MANCHESTER, NH — The Manchester Community Music School announces Mark Taddonio as New Director of the New Hampshire Youth Jazz Ensemble.
Taddonio is a New Hampshire native, having grown up in the greater Manchester area. He is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire where he earned his Bachelor of Music in music education, cum laude. During this time he studied classical and jazz trombone in addition to courses in music pedagogy, education, and philosophy.
Taddonio is a very active freelance jazz trombonist across New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. He is a regular member of the New Legacy Swing Band (Portsmouth) and the Tall Granite Big Band (Concord) as lead trombone in both groups. He also is a frequent guest with the Pocket Big Band, the Scott Spradling Band, and Gretchen and the Pickpockets.
In addition to an active performing career, Taddonio is also the Associate Band Director at Windham High School, where he works with the Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble as well as teaching AP Music Theory, guitar courses and assists with the choir program.
“The NH Youth Jazz Ensemble is a fast paced, high-level jazz performance ensemble made up of the area’s top high school jazz musicians,” stated Executive Director Judy Teehan. “We are very excited to have Mr. Taddonio joining the MCMS family, we feel strongly that his jazz performance and music education experience will be a tremendous asset to the Jazz Ensemble and to the Music School.”
Open auditions for the NH Youth Jazz Ensemble will be held on Wednesday, September 12 and 19, from 6:45 – 8:45 p.m. Students wishing to learn more about the ensemble can sit in on the rehearsals and meet Mr. Taddonio as well as the other members of the ensemble. For more information, call the Music School office at 603-644-4548.