Eric Stern
About Me
Eric Stern is a 22-year old jazz pianist, composer, educator, and arranger who recently graduated from the prestigious Frost School of Music, University of Miami. Eric will begin studying at the Manhattan School of Music in the Fall of 2023 under Ted Rosenthal.
While at the Frost School of Music, Stern had the opportunity to study privately with Shelly Berg, Martin Bejerano, Alex Brown, and Gonzalo Rubalcaba, as well as working with GRAMMY-winners Dafnis Prieto and John Daversa, as well as acclaimed artists Stephen Rucker, David Chiverton, Kate Reid, and a myriad of other notable artists. He has been in several award-winning ensembles, including Funk Fusion, the Frost Concert Jazz Band, Extensions, and the Dafnis Prieto Artist Ensemble, among others.
Stern grew up in Brooklyn, New York, studying at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music with various classical and jazz teachers. His passion for jazz began in middle school, and in high school, he got involved in a slew of New York City arts programs, including the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance’s Fat Cats Big Band directed by noteworthy drummer Zack O’Farrill. Stern toured Havana, Cuba with the Fat Cats in 2018, and performed around New York City as the pianist for the Fat Cats throughout high school. He also was the pianist for the All-City High School Jazz Band, as well as his high school’s Jazz Band. While in high school, he attended the 2018 Eastman Summer Jazz Academy, studying with Clay Jenkins and Dariusz Terefenko. From 2018 to 2019, Stern studied with a top-call pianist in New York City— Jacob Sacks. Shortly after, Stern participated in the 2019 Jazz at Lincoln Center Summer Jazz Academy, working with Rodney Whitaker, Helen Sung, and other notable artists.
Stern has won numerous awards to his name throughout his career, including being a National YoungArts Honorable Mention in 2020. Additionally, Stern is a winner of the Bösendorfer prize at the American Jazz Pianist Competition, which took place on May 9th, 2022. Stern was chosen from five finalists by judges Bill Mays, Addison Frei, and Elio Villafranca. This came just a few weeks after releasing his debut album, Familiar Colors, on all streaming platforms.
Currently, Stern is an active bandleader and sideman in Miami and New York City. He is the leader of the Eric Stern Quintet and Trio, both active performing ensembles in Miami and New York City. As a bandleader, he has performed at places such as Lagniappe, WDNA Miami, Unseen Creatures, and the Fish House in Miami, and pinkFROG Cafe, Williamsburg Music Center, and Rockwood Music Hall in New York City. As a sideman, Stern has played all over, at Birdland, Rockwood Music Hall, and around the country in Colorado, Georgia, Orlando, and in Cuba.