The Official Website of Composer/Saxophonist Stephen Norfleet

Stephen Norfleet began playing saxophone in his hometown of Newport News, VA at the age of 11. At Newport News' Menchville High School, Norfleet received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and was also selected as a member of the U.S. Collegiate Wind Ensemble, a group of talented student musicians culled from across the United States given the opportunity to perform across Europe.
In 1994 he re-located to Richmond, VA where he received a tuition scholarship to attend Virginia Commonwealth University's Jazz Program. Past graduates include Steve Wilson, Victor Goines, Clarence Penn, Nate Smith and James Genus. Stephen graduated from VCU in 2000 with a degree in Saxophone Performance.

While in Richmond Stephen was thrust into the role of band leader when he created the internationally acclaimed Devil's Workshop Big Band. Garnering praise from around the globe, validation arrived when the band's debut CD, 'Idle Hands', received a four-star review in one of the nation's leading authorities on jazz, Downbeat Magazine.

In 2003 Norfleet moved to New York City to pursue a performance career. While in New York he became an award-winning saxophonist when he was chosen by ASCAP as a recipient of their Plus Awards Program, and in 2004 he was selected to enter the Graduate Program at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music.
While continuing his studies at MSM, he studied Saxophone with Bob Mintzer and David Liebman, Studio Techniques/MIDI/Digital Audio Composition with Richard Sussman, and collaborated with noted jazz artists such as Cecil Bridgewater, Steve Slagle, Phil Markowitz and Garry Dial.

In May 2006, Stephen completed his studies at Manhattan School of Music, earning a Master's degree in Jazz/Commercial Music.
Shortly thereafter, Stephen began his career as a much sought after instrumentalist and music educator. Most recently, though while still performing and recording, his focus has shifted to digital composition, as well as composing for film and moving images. He currently live in New York City.

*I feel that being an educator is a very important part of my life as a musician. I began teaching ten years ago, and have continued to do so in a variety of settings ever since. Part of my studies at Manhattan School of Music was Jazz Pedagogy, and I was also a MSM Educational Outreach Instructor, teaching saxophone and flute in the New York City public school system.

I accept students of all levels and ages, and though my primary instrument is the saxophone, I also teach clarinet, coach small and large jazz ensembles, improvisation, jazz history, group and private lessons and Logic Pro. Please visit the "Contact Me" page and send me an email if you'd like to know more.

-SN

EDUCATION

2006 Master of Music, Jazz & Commercial Music, Manhattan School of
Music
2000 Bachelor of Music, Performance, Virginia Commonwealth
University

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2007-08 The Steward School, Richmond (VA)
Artist In Residence
Classroom instruction in jazz improvisation

2006-08 Woodberry Forest School, Woodberry Forest (VA)
Woodwind Faculty
Private and classroom instruction in saxophone, clarinet, and jazz
performance
2004-06 Manhattan School of Music, New York (NY)
Outreach Instructor
Private and classroom instruction in saxophone and flute

2001-02 University of Richmond, Richmond (VA)
Visiting Artist
Classroom lectures/performances on the role of woodwinds in jazz
ensembles

PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE

Bandleader
2006-08 The Naked Truth (VA)
2004-06 Stephen Norfleet’s Noise (NYC)
2005-06 Stephen Norfleet Trio (NYC)
2001-04 Devil’s Workshop Big Band (Richmond, VA)

Big Band
2000 Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
2005 Valerie Ponomarev Big Band (NYC)
2001-04 Devil’s Workshop Big Band (VA)

Commercial
2006-08 Inner Rhythm (jazz/worldbeat quintet)
2001-03 Hobex (indie/soul rock sextet)
2000-04 Fighting Gravity (pop/ska sextet)

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

2006-07 Winner, ASCAP Plus Awards Program
2004 Four Star Album Review, Downbeat Magazine (February issue)

KEY SKILLS
Proficiency in Mac OSX, Logic Studio & Digital Performer