammy Awards. Her second and third releases, Allégresse (2000) and Coming About (2006/2008), were also Grammy nominated. Schneider’s latest album, Sky Blue, was named “Jazz Album of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association and the DownBeat Critics Poll.
In 2008 and 2009, the Maria Schneider Orchestra was named “Best Big Band” by both the Jazz Journalists Association and the DownBeat Critics Poll. It consists of Steve Wilson, Charlie Pillow, Rich Perry, Donny McCaslin and Dave Reickenbert (reeds); Tony Kadleck, Greg Gisbert, Laurie Frink and Kenny Rampton (trumpets); Keith O’Quinn, Ryan Keberle, Tim Albright and George Flynn (trombones); Gary Versace (accordian); John Hart (guitar); Frank Kimbrough (piano); Jay Anderson (bass); and Kendrick Scott (drums).
