William Komaiko
Email
komaikow@newschool.edu
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William Komaiko, Composer/Pianist has a double background in jazz and classical performance. In this regard his music is cited for "Bautiful shifting colors - like a Calder mobile" (Leighton Kerner, The Village Voice) with pianist comparisons: "Ahmad Jamal, Glenn Gould, Thelonius Monk" (John S. Wilson, The New York Times). Komaiko's concert music has been presented by conductors and organizations including Pierre Boulez, Paul Dunkel, Christian Badea, The Ravinia Festival, as well as a recent performance of Rhapsody in Blue matched with an improvisation set for Minneapolis PBS Television, and a premiere for the National Symphony Orchestra - where Komaiko was simultaneously commissioned as composer/piano soloist/ and conductor in honor of The 25th Anniversary of the Kennedy Center. Komaiko has appeared extensively as jazz soloist, group leader at such New York City venues as Serious Fun at Licoln Center, The Village Vanguard, American Ballet Theater at the Metropolitan Opera House. Komaiko was educated at The Juilliard School, where he received The George Gershwin Memorial Prize. He has served on the faculties of The Juiliiard School, Sarah Lawrence College, and Princeton University.