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Daniela Schaechter was born in a small town in Sicily, Italy. She recalls that her household was constantly filled with music. |
Her father was a professional pianist for much of his career and her mother was an amateur singer. She found her way to the piano at age eight after watching her older brother picking out the guitar and piano by ear.
Her classical studies began soon after that, but by her mid teens she was exploring a variety of other genres. In high school, Schaechter formed her own jazz trio and found professional gigs as well as studio work.
Schaechter continued her musical education at the Conservatory F. Celia in Reggio Calabria, Italy where she received a degree in classical performance. After a brief time teaching lessons in Messina, Italy, Schaechter was awarded a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music. Arriving in Boston in1998, she quickly became one of the school's brightest young stars, winning the 2001 International Association of Jazz Educators "Sisters in Jazz" competition in 2002, as well as Berklee's Terri Lyne Carrington Endowed Scholarship for outstanding female instrumentalists. While at Berklee, Schaechter was able to study with Joanne Brackeen, Joe Lovano, and Phil Wilson. In addition to studying with the greats, she began getting together with musicians at Berklee and working up many of the compositions she'd brought with her from Italy.
Schaechter has gone on to win several major jazz competitions including the Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead Competition, which she won in 2002, and most recently, the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Piano Competition in 2005. Her resume includes performances with John Clayton Jr. and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, John Dankworth, Patti Austin, Regina Carter, Christian McBride, Ingred Jenson, Tiger Okoshi, and Shirley Horn.
In addition to festival dates around the world, Schaechter teaches private piano lessons at Boston College High School and working as a piano accompanist in the Voice Department of Berklee College of Music. Schaechter plans to release the follow-up to her first album, Quintet later this year.
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Set List for Daniela Schaechter on Piano Jazz:Thinking of You (Schaechter)
Dark Blue (Schaechter)
You and the Night and the Music (Dietz, Schwartz)
Threnody (McPartland)
It Could Happen to You (Burke, Van Heussen)
Detour Ahead (Carter, Ellis, Frigo)
Summer Night (Dubin, Warren)
Free Piece (McPartland, Schaechter)
I Love You (Porter)
Her classical studies began soon after that, but by her mid teens she was exploring a variety of other genres. In high school, Schaechter formed her own jazz trio and found professional gigs as well as studio work.
Schaechter continued her musical education at the Conservatory F. Celia in Reggio Calabria, Italy where she received a degree in classical performance. After a brief time teaching lessons in Messina, Italy, Schaechter was awarded a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music. Arriving in Boston in1998, she quickly became one of the school's brightest young stars, winning the 2001 International Association of Jazz Educators "Sisters in Jazz" competition in 2002, as well as Berklee's Terri Lyne Carrington Endowed Scholarship for outstanding female instrumentalists. While at Berklee, Schaechter was able to study with Joanne Brackeen, Joe Lovano, and Phil Wilson. In addition to studying with the greats, she began getting together with musicians at Berklee and working up many of the compositions she'd brought with her from Italy.
Schaechter has gone on to win several major jazz competitions including the Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead Competition, which she won in 2002, and most recently, the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Piano Competition in 2005. Her resume includes performances with John Clayton Jr. and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, John Dankworth, Patti Austin, Regina Carter, Christian McBride, Ingred Jenson, Tiger Okoshi, and Shirley Horn.
In addition to festival dates around the world, Schaechter teaches private piano lessons at Boston College High School and working as a piano accompanist in the Voice Department of Berklee College of Music. Schaechter plans to release the follow-up to her first album, Quintet later this year.
Check out this week's Piano Jazz Shorts: the Piano Jazz podcast.
Subscribe!
Set List for Daniela Schaechter on Piano Jazz: