Helen Sung Artist In Residence Helen Sung is an acclaimed pianist and composer, originally from Houston, Texas. She studied classical piano and violin at Houston’s High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, classical piano at the University of Texas, and graduated from the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at the New England Conservatory. In 2007 she won the Kennedy Center's Mary Lou Williams Jazz Piano Competition. Helen has worked with the late Clark Terry, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Regina Carter, Cecile McLorin Salvant, and Terri Lyne Carrington. Helen performs at major festivals and venues around the world with her own groups. Her “NuGenerations” Project toured southern Africa as a U.S. State Department Jazz Ambassador, and she currently performs with the Mingus Big Band and McLorin Salvant’s Ogresse. She is a recipient of numerous residencies, commissions, and grants, include a Chamber Music America/Doris Duke Foundation New Jazz Works grant, and a NYC Women’s Fund grant. She is involved in music education through residencies and workshops and produced a Jazz Week program benefiting underserved youth in Camden, NJ. In 2017, the University of Texas awarded her the prestigious E. William Doty Distinguished Alumna Award, and HSPVA inducted her into its Jazz Hall of Fame. She has served on the jazz faculties at the Berklee College of Music, the Juilliard School, and Columbia University. Steve La Spina Bass, Small Ensemble Tours and recordings with Jim Hall, Stan Getz, Toots Thielemans, Joe Williams, Benny Carter, Chet Baker, Pat Martino, Zoot Sims, Tommy Flanagan, Richie Bierach, and Marian McPartland. Five solo recordings with own group on Steeplechase Records, one on Italy’s Ram label; sideman on more than 90 recordings. BM, University of Illinois. William Paterson jazz instructor since 1999. Marcus McLaurine Bass, Small Ensemble Studied with Jack Kulawich of the American Symphony while in the 590th Air Force band. He has studied at The University of Nebraska at Omaha, Queens College and Empire State College. Regular bassist in Clark Terry’s Quintet for thirty years, with numerous tours and recordings to his credit. Performed with Kenny Burrell, Jon Hendricks, McCoy Tyner, Abbey Lincoln, Cleo Laine, Lou Donaldson, Abdullah Ibrahim, Joe Williams and the Count Basie Orchestra. Recorded with Kenny Burrell, Abbey Lincoln, Michael Cochrane, Grover Mitchell, John Hicks, Hank Jones, Vincent Herring, Bob Trowers, Jay Hoggard, Nancy Monroe, and the Spirit of Life Ensemble, and has appeared in the motion pictures, Cotton Club and Sweet and Lowdown. Has been a William Paterson University Jazz instructor since 1997. Timothy Newman Workshop Director, Trombone, Small Ensemble Professor, William Paterson University Jazz Studies program. Veteran of New York’s big-band and freelance scene. Performed and recorded with, among others, the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Slide Hampton’s World of Trombones, the Mario Bauza Afro-Cuban Orchestra, the Bill Mobley Jazz Orchestra, the Manhattan Bones, They Might Be Giants, as well as numerous Broadway show orchestras. PhD, New York University; MM, Manhattan School of Music; BM William Paterson. Full-time faculty member at WP since 2004. Angelica Sanchez Piano, Small Ensemble Angelica Sanchez’s music has garnered national and international recognition and has received important grants and fellowships, including a 2008 French/American Chamber Music America grant, the 2011 Rockefeller Brothers Pocantico artist residency and the 2021 Civitella Fellowship, Italy. Her debut solo CD “A Little House” was featured on NPR’s Weekend Edition and her recording “Wires & Moss” featuring her Quintet was chosen as one of best Releases of 2012 in The New York City Jazz Record. Her recording “Twine Forest” aduo with Wadada Leo Smith received Honorable Mention as one of the best releases of 2013 in “The New York City Jazz Record.” Her latest acclaimed trio project “Float The Edge” features Michael Formanek and Tyshawn Sorey, and her new piano duo “How to Turn the Moon,” with Marilyn Crispell was voted as one of the top 50 best recordings in 2020, NPR critics poll. Sanchez has a Master’s Degree in Arranging from William Paterson University. She is currently on faculty at The New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, and Princeton University. Jon DiFiore Head Counselor, Drum Set Jon Di Fiore is a drummer/composer performing throughout New York City. Major projects include two albums of his own compositions: Yellow Petals (2014, Third Freedom Music) featuring the Jon Di Fiore Trio, and Patience (2012) for mixed ensemble featuring saxophonist Rich Perry and trumpeter Joe Magnarelli. The Jon Di Fiore Trio is completed by Adrian Moring, bass, and Billy Text, piano. His music is a fresh yet insightful take on the jazz tradition, influenced by jazz, classical, and world music. Both of his albums have received critical acclaim from major publications, and can be heard on radio stations across the United States, Europe and Japan.
