Maria Schneider
Seven-time GRAMMY® winner and NEA Jazz Master Maria Schneider writes music that has been called "evocative, majestic, heart-stoppingly gorgeous, epic and beyond categorization." With her 18-member orchestra, she blurs the line between jazz and classical music, and brings large-ensemble storytelling to concert halls, festivals and campuses around the world.
Music beyond categorization
Maria Schneider
Data Lords "amounts to the most daring work of Schneider's career." — Nate Chinen, NPR
Blurring the boundaries between jazz and classical traditions, Maria Schneider is among the few artists to win GRAMMY® Awards in multiple genres, honored in jazz and classical categories as well as for her work with David Bowie. Since her debut recording, Evanescence (1994), she has developed a distinctive compositional language for her 18-member orchestra, writing for the individual voices within the ensemble.
Her double album Data Lords (2020) was a Pulitzer Prize finalist and won two GRAMMY® Awards. It was named Jazz Album of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association and NPR, and received France's Grand Prix de l'Académie du Jazz. Her latest project, American Crow, released as a music video and EP, uses jazz to illustrate the art of listening.
A pioneer of artist-funded recording through ArtistShare, Schneider made Concert in the Garden (2004) the first GRAMMY®-winning recording with Internet-only sales; it was later inducted into the National Recording Registry. She has guest-conducted more than 90 ensembles in 30 countries and is a leading advocate for artists' rights.
Why we love this artist
- Maria's music is so captivating and beautiful it caused one of us to quit everything and move across the country to work as an unpaid intern, just to answer the phone when she called.
- Long before David Bowie called Maria, we were fans!
- Nobody alive today is composing music as cinematic or relevant to our times as Maria. Watch her American Crow video to see what we mean.
Highlights
In jazz and classical categories, and for her work with David Bowie.
Two GRAMMY® Awards and Jazz Album of the Year from the JJA and NPR.
American Academy of Arts and Letters, Rolf Schock Prize and the ASCAP Concert Music Award.
A music video and EP about the art of listening.
Ways to present Maria
Maria Schneider has performed with her orchestra and as a guest conductor on major stages across North America, Europe and Asia.
Selected stages and presenters
- Walt Disney Concert HallLos Angeles, CA
- Chicago Symphony OrchestraChicago, IL
- The Kennedy CenterWashington, DC
- RaviniaHighland Park, IL
- Newport Jazz FestivalNewport, RI
- Monterey Jazz FestivalMonterey, CA
- SFJAZZSan Francisco, CA
- The Town HallNew York, NY
- BirdlandNew York, NY
- North Sea Jazz FestivalRotterdam, Netherlands
- WDR Big BandCologne, Germany
- Blue Note TokyoTokyo, Japan
Bring Maria Schneider to your stage
New Sound Arts can help you plan a concert with the Maria Schneider Orchestra, a guest-conducting engagement or a campus residency.
mike@newsoundarts.com
marie@newsoundarts.com
Maria Schneider
Seven-time GRAMMY® winner and NEA Jazz Master Maria Schneider brings her orchestra into the room with your students — seated next to them, part by part — for a rare, hands-on clinic in how this music is really played.
Book the clinic
How the integrated clinic works
Set up in a circle
Each musician from Maria's orchestra sits next to your student playing the same part.
Students play, then the band plays
Your students perform a piece of Maria's music. Then her band plays it and the work begins.
Section by section
Maria demonstrates with her musicians and each section plays examples of phrasing and articulation. Students receive advice in real time.
Solo with the rhythm section
Students solo with Maria's rhythm section. Sections switch in and out so everyone gets guidance and examples.
“We set up in a circle, each musician of mine next to the corresponding student. The students play a piece of my music, and then my band plays — and we go to work.”Maria Schneider
Every clinic is tailored
Beyond the integrated clinic, Maria shapes each clinic around the needs and wishes of the group or school.
- Conducting an ensembleRehearsing and leading a large ensemble, from someone who has guest-conducted more than 90 of them.
- The compositional processCritiques of student works, helping writers uncover their own creative process.
- Stretching form and genreIdeas for pushing past the usual boundaries of a piece.
- Making a living in musicThe business today, the internet and artists' rights, from one of the music world's leading advocates.
“Each section plays examples… speak advice in the ear of the student they are mentoring, or address the whole section or band. My band gives examples of phrasing/articulation, etc. I let the students solo with my rhythm section — etc… switching sections out to give lots of guidance and examples.”Maria Schneider
Beyond categorization
Blurring the boundaries between jazz and classical traditions, Maria Schneider is among the few artists to win GRAMMY Awards in multiple genres, including for her work with David Bowie. Since her debut recording Evanescence (1994) she has written for the individual voices of her 18-member orchestra, which has performed worldwide. Her double album Data Lords was a Pulitzer Prize finalist and won two GRAMMY Awards; her latest project, American Crow, uses jazz to illustrate the art of listening.
Schools that have hosted Maria
Universities, conservatories and youth programs in the U.S. and abroad.
- University of ColoradoBoulder, CO
- New England ConservatoryBoston, MA
- University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA
- Frankfurt University of Music & Performing ArtsFrankfurt, Germany
- University of DenverDenver, CO
- Elmhurst CollegeElmhurst, IL
- Xavier UniversityCincinnati, OH
- Soka University of AmericaAliso Viejo, CA
- Santa Monica CollegeSanta Monica, CA
- Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA
- Eastman School of MusicRochester, NY
- George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA
- Whitworth UniversitySpokane, WA
- Sonoma State UniversityRohnert Park, CA
- Stanford UniversityStanford, CA
- Utrecht ConservatoryUtrecht, Netherlands
- Duke UniversityDurham, NC
- Cincinnati College-Conservatory of MusicCincinnati, OH
- UNC Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC
- University of North TexasDenton, TX
- Oberlin Conservatory of MusicOberlin, OH
- New York Youth SymphonyNew York, NY
- Berklee College of MusicBoston, MA
- University of DelawareNewark, DE
- University of RichmondRichmond, VA
- UNC WilmingtonWilmington, NC
- Coastal Carolina UniversityConway, SC
- Bowling Green State UniversityBowling Green, OH
- West Chester UniversityWest Chester, PA
- Fort Lewis CollegeDurango, CO
- Manhattan School of MusicNew York, NY
- Knox CollegeGalesburg, IL
- Capilano UniversityNorth Vancouver, BC
- University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN
- University of South FloridaTampa, FL
- Butler UniversityIndianapolis, IN
- Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT
- Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MA
- UC BerkeleyBerkeley, CA
- St. Catherine UniversitySt. Paul, MN
- University of Wisconsin–PlattevillePlatteville, WI
- Bucknell UniversityLewisburg, PA
Bring Maria and her orchestra to your students
“It really is a rare opportunity. We don't get the opportunity to do this so often. I can promise it's a powerful experience for students.” — Maria Schneider
New Sound Arts can help you plan an Integrated Big Band Clinic, alongside a concert or residency. Learn more at mariaschneider.com.
mike@newsoundarts.com
marie@newsoundarts.com
Portraits: Briene Lermitte