Eastman Community Music School (ECMS)

07/25/2025

In Memory of Charles (Chuck) Mangione (1940–2025)

We mourn the passing of Grammy-winning flugelhornist, composer, and proud Eastman alum Chuck Mangione ’63E, ’85E (Honorary), who died peacefully on July 21 at age 84.

A Rochester native and jazz icon, Chuck brought warmth and melody to the mainstream, inspiring generations through his music and mentorship. As the first director of the Eastman Jazz Ensemble, he helped shape Eastman’s jazz legacy while building a trailblazing career that spanned over five decades.

In tribute, we share this recent performance of Chuck’s beautiful piece “Soft,” arranged by Bruce Levine and performed by the Eastman Community Chamber Singers with Mike Kaupa on trumpet at ECMS Springfest this June.

“Chuck Mangione was a larger-than-life composer, flugelhorn and trumpet player, bandleader, recording artist, and mentor. He inspired generations of kids to play instruments in a wide variety of musical styles.” - Bob Sneider, Jazz Department Chair at ECMS and Associate Professor of Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media at Eastman.

Our thoughts are with Chuck’s family, friends, and fans. His music, mentorship, and joy live on in all of us.

Emilia Del Vecchio, Eleni Filios, Emily Rose, Theresa Schwartz, sopranoSandra Joyce, Kris Miche, Katie Ellis Ramos, altoZach Rose, tenorChristopher Foley, Ky...

07/21/2025

This Wednesday at 12:30PM, join us at St. Joseph’s Park for a stunning solo classical guitar recital by Lynn McGrath, faculty artist at the Eastman Community Music School! 🎸✨

Her program will take you on a global musical journey—featuring expressive and virtuosic works by Luise Walker, Leo Brouwer, Ida Presti, Sergio Assad, and more. From lyrical dances to dramatic storytelling, this is a lunchtime concert you won’t want to miss.

Highlights include El Decameron Negro by Leo Brouwer and Zapateado from Sergio Assad’s Anido’s Portrait, celebrating trailblazing women of the classical guitar world.

🎶 Free and open to the public—come enjoy great music in a unique historic setting!

Presented by Eastman Community Music School in collaboration with The Landmark Society of Western NY.
📍 Learn more: landmarksociety.org/st-josephs-park

07/14/2025

This Wednesday at 12:30PM, enjoy a lively and colorful lunchtime concert at St. Joseph’s Park featuring the dynamic duo Ken Luk (classical guitar) and Laura Lentz (flute)! 🎶✨

Their program brings together irresistible rhythms and melodies from Latin America, with works by Astor Piazzolla, Eduardo Martin, Carmen Liliana Marulanda, and Celso Machado. 🌎🎵

Expect tango, samba, choro, bossa nova—and a joyful blend of tradition and innovation, all performed in the heart of downtown Rochester.

Free and open to all—don’t miss this musical escape at Eastman@St. Joseph’s Park!

Presented by Eastman Community Music School in collaboration with The Landmark Society of Western NY.
📍 Learn more: landmarksociety.org/st-josephs-park

07/07/2025

This Wednesday at 12:30PM, join us for another Eastman@St. Joseph's noontime concert--featuring a captivating solo classical guitar performance by Dr. Petar Kodzas, Dean of ECMS! 🎸

Enjoy a rich and expressive program featuring works by Philip Houghton, Dusan Bogdanovic, Gerald Garcia, and Radamés Gnattali, including tributes to tango legend Astor Piazzolla. 🎶

Don’t miss this free noontime concert in one of Rochester’s most unique outdoor venues! Presented by Eastman Community Music School in collaboration with The Landmark Society of Western NY.

📍 Learn more: landmarksociety.org/st-josephs-park

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July! 🎆

Celebrate with this spirited performance of “Land of Liberty” by James Swearingen, performed by the New Horizons Green Band, co-directed by Priscilla Todd Brown and Eva Regan.

🎶 Recorded live at their Springfest concert on May 21st—a perfect soundtrack for today!

07/01/2025

Summer vibes start tomorrow at St. Joseph’s Park! Join jazz guitarist Bob Sneider, bassist Ben Saunders, trumpeter Israel Stone, drummer Braden Jones at 12:30 PM for the kickoff of our 2025 Eastman@St. Joseph’s Park noontime concert series! 🌞🎸

Enjoy free weekly performances by amazing artists from ECMS, Eastman Summer, and the Eastman School of Music, all in the heart of downtown Rochester.

Presented by Eastman Community Music School in partnership with The Landmark Society of Western NY.
📍 Learn more about the venue: landmarksociety.org/st-josephs-park

06/30/2025

That’s a wrap on the 2025 Rochester International Jazz Fest!

We had an incredible time enjoying performances and workshops from world-class artists—including many from our very own ECMS community!

Highlights included the Jazz Workshop Series hosted by ECMS Jazz Department Chair and guitar instructor Bob Sneider, featuring sessions led by ECMS faculty; energetic Jazz Street Stage sets by EYJO and our New Horizon Ensembles; and faculty performances all across the city!

We can't wait until next year!

06/27/2025

RocVets is a free music program in Rochester that empowers veterans and their families through the transformative power of music — offering a supportive space to learn, play, and connect.

Whether you're a vet ready to pick up an instrument or someone who wants to support this life-changing work, visit their website to learn more or donate!

👉 https://www.rocvets.org/

This totally free program is intended to improve and save the lives of the men and women who sacrificed to preserve freedom and democracy in our country.

06/24/2025

A beautiful celebration of achievement at the 90th ECMS Commencement Ceremony on June 14 in Kilbourn Hall! 🎓✨

We honored our incredible Diploma Program and Pathways graduates, recognized outstanding scholarship recipients, and enjoyed powerful performances by the Honors Brass Quintet, Yifei Li’s chamber piano trio, and this year’s Honors Diploma recipients: Charlie Polvino, Oscar Libman, Peyton Crony, and Abigail Feng.

Special thanks to Dean Kodzas and Dean Sheeran for their inspiring words, and to Charlie Polvino for representing the Class of 2025 with a heartfelt address (and inspiration to try a vanilla Italian soda). Congratulations to all our graduates — your future shines bright! 🎶🌟