Faculty Bios

Honor Jazz Ensembles

(Highschool)
Recently relocated to Albuquerque from New York, trombonist and composer Christian Pincock is at home performing music ranging from the traditional to the avant-garde. Using a system of buttons attached to his valve-trombone, he controls a computer-based instrument of his own creation that he uses to modify the natural sound of his trombone to create unusual and surprising textures. Carefully mixing acoustic sounds with electronic ones, Christian's music has a wide expressive range, making each performance a powerful and engaging musical journey.

Christian has produced and collaborated in a multitude of diverse musical, multidisciplinary and multimedia projects all over the world, and has degrees in Jazz Studies from New England Conservatory and Manhattan School of Music. Since moving to Albuquerque, he has produced a number of solo concerts, formed SPOONM (The Soundpainting Orchestra of New Mexico), and joined the Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra. He also directs the High School Honors Jazz Bands and the Adult Big Band at the New Mexico Jazz Workshop, and performs with many of the prominent local jazz musicians such as Bobby Shew, Stu McAskie, and Glen Kostur. More info:http://www.ChristianPincock.net/

Sam Nesbitt

(Middle School)

Sam Nesbitt plays saxophones, teaches jazz, beginning band, and music for APS Public Schools. Sam also directs the NMJW 2nd Honor Jazz Band. Sam graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in music education.


Roots of Jazz
For over ten years
Frank Leto has played the key role in our Roots of Jazz program in the Albuquerque Public Schools, directing the quintet that tours elementary schools. His narrating and performing is as informative as it is entertaining. In addition, Frank has conducted an Adult Lecture Series on the African Roots of Jazz and has taught steel drum at the Summer Jazz Camp. His ensemble, PANdemonium has performed at Jazz Under the Stars and Yule Struttin’. His work history includes writing, arranging and performing early childhood education and curriculum materials development. He has enjoyed a thirty-year performance career, playing Brazilian and Caribbean music in San Francisco, Hawaii and New Mexico. He has several recordings to his credit for children and general listening. He tours nationally presenting seminars for the American Montessori Society and Yamaha, Inc.


Summer Jazz Intensive
A versatile bassist, Maud Beenhouwer is best known for her association with the salsa bands, Charanga del Valle and Terra Plena. She is equally adept playing blues and bebop having performed with the Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra and various local blues bands. Ms. Beenhouwer taught at the Summer Jazz Intensive and the JCC Jazz Intensive in 2003 and teaches beginning improv at the Outpost Performance Space.


Adult Education

Rodolfo Gonzalez

Originally from Guatemala, Rodolfo Gonzalez flutist/arranger, composer has lived in New Mexico since 1991. Rodolfo has been Music director for the salsa bands Casa Blanca and Charanga del Valle as well as the Latin jazz group,Terra Plena.

Patty Stephens

Patty Stephens made her stage debut at the age of three. By the age of fourteen she was performing in musical theatre for audiences in Denver, Colo. Teaching drama in Cuernavaca, Mexico when she was eighteen was the beginning of her professional career as actress, singer and costume designer. Patty moved to Albuquerque in 1985 pursuing jazz. Since then she has been performing in clubs, theatres and churches. She teaches private and group lessons in her studio and holds a workshop she developed called "Singing As A Martial Art".

Christian Pincock
Christian Pincock is a trombonist with experience in many styles of music. Coming from a foundation in jazz, he has performed in a diverse range of situations including big bands, jazz combos, symphonies, brass quintets, marching bands, dixiland bands, funk bands, variety bands, ranchero, kirtan, rock, avante-garde jazz, experimental, electro-acoustic, and has collaborated in projects involving actors, dancers, and visual artists.

Luis Guerra

Luis Guerra is a 2009 New Mexico Music Award-winning producer on Hillary Smith's album, “No Easy Way.” He has performed with members of REM and Screaming Trees and he uses logic on a daily basis to create music, seamlessly using real instruments along with computer-generated sound.

Lewis Winn

Guitarist/Bassist Lewis Winn has performed professionally for over 30 years. In addition to his 30 years of private instruction, he has been an adjunct faculty member at the College of Santa Fe since 1994. In recent years, Lewis has been a featured artist with Max Roach, Eddie Harris, and Richie Cole, among others. Currently he is the leader/arranger for the group “The Alpha Cats”.

Ron Lipka

Ron Lipka has been a music educator for 50 years. In January of 2004 he was inducted into the New Mexico Music Educators Hall of Fame. His public school experience includes 26 years in the public schools. In Albuquerque he played for nineteen years in the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and was a “first call” trumpeter for dance, jazz, show, opera, ballet, etc. He is currently State director of mentoring services and Retired Membership Chair for the New Mexico Music Educators Association and serves as mentor for new instrumental music teachers for APS.


Jack Manno
Jack Manno worked in New York as a professional studio singer and arranger of vocal jazz. He has five albums to his credit and hasarranged five jazz cameo performances for the Santa Fe Desert Chorale. Jack is also the founding director of the Southwest Jazz Orchestra.

Bruce Dalby

Trumpeter Bruce Dalby is professor of music education at UNM and also a member of the AJO.


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