John Mastroianni

Assistant Professor in Residence of Jazz Studies

M.A., New York University
B.M., University of Bridgeport
B.S., University of Bridgeport

John has performed as a professional musician since he was fifteen years old.  His talents as a saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and arranger have led him to a diversity of musical experiences.

John earned a B.S. in Music Education and a B.M. in Jazz Studies from the University of Bridgeport, an M.A. in Jazz Performance/Composition from New York University, and is currently enrolled in the 092 Administrative Certification Program at the University of Bridgeport.  He has studied saxophone with Phil Woods, Dick Oatts, Joe Lovano, and Gary Klein, and composition with Jim McNeely, Bill Finegan, Tom Boras, Neil Slater, and Mike Carubia.

John has performed, toured and/or recorded with artists such as Mel Lewis, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Smokey Robinson, Louie Bellson, Charli Persip and Supersound, Harvie Swartz, Jim McNeely, Jay Leonhart, Rufus Reid, Gerry Mulligan, Lew Anderson, Clint Holmes, Roger Kellaway, the Glenn Miller Band, Sonny Costanzo, Johnny Mathis, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Donna Summer, Tony Bennett, Barry Manilow, Nick Brignola, the New England Jazz Ensemble, and many others!  He also has performed with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, the Norwalk, New Haven, and Hartford Symphonies, and at the Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Shubert, Palace, Goodspeed Opera House and Oakdale theaters.  John also played in the orchestra for the Broadway(NYC) production of “Three Penny Opera,” and has been a featured artist at the New England Saxophone Symposium.

John’s three recordings as a leader, entitled Cookin’ On All Burners (Stash), The Time Being (Jazz Alliance), and Live at the Silvermine (Jazzheads), have all earned him critical acclaim.  He is also a featured soloist and composer/arranger on the New England Jazz Ensemble recordings, Version 3.0 (Brownstone), Storm Before the Calm (Sea Breeze), Wishes You A Cookin’ Christmas (Sea Breeze), Live at the Pittsfield Jazz Festival (Sea Breeze), and Peter and the Wolf (NEJE).

In addition to being a freelance musician, John performs with his own quartet, and leads his own sixteen piece jazz orchestra that he composes and arranges all of the music for.  John’s music has been performed and recorded by his quartet and jazz orchestra, the Sonny Costanzo Big Band, the John Allmark Jazz Orchestra, the Army Blues Band (Washington D.C.), the New England Jazz Ensemble, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, DIVA, and many high school, college, and professional jazz ensembles throughout the United States.  His big band charts have been published by Walrus Music Publishing/Otter Distributors, Barnhouse/Smart Chart Music Publications, and are currently available through ejazzlines.com.

John has taught at New York University, Albertus Magnus College, the University of Bridgeport, the New York State Summer School for the Arts, Bridgeport Central High School, New Canaan High School, Hall High School, the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the Hartt School of Music, and for the Canton Public Schools.  Currently, he is an Assistant Professor in Residence of Jazz Studies at the University of Connecticut and the founder and music director of the Young Artists Summer Jazz Workshop.  In December 2002, John was named by SBO Magazine as one of 50 directors in the United States that “make a difference,” and in March 2004, John was chosen by the Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA) as the Secondary School Teacher of the Year.  In 2010, he was honored by Starthmore’s Who’s Who as an individual who has demonstrated leadership and achievement in his profession.  John was chosen as the 2013-14 West Hartford Public Schools Teacher of the Year, and he is a two-time Music Educator GRAMMY nominee.  He was honored by the University of Bridgeport as a 2014 Distinguished Alumni.  In 2018, the New England Jazz Ensemble recording of Peter and the Wolf received a Golden Globe Music Award, and in 2019, John’s composition Power Serge was an Independent Music Award nominee in the Jazz Instrumental category. John was named and honored as the 2014 Connecticut Teacher of the Year!