Jazz Program at The City College of New York. Affordable access to excellence in jazz education, with world-class faculty.
BM and MM for instrumentalists and vocalists. Under the instruction and guidance of an internationally renowned faculty, including Steve Wilson, Suzanne Pittson, Ray Gallon, Mike Holober, Adam Cruz, Tim Ries, Ray Santos and Carolyn Leonhart, and working alongside expert academic advisors, students reach their full potential as professional musicians poised to flourish in the New York jazz communit
05/15/2026
Congratulations to our CCNY Jazz DownBeat Student Music Award winners! Thank you to our ensemble directors Ingrid Jenson and Pete McCann, as well as Mike Holober and the CCNY Sonic Arts Center for making these recordings happen.
Small Jazz Combo
College Graduate Winner
- Ingrid Jensen Ensemble (Directed by Ingrid Jensen)
- Pete McCann Graduate Ensemble No. 1 (Directed by Pete McCann)
05/07/2026
Day 1 of the CUNY Jazz Festival! Student and faculty performances with a master class and concert with drummer Adam Cruz.
Thursday, May 7
11:30 | CCNY Faculty Jazz Ensemble | Jason Rigby (tenor sax); Pete McCann (guitar); Ray Gallon (piano); Aidan O’Donnell (bass); Adam Cruz (drums).
12:30 | Hunter College Jazz Performances Jazz Combos (Directors: Priscilla Owens, David Demotta, Ike Sturm); Jazz Ensemble (Director: David Demotta); Vocal Jazz Ensemble (Director: Priscilla Owens)
2:10 | York College Jazz Improvisation Ensemble | Director: Tom Zlabinger
2:55 | City College Jazz Vocal Ensemble | Director: Will Gorman
3:45 | Master Class with Adam Cruz
5:15 | BMCC Jazz Combo | Director: Jon DeLucia
6:00 | Dinner Break
7:30 | City College Small Jazz Ensemble - The Music of Wayne Shorter | Director: Mike Holober; Guest Artist: Adam Cruz (drums)
8:30 | Jam Session Featuring Adam Cruz
05/04/2026
2026 CUNY Jazz Festival, feat. saxophonist Chris Potter (5/8) and drummer Adam Cruz (5/7). Join us on Friday evening for a concert with the Chris Potter Quartet, joined by Adam Rogers, Scott Colley, and Nasheet Waits. At the Aaron Davis Hall on The City College of New York campus.
Celebrating jazz education, the CUNY Jazz Festival brings together faculty and student ensembles from across the CUNY schools, along with master classes and performances with special guest artists.
All concerts are free and open to the public (seating is first come, first served). For the complete festival schedule, and free ticket registration, go to: https://cunyjazz2026.eventbrite.com/
Sponsored by the Leonard Davis Center for the Performing Arts and the CCNY Division of Humanities & Arts.
04/21/2026
This Thursday at 12:30pm in Shepard Hall!
Join us for a midday jazz concert featuring renowned pianist and composer, and CCNY Music professor, Mike Holober!
"In the Wind: Jazz Chamber Works" brings together CCNY students and faculty for an afternoon of original compositions inspired by summer, travel, and friendship.
Thursday, April 23 at 12:30 PM
The Recital Hall, Shepard 95
Come by, take a break, and enjoy live jazz on campus!
04/17/2026
CUNY JAZZ FESTIVAL 2026, feat. CHRIS POTTER and ADAM CRUZ. May 7–8, Aaron Davis Hall, The City College of New York.
The CUNY Jazz Festival brings together faculty and student ensembles from across the CUNY schools with master classes and performances with special guest artists: drummer Adam Cruz (Thursday May 7), and saxophone virtuoso Chris Potter (Friday May 8).
Join us on Friday evening for a concert with the Chris Potter Quartet, joined by Adam Rogers, Scott Colley, and Nasheet Waits.
Free and open to the public. For complete Festival schedule, and for free tickets, please register at the Eventbrite link for each day you will be attending. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cuny-jazz-festival-2026-featuring-chris-potter-and-adam-cruz-tickets-1986936034165
Sponsored by the Leonard Davis Center for the Performing Arts and the CCNY Division of Humanities & Arts.
03/25/2026
Save the date! We’re excited to announce the 2026 CUNY Jazz Festival, May 7–8 at Aaron Davis Hall. The festival features performances by students and faculty from throughout the CUNY schools, and evening concerts by 2 phenomenal artists: saxophonist and composer Chris Potter leading a quartet with Adam Rogers, Scott Colley and Marcus Gilmore (5/8), and drummer Adam Cruz (5/7). All events are free and open to the public.
Celebrating 26 years, the CUNY Jazz Festival celebrates jazz education and promotes an exchange of ideas and experiences among students and faculty in a non-competitive atmosphere of friendship.
Presented by the Leonard Davis Center for the Performing Arts. Complete festival schedule coming soon. For more information, go to: https://ccnyjazz.com
03/06/2026
CCNY Music Library presents A SONG I CAN SING: Celebrating Women In Jazz, Exhibition Opening & Concert, Thursday March 12, 12:30pm. You are cordially invited to this special event bringing together women in jazz across many generations!
Presenting the work of Photographer Barbara Bordnick and the legendary jazz musicians she’s photographed at this special exhibition opening and concert. In conversation with Ms. Bordnick, we’ll discover the stories behind the photographs and get a glimpse into the late-career journeys of these jazz greats including Betty Carter, Helen Humes, Jackie Cain and Anita O’Day. A performance featuring the repertoire made famous by these singers will be presented by Music Department Chair Prof. Suzanne Pittson, faculty member and alumni Jamile Staevie Ayres and Jazz Program students Shayla Woods and Cemre Necefbas. Also featuring Jazz faculty Mike Holober on piano, Vasilis Koutsonanos on bass, and Jonas Mueller on drums.
We encourage our community to come and enjoy the music, and also ask questions to our wonderful guest Ms. Bordnick about her first-hand experiences with these musicians and more in our Q&A to end the program.
Thursday, March 12, 12:30pm
The City College of New York
Shepard Hall, room 95
11/10/2025
The CCNY Music Department is very excited to welcome the Django Festival Allstars for a master class on Friday, November 14 from 2-3:30pm in Shepard 95. The class is free and open to the public and you can either come to listen or bring your instrument and join in the musical experience!
Founded in 2000 by Ettore Stratta and Pat Philips, the historic Django Reinhardt NY Festival’s annual sold-out residencies at Birdland quickly became an anticipated feature of New York’s fall jazz calendar. It was the first Django festival in the area and did much to expand the popularity of the niche ‘Gypsy Jazz’ genre, also called ‘Hot Jazz,’ to a wider group of modern New York City jazz fans and beyond.
The Allstars will kick-off their 25th Anniversary tour with a concert at Sony Hall on November 13, featuring Veronica Swift and Ken Peplowski, followed by the master class at CCNY on November 14. Shepard Hall is located at 140th St. & Convent Ave., one block east of Amsterdam.
For more information: https://jazz.ccnysites.cuny.edu/django-allstars-masterclass/
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqVKjAVDGJk
11/05/2025
Don't miss this very special concert with these two masterful artists—Marvin Stamm and Mike Holober duo. This Thursday at 12:30pm in Shepard Hall 95. Free, and open to the public. (Non students will need to show ID)
Marvin Stamm - Flugelhorn
Mike Holober - piano
Thursday Nov 6
12:30 PM
Shepard Hall, 259 Convent Ave, NYC
Room 95 - The Recital Hall
Admission is free
04/30/2025
It's International Jazz Day, and the CUNY Jazz Festival is just 8 days away! On May 8 and 9, CCNY's Aaron Davis Hall hosts student and faculty ensembles from across CUNY, along with special guests Helen Sung and Randy Brecker. All are welcome, and admission is free 🎶🎹🎺🎷
Details: https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/news/2025-cuny-jazz-festival-features-multiple-grammy-winner-randy-brecker-pianist-helen-sung