Stephen CARBONARA
Founder
Academic and Artistic Advisor.

Berklee College of Music: studies with William Maloof, John Bavicci, Ted Pease and Gregg Hopkins.
Private study with Joe Hunt and Gary Chaffee (drums), Dean Anderson (classical percussion).
Concerts and recordings with Orchestre de Paris Chorus (1985 to 1995) under the direction of Daniel Barenboïm, Pierre Boulez, Semyon Bychkov, Christoph von Dohnányi, Carlo Maria Giulini, Lorin Maazel, Mstislav Rostropovich, Sir Georg Solti.

Faculty 2010-2011

Christopher CULPO

The Juilliard School New York, Boston University.
Studies with Charles Banacos (piano), Milton Babbitt and David del Tredici (composition).
Awards and commissions from Massachusetts Arts Lottery, New York State Council of the Arts, Harvest Works, ASCAP, Centre Acanthes, Annette Kade Foundation, Fulbright Commission, French Ministry of Culture.
Works performed by Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Longwood Symphony Boston, Pianist Guy Livingston, Koehne Quartet, Franco-American Chamber Ensemble, Soprano Rayanne Dupuis and the Ensemble 2e2m, Quintet of the Americas, Ensemble Aleph.
CDs Culpo/Richard/Herbert Trio "Portrait in Black and White", "Love & Bananas Are Here" (Cristal Records).

François FICHU   

American School of Modern Music
Conservatoire International de Musique
Gold Medal for the Diplôme Supérieur Composition and Arranging CIM.
Studies with Pierre Cullaz (Guitar),
Ivan Jullien (Arranging), Homero Ribeiro de Magalhaes (Choral & Orchestral Conducting).
Guitarist for Tony Ballester, Bobby Rangell, Alain Debiossat (Sixun), Jean-Michel Davis, Claude Terranova, Una Ramos, "Tiboum" Guignon.
Compositions-arrangements for ARIAM IDF, ADIAM 77 & 91, Editions Retz,
CDs "Embrouilles à Honolulu" 1993, "Jazz versions from the big and small screen repertoire" Frémeaux & associés 2001, "Invitation au voyage" for large Ensemble, ARIAM 2003.

Peter GIRON

Westminster College (Princeton N.J.)
Private study in New York City (violin, viola,
electric and double bass)
Professor at the Conservatoire National de Région, Montpellier France
Bassist for Charles Earland, John Purcell,
Luther Allison, Kurt Elling, Dave Leibman, Rhoda Scott, Hal Singer, Kirk Lightsey, Sarah Morrow and others…
Concerts and tours: USA, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Phil HILFIKER

Berklee College of Music,
University of New Hampshire
Studies with Bill Pierce, George Garzone,
Hal Crook, Jim Odgren, Greg Hopkins,
Concerts and tours USA and Europe with Gilfema (Lionel Loueke), Lage Lund, Lello Molinari Trio,
Brian Walkley Band, Swiss Youth Jazz Orch.
with Jerry Bergonzi, Randy Brecker,
Bob Berg and Adam Nussbaum,
Seacoast Big Band, Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra

Rick MARGITZA

Berklee College of Music, University of Miami,
Loyola University (New Orleans).
Studies with Sonny Stitt, Gerry Niewood,
Michael Brecker, and David Liebman.
Concert tours and CDs with Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Bobby Hutcherson, Tony Williams,
Eddie Gomez, Chick Corea, Maria Schnieder,
Martial Solal and Dave Douglas.
CDs : Bohemia, Momento, Heart of Hearts, Miles Davis At Montreux 1973-1991.

Bernard VIDAL
 
Berklee College of Music
American School of Modern Music
Studies with Ed Tomassi, George Garzone, Ken Pullig, Bruce Bartlet, John Baboian and
Jeronimas Kachinskas.
Concerts and tours : USA, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Greece, Tunisia, Egypt, Czeck Republic, France.
Guitarist for "Atonal", "B&B Quartet", "S'KBO",
"Trio Bernard Vidal", "Contemp-Arabic
Jazz Ensemble".
CDs: Welcome to Egypt, La Nouba Tunisienne Malouf Malfou and Groove, (C-AJE), Compositions of
Bernard Vidal and Alexandre Hiele (S'KBO),
Bulles (Trio Bernard Vidal).

1982:  Founder of the
American School of Modern Music.
1986: Opening of second location at Boulogne-Billancourt.
1988: Creation of Continuing Studies Programme.
1988: First graduating class ceremony with special guest of honor, Randy Brecker.
1991: Masterclass for International Association of Jazz Educators at Jazz Mecca, Maastricht, Holland
1994: Extension of international representation and partnerships
1999: Founder of American Modern Music Publications, London England.

Assistant-Instructors 2010-2011

Dominique ASSIE

American School of Modern Music,
School of Fine Arts – Nice France (EMAP).
Studies with P. Cullaz, F. Fichu, P. Giron,
B. Vidal, M. O’Neil, B. Wheeler, S. Browman.
Guitarist for Nicolas Stern, N’Zela, Sept Tetes, Sebastien Charluet, Romain Nosek.
Compositions and Arrangements for Sebastien Charluet and Nicolas Stern.
Studio Musician at Labo Orchestra Paris
(Film Music, Television Advertising,
Major Recordings).
CDs "Sambela" by N’Zela and "Les Anges ont des Ailes" by Nicolas Stern.

Keri CHRYST

Northwestern University Chicago
Université de Paris IV Sorbonne
Studies with Michael Kocour (pianist with Dizzy Gillespie, Eddie Harris, Randy Brecker), Don Owens, Don Shelton, Bruce Hall
(Chicago Lyric Opera),
Masterclasses with Bobby McFerrin,
Danilo Perez, Max Roach,
Wynton Marsalis, Sheila Jordan
Vocalist with Josh Levine (New York), Melodious Thunk (Chicago),
Phil Nelson Orch. (Cleveland)
Choral Director of Central City Chorus
(New York).

RAMON FOSSATI

Superior Conservatory of Music Barcelona, Municipal Conservatory of Badalona, Aula de Música Moderna i Jazz Barcelona. Centre d'Information Musicale Paris. Superior Diploma in Jazz Studies at Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC).
Studies with Ivan Jullien, Claudio Roditi, Dick Oatts, Benny Golson, Guy Figlionlos.
Concerts in France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Poland and Spain with Frank Wess, Nicholas Payton, Wild Bill Davis, Teddy Edwards, Liz McComb, Jan Harrington, Patrick Artero, Damon Brown, Ronald Baker, Ignasi Terraza, Barcelona Jazz Orchestra, Jean-Pierre Derouard Big Band.
CDs: "Hard Swing" Paris-Barcelona Swing Connection, "Frank Wess meets the Paris-Barcelona", "Obscura" Pierre Esteve, "Je Suis Parti" Antoine Sahler, "The Black Key" Ramon Fossati & Toni Sola with Ignasi Terraza Trio, "Callin’ the Spirits" Ramon Fossati Sextet.

Damien ROPARS

American School of Modern Music
Université de Versailles
Conservatoire Maurice Ravel Paris.
Studies with Peter Giron, Marc Buronfosse (bass and double bass), François Fichu,
Bernard Vidal, (guitar), Lionel Arnaud (Composition), Philippe Goehrs (Conducting).
Bassist for Ben Vanhove Trio,
Kirill Zaborov Trio, Rain Dogs,
MC Big Band, Quidams.
Festivals, concerts and tours.
Compositions, arrangements,
documentary and short films music.