Jazz Orchestra Bio

The Erica Seguine/Shannon Baker Jazz Orchestra is an 18-20 piece jazz orchestra that performs original, unique, and sometimes quirky musical landscapes in the New York City area. In addition to the traditional big band instrumentation, their orchestra employs many woodwind colors, euphonium, voice, and sometimes vibraphone. Their music crosses genres from jazz, to classical, to rock, to world.

The Orchestra is based in the NYC-area and has performed in venues such as Somethin' Jazz Club (former Miles Cafe), Trumpets Jazz Club, and the Shea Auditorium. Seguine also previously led her own jazz orchestra in the Albany, NY area, performing at places like The Linda (WAMC Performing Arts Studio), and the Schenectady Muddy Cup in the Proctor's Theatre Arcade.

About Erica Seguine

Erica Seguine, originally from Albany, NY, is a composer, arranger, and pianist currently living, writing, performing, and teaching in the New York City area. She co-leads her own jazz orchestra with composer/arranger/wood-wind specialist Shannon Baker, and she has penned over 15 charts for Jazz Ensemble, in addition to several charts for Studio Orchestra, Jazz Combos, Chamber Groups, Vocal Groups, and Film.

Seguine's composition expertise has won her a few awards, including 1st Place in the International Zurich Jazz Orchestra Composition Competition, a 2011 ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award, and a 2012 ASCAP Plus Award. Her pieces have been performed by her own jazz orchestra, her own chamber group "Community of the Spirit," the Zurich Jazz Orchestra, Todd Coolman's Quintet, the Eastman Jazz Ensemble and Studio Orchestra, Bernie Williams and the William Paterson Jazz Orchestra, Weapons of Jazz Destruction, and others.

In addition to composing/arranging, Erica has performed as a pianist in several situations. She has performed in jazz groups like the Shannon Baker/Erica Seguine Duo, Community of the Spirit, Nick Venti's Quartet, and has freelanced on many occasions. She has accompanied for 13 different community musical theatre productions, and has accompanied jazz and classical instrumentalists and vocalists for performances, recitals, and competitions.

Seguine is an enthusiastic teacher who teaches piano, theory, and composition at both Make Music Montclair and Shamrock School of Music, where between both she teaches approx. 20 students. Her teaching style is highly based on the individual and his/her desires and goals, and incorporates a holistic approach to music, including theory, composition, ear training, and improvisation.

Seguine holds a BM in Jazz Writing (Composition) with high distinction from the Eastman School of Music, and an MM in Jazz Arranging from William Paterson University. Her composition and piano teachers have included Jim McNeely, Bill Dobbins, Rich DeRosa, Harold Danko, Raymond Torres-Santos, Tony Caramia, and Adrien Cohen. She is a current member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop in NYC.