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Chuck Marohnic has enjoyed a multi-faceted career. Starting
four decades ago as a jazz pianist, today he is a respected musician,
educator, author, composer and arranger.
Music Minister For 13 years, Chuck had the privilege of serving as Music
Minister in numerous churches including United Methodist, Roman Catholic and
United Churches of Christ. He also has been a frequent guest performer and
clinician at many Lutheran, Presbyterian and other churches, including serving for over five years as Director of Music for the well known Studio worship service at Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ.
Innovative Pianist
Chuck has recorded 30 albums and CDs. Downbeat Magazine awarded
his performances 4
stars. Rolling Stone Magazine's review states "Marohnic's
ingenious changes and arrangements show that he should not be overlooked."
Cadence Magazine concluded, "The Chuck Marohnic Trio could
become the standard of interactive mastery in this decade."
Early in his career, Chuck worked as a sideman with Ira Sullivan,
Joe Henderson, Jamey Aebersold, Buddy Rich, Chet Baker and many
others.
International Educator/Performer
Chuck has served as a visiting clinician and performer at festivals
in Germany, Brazil and France. For five years he acted as Coordinator
of Jazz Studies and a guest artist at the Fairbanks Summer Arts
Festival in Fairbanks, Alaska. In May of 1998, Chuck visited Brazil
for a second time where he performed concerts and presented clinics
for a week's residency. While in Brazil he recorded an instructional
video for MPO entitled The Creation of a Solo Jazz Piano Arrangement.
Chuck has also been invited to perform the Concerto with the Bulgarian
National Youth Symphony Orchestra for a European tour in the Fall
of 2000.
University Professor
Having retired in 2003, Chuck was the Director of Jazz Studies at
Arizona State University since 1981. His former students include
John Medeski of Medeski, Martin and Wood; Scott Henderson of Tribal
Tech; Phil Strange, formerly with Joe Henderson; German pianist
Klaus Ignatzek; Tim Ray, pianist for Lyle Lovett; and Joey Sellers,
now a prominent arranger living in New York City.
Author, Arranger
Chuck has written 4 jazz publications. His books on jazz education
include "How to Create Jazz Chord Progressions", "12
Keys to Jazz Concepts", "50 Practical Pro Tips",
and "Jazz Keyboard Study" from Advance Music Publishers.
In addition, Chuck has written jazz piano arrangements of familiar
church hymns and worship and praise songs, taking them from inside
church walls to the entire community. What started as a sabbatical
leave project from his position as Director of Jazz Studies at Arizona
State University, turned into a book entitled Sanctuary Jazz, (July
1998, Shawnee Press). Joseph Martin, acclaimed pianist and keyboard
editor for Shawnee Press says, "Chuck is one of the best writers
in the country today." Since this first book was published, Chuck
as written eight collections of piano arrangements and three collections
of brass quintet music for Shawnee Press and Morningstar Music Publishers.
Composer
The Jazzbird Foundation of San Diego, California commissioned Chuck
to write a Concerto for Jazz Piano and Orchestra. The composition,
entitled Desert Spirit, premiered with the Arizona State University
Symphony Orchestra on March 8, 2000. Chuck is now accepting reservations
from orchestras to perform his concerto.
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