Stephen Guerra, Jr. is a lecturer in the department of Studio Music and Jazz at the University of Music in jazz composition, is the Director of Community Outreach for the Frost School of Music, and serves as the Coordinator for the Henry Mancini Institute. Stephen is also the conductor of the Downbeat Award winning Studio Jazz Band. Stephen earned B.A. degree from the University of New Hampshire in Saxophone Performance, an M.M. degree from the Eastman School of Music, and is currently ABD for a D.M.A in Jazz Composition from the University of Miami. Stephen is in high demand as a composer and arranger and has been commissioned to write music for Dave Koz, Jorge Villamizar, Carmen Bradford, the Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra, the Greater Manchester Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, and the Air Force Band of the West, among others. He has served as a composer‐in‐residence throughout the United States through the generosity of the Commission Project and the National Endowment for the Arts. Stephen has performed alongside many jazz greats including Phil Woods, Al Grey, Snooky Young, Marshall Royal, John Faddis, and Jeff “Tain” Watts. He can be heard as a featured soloist on the Clark Terry Young Titan’s of Jazz 2003 release Live at Marihan’s and the 2007 release by the Louie Bellson Big Band titled Louie and Clark Expedition 2. In 2009 the Stephen Guerra Big Band released their critically-acclaimed first album entitled Namesake on the Bada Beep Music recording label.
