 Photo above: Chamber Orchestra playing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto Op. 61 (Rechtman arrangement) Featuring Nigel Armstrong, violin, on Sunday, July 2, 2023. Below are other photos from the 2023 St. Augustine Music Festival Season. |
| We Invite you to • • A Jazzy Sunday Afternoon • • Sunday, October 22, 3:00 PM |
 Dr. Marc Dickman Euphonium, Trombone Dr. Marc Dickman, from Valdosta, Georgia, is a founding member of the acclaimed jazz studies program at the University of North Florida. He was hired for the position by Rich Matteson. Dr. Dickman earned degrees from Troy State University, McNeese State University, and the University of North Texas. His versatility on euphonium, trombone, bass-trombone, and tuba in the classical and jazz styles places him in much demand in the United States. At UNF he teaches applied low brass and jazz ensemble. He is a winner of the artist division of the International Leonard Falcone Competition. His students have won awards in the jazz and classical areas. Dr. Dickman is a founding member of the groundbreaking jazz ensemble, the Modern Jazz Tuba Project. The MJT Project has two critically acclaimed releases; Live From the Bottom Line, and Favorite Things. Marc’s CD, A Weaver of Dreams, is available at cdbaby.com and iTunes. Dr. Dickman has performed in the following countries: USA, Japan, German, Hungary, Finland, Paraguay, Uruguay, Canada, Honduras and Columbia. Dickman is music director and conductor of the Nassau Community Band, and the Nassau Jazz Band. He also leads the Rhythm City Rhythm Kings Classic Jazz Band and the TBA Big Band, Jacksonville’s repertory jazz orchestra. Dr. Marc Dickman is a Besson performing artist |  Scott Giddens, Piano Scott Giddens began playing the organ at the age of five as he mimicked what he heard his Grandfather playing on the Hammond. Before his feet could reach the pedals he was also playing the piano, delving into classical music, boogie-woogie, and improvisation. During his teenage years he attended the award winning Douglas Anderson School of the Arts while also studying classical piano with Mary Lou Krosnick and composition with Dr. William Schirmer of Jacksonville University. During his college years at the University of North Florida, Scott was afforded the opportunity to play with some of the greatest musicians of our time including the Brecker Brothers, Joe Lovano, Russell Malone, Slide Hampton, Arturo Sandoval, and Nicholas Payton. Since earning his undergraduate degree Scott has been heard backing such jazz luminaries as Harry “Sweets” Edison, Ira Sullivan, Bunky Green, Vincent Herring, Andreas Oberg, Nathan Page, John Pizzarelli, Linda Hopkins and Diane Schuur. He has played in venues all over the United States as well as Russia, Australia, Amsterdam, and France. He has been featured in many festivals including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Mobile Jazz Festival, Savannah Jazz Festival, Cocoa Beach Jazz Festival, Clearwater Jazz Festival and the North Sea Jazz Festival, in The Hague, Netherlands. |
 Clyde Connor, Drums Clyde J. Connor, a native of Grove, Oklahoma, graduated with a Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1988. After graduation, Clyde attended the University of North Texas as a graduate student in the Jazz Studies Masters Degree program. While at North Texas, Clyde successfully auditioned for the United States Navy Band Commodores Jazz Ensemble and in the fall of 1989, moved to Washington, D.C.. Clyde can be heard on numerous recordings working as a session player at Omega Recording Studios in Rockville, Maryland, with the majority of work in conjunction with major music publishing companies including Barnhouse, Columbia, CP Beldwin and Warner Brothers. In addition to his performing accomplishments, Clyde has had much success in music education, working as a guest artist/clinician in a variety of educational settings. Artists Clyde has performed with: Jeff Andrews, Louie Bellson (drum duet), Randy Brecker, Pete Christlieb, Ritchie Cole, Bob Curnow, Eddie Daniels, Curtis Fuller, Jon Faddis, Terry Gibbs, Don Grolnick, Milt Hinton, Billy Hunt, Steve Kahn, Barney Kessel, Dave Liebman, Brandon Marsalis, Rich Matteson, Jack McDuff, Don Menza, Tommy Newsome, Dick Oats, Claudio Roditi, Arturo Sandoval, Diane Schurr, Doc Severinsen, Bobby Shew, Lou Soloff, Marvin Stamn, Clark Terry, Stanley Turentine, Chris Vadala, Ernie Watts, Joe Williams, Snooky Young. |  Claude Bassingthwaite, Bass Claude is from Orange Park, FL. He attended UNF and FSCJ. He has performed with the TBA Big Band and the Charlie Spivak Orchestra. He is the first call jazz bassist in the North Florida region. And featuring the Mastriani Piano!  Housed at the Waterworks, the Mastriani Piano was donated to the St. Augustine Music Fest in late 2022 in memory of jazz pianist Paul Mastriani by his family. It is a 1917 Steinway Grand Piano, which has been acclaimed by various pianists who have used it for concerts by SAMF, Romanza and other organizations. |
