PROFILE

• Patti Preiss-Harris is a pianist, composer and teacher, equally proficient in jazz and classical music.  After graduating with honors from Harvard University, Ms. Preiss-Harris began her career as a bassist with the world renowned jazz composer Carla Bley.  As a pianist, she performed with folk artist Arlo Guthrie as well as with numerous bands and jazz ensembles in Massachusetts and New York.  After garnering an MFA in performance from California Institute of the Arts, Ms. Preiss-Harris settled in Fairfield County, where she maintains an active career as a piano teacher and performer.  She accompanies numerous vocal groups and singers, concertizes with the Schubert Club Piano Ensemble, and performs and records her own music with The Bill Harris Quartet.

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE            

• The Angel Choir vocal group, Accompanist — 2010 - Present


• The Piano Ensemble, Pianist performing contemporary classical music for 4 & 8 hands  2009 - Present


•  Full Spectrum Piano, Concert pianist with composer pianist flautist Michele Goritz, bassist Cameron   Brown and drummer Thierry Arpino — 2009


• The Bill Harris Quartet, Keyboard player performing contemporary jazz — 2007 - Present


• Blue Notes vocal group, Accompanist — 2001 - 2011


• Hyatt Regency Hotel, Greenwich, CT, Solo & ensemble jazz pianist — 1995 - 2001


• State University of NY, Purchase, NY, Accompanist for voice department — 1991 - 1995 


• Hal Prince Agency, Greenwich Music, Bok Music, Bach Music, Solo & ensemble pianist for private parties & corporate events — 1990 - Present


• Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles, CA, Piano soloist — 1987


• Glendale Centre Theater & Redondo Beach Theater, Los Angeles, CA, Accompanist for operas & musicals — 1984 - 1989


• At My Place, The Comeback Inn, The Blue Moon, Los Angeles, CA, Piano performer in nightclubs — 1984 - 1989


• River, Boston, MA, Composer & performer for improvisational dance company — 1981 - 1982


• Freelance solo & ensemble pianist for private parties & events in New York & New England — 1980 - Present


• Simon’s Rock Early College, Fitchburg State College, Hancock Town Hall, Western MA, Leader of improvisational trios performing concerts & workshops — 1980 - 1984


• Carla Bley Band, Woodstock, NY, Bassist touring US, Canada & Europe with 10 piece jazz orchestra — 1978 - 1979


• Karl Berger Group, Woodstock, NY, Bassist concertizing with Jimmy Giuffre, Ed Blackwell — 1976 - 1977

COMPOSING & RECORDING

• Compositional premiers of works for flute, piano, voice & chamber ensembles at Smith College, Groton Center for the Arts & various churches, Cambridge, MA — 1980 - 1981


• Original compositions for jazz ensemble performed throughout New England & New York — 1979 - Present


• CD “the extra mile” by Bill Harris, Original compositions & piano accompaniment — 2004


• CD “Horns” by the Harris Bros, Original compositions — 2003


• Album “Jamaica’s Album” by Patti Preiss, Original piano improvisations — 1984


• Single “Massachusetts” by Arlo Guthrie, Piano accompaniment — 1984


• Album “Trust in Love” by Robbie Gass, Bass accompaniment — 1982

TEACHING

• Private piano & composition instruction in the home — 1992 - Present


• Fraioli School of Music, Greenwich, CT, Piano & composition instructor — 1990 - 2001


• Hackley School, Tarrytown, NY, Piano instructor — 1990 - 1991


• Santa Monica Community College, Los Angeles, CA, Instructor, jazz — 1989


• The Hall School, Pittsfield, MA, Instructor, piano & composition — 1983 - 1984


• Pittsfield Community Music School, Pittsfield, MA, Piano instructor — 1982 - 1984


• Groton Center for the Arts, Groton, MA, Instructor, jazz & improvisation — 1980 - 1982


• Private piano instructor — 1980 - 1990

EDUCATION

• Private studies with jazz pianist Steve Kuhn — 2002


• Private studies with jazz pianist Hal Galper — 1994


• Private studies with jazz educator Charlie Banacos — 1993 - 1994


• California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA, MFA Performance Studies with Leonid Hambro, Aki Takahashi, Alan Broadbent — 1984 - 1987


• Creative Music Studio, Woodstock, NY, Studies with Anthony Braxton & Leo Smith — 1976 - 1978


• Private studies with bassist Dave Holland, pianist Charlie Banacos, percussionist Sydney Smart, Boston, MA — 1976 - 1978


• Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, BA, Humanities/Music Composition — 1970 - 1973


• Barnard College, New York, NY — 1968 - 1969


• Private studies with concert pianist Vera Appleton, White Plains, NY — 1957 - 1967

AWARDS RECEIVED

• Included in Who’s Who in America, 52nd & 53rd edition; Who’s Who in the East, 1996 - 2000, & Who’s Who of American Women, 21st edition — 


• Music Merit Scholarship, California Institute of the Arts — 1985 - 1986


• Artists grantee, Northern Berkshire Council on the Arts — 1983


• Attendee, Cummington Community of the Arts, Cummington, MA— 1981


• Performance grantee, Cambridge Arts Council — 1977

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• National League of American Pen Women, organization for writers, artists & composers, by invitation — 2010 - Present


• The Schubert Club, Stamford, CT, organization for professional pianists & piano teachers — 2004 - Present