Curriculum Vitae William Newman
Guitarist/Composer/Music Instructor
Profile: Work as a Professional Guitarist and Music Teacher for over 25 years. Vast experience in Jazz and Brazilian Music. Also trained in classical guitar and Brazilian percussion. Taught large groups to individuals in this time period. Also experience in administration and curatorship. A published author of “Guitar Atlas:Brazil” – Alfred Music. Early training was in film and photography so there is expansive understanding of the interconnections of the arts. A long time Brooklyn resident and New York native, my interaction with various populations has continued to this day. Fluent in English, Portuguese with knowledge of Spanish. Compositions range from large ensembles to solo guitar and piano. Skilled in Sibelius, Protools, Photoshop and other programs.
As Composer (list of composed works given on request)
Recordings (both composer and participating instrumentalist)
May 2016 Release of Solo Guitar Recording
January 2012 Release of CD of original music with sextet.
November 2011 Completion of 6 Original Choros Recording with acoustic quintet
May 2006 Completed CD of original music for sextet
January 2004 EP(extended play recording) of original music within Brazilian Genres
Presentations of Original Music
August 2018 Presentation of Orchestral Work “Elegy for Hayward Peele” at UNIRIO public university of the Arts Rio de Janeiro
May 2018 “Joan”– 5 minute reduction of the Carl Dreyer 1927 classic original film editing and original music at the Feirstein School of Media Brooklyn NY
May 2017 “Hayward has a gun/”Goodbye Bro” – Quartet presentation at Brooklyn Conservatory Brooklyn College
December 2016 “Chegada” – trio of Violin, Viola and Cello presentation at Brooklyn Conservatory Brooklyn College
September 2010 3 hours of original music live with interview on WKCR Radio New York (I participated as a performer as well)
August 2008 3 hours of original music live with interview on WKCR Radio New York ( participated as a performer as well)
June 2008 Presentation/Concert of Original Music to MacDowell Fellows
Residencies awarded
June – July 2008 at MacDowell Colony for Composition
July – Aug 2007 at MacDowell Colony for Composition
August 2006 at “Yaddo” for Composition
as Curator
2011 – 2018 Brazilian Music at the Cornelia Street Cafe – scheduling and presenting of Brazilian performers for this NYC cultural institution. curation of 2 festivals a year Summer and Winter – Brazil night at least once a month
2017 – Curator of Jazz and Brazilian Festival for NYU community Development
TV
August 2007 – interview and playing on PBS News Hour with Jim Lehrer
As Author
2001-Wrote the book Guitar Atlas: Brazil with 5 original Compositions and all original etudes/exercises published by Alfred Music with International Distribution. Distribution since July 2002 (still in print).
Led or co-led groups at the following cultural venues and Museums (United States and Brazil)
2018 Triboz (Jazz venue) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with Billy Newman quartet
2011 -2018 Cornelia Street Café (NYC) with Billy Newman Sextet
2010 -2017 Performances with Rogerio Souza Group
2015 Ernesto Nazareth Celebration CUNY Grad Center with Rogerio Souza
2014 Kennedy Center with Corina Bartra Afro Peruvian Ensemble
2011 Brazilian Endowment for the Arts (NYC) with the Brazilian Acoustic Ensemble
2010-2012 Cornelia Cafe with the Brazilian Acoustic Ensemble
2008 MacDowell Colony Peterboro, New Hampshire concert of original Choro
2007 Escola de Musica Florianopolis, Santa Catarina Brazil
2006 Bronx Library Performance Center – Billy Newman Trio
2005 Museum of Modern Art with the Brazilian Acoustic Ensemble
2004-2005 Central Park Festival with Brooklyn Brazil Bop
2004 Joe’s Pub with Brooklyn Brazil Bop
2004-2005 Jewish Museum (New York Choro Trio, Billy Newman Trio)
2003-2004 92nd Street Y Jazz Trio shows in winter and Fall season
2001 Queens Libraries performance series (a season of shows)
2004, 2005 The Jewish Museum duos and trios
2000-2004,2012,2015,2019 – The 3rd street Music Festival
2000-2004 – Bloomfield New Jersey Harvest Festival (4 successive years)
2000 The Guggenheim Museum “Worldbeat” series (12 performances)
2000 Conservatory of Music of Pernambuco (Recife) Brazil
1999 The Brooklyn Museum of Art performed in the First Saturdays Program
1998 Museum of the City of New York
1997 Museo del Barrio
As Teacher
2011 – 2016 Brazilian Guitar Master Classes – New York City
2010 Brazilian Instrumental Workshop – New York City
2007 Jazz workshop in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
1995-2006 Staff at the American Institute of Guitar specialist in Brazilian and Jazz
2004-2005 Brazilian Guitar Workshops at American Institute of Guitar
2000 Workshops in Conservatorio Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil
1996-2000 Guitar teacher at Harbor Conservatory
1993 – Present Teaching Privately
Education
Master of Music Composition – Brooklyn College completed 2018 Composed chamber music, chamber orchestra, concert band, Clarinet and String Quintet, Percussion ensemble, Jazz ensemble etc…. picked up technology skills working in CAC (computer assisted composition), Protools , creating ensemble mock-ups, short film with music score
BFA in Jazz Performance – City College of the City of New York completed 2013 besides studies in Advanced arranging, required jazz piano, history, electives included work in Western European music such as Advanced Counterpoint with (David del Tredici), and Classical theory
School of the Art Institute of Chicago 1980-81 extensive study of Cinema and Photography with studies of Woman and Film, Film Theory, The American Avantgarde degree not completed
SUNY Purchase – freshman film program 1978-79
Private Studies:
2004- 2009 during month long trips to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – lessons with Rogerio Souza and Marcelo Goncalves – 7 string guitar techniques
1995-2004 Dennis Koster – Classical and Flamenco Guitar Techniques
1992-93 Vanderlei Pereira – Brazilian Percussion and concepts
1987-89 Dennis Sandole – Improvisation and Composition (in Philadelphia – the famed teacher of John Coltrane)
1985 Hal Galper – Jazz Improvisation