Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz Student Wins Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Student Composition and Arranging Contest.
Leo Steinriede, a guitarist, arranger and composer, studies music at the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts, Settlement Music School and Lower Merion High School. I started playing the guitar at age 7 and started studying at the Philadelphia Clef Club at age 13. Learning from such great teachers like Marcell Bellinger and Monnette Sudler really made me want to pursue music as a career. While jazz is the main way that I communicate musically, my senses are informed by all of the types of music I listen to.
I’m the eighth winner of the annual student composition contest at Jazz at Lincoln Center. I wrote an original piece, The Rhetorical Situation, about why people choose to make certain decisions, and if those decisions are for themselves or to appeal to a certain group or person. In May, I was supposed to go to New York to rehearse and record with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, as well as take an arranging and composing lesson with Ted Nash. However, the Essentially Ellington festival will be taking place virtually due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
When I started studying with Joe Block almost two years ago, neither of us knew we would develop a relationship like the one we have now. Having a mentor like Joe has been a great motivation for me, and he has helped me do more than just music. We send each other music to check out nearly every day, and in November, he’ll be playing in my big band project with Aidan McKeon at the Philadelphia Clef Club (provided the COVID-19 crisis has been settled by then).
Because of COVID-19, I won’t be able to go to the Essentially Ellington festival in New York. Instead, it’ll be aired virtually. However, I’ll still be able to take a lesson with Ted Nash, as well as participate in a few other events which will be announced soon.
My message to anyone who wants to learn music is to find great teachers and musical partners with whom you really connect, and to develop relationships that will inspire you to create new music every day.
“Rhetorical Situation” CLICK HERE