Sarina Bachleitner

Biography

Sarina Bachleitner received a bachelor’s degree in jazz composition from the Manhattan School of Music and a master’s degree in jazz studies from the University of North Texas, where she served as a teaching fellow for Grammy-nominated composer Rich DeRosa. Bachleitner has devoted three decades of jazz education and performance into the folds of mainstream academia.

At the age of 20, she cofounded the committee that launched the Discover Jazz Festival in Burlington, Vermont. She has served as the director of the Manhattan School of Music Jazz Preparatory Division and is the founding director of The Jazz Apprenticeship Program, which recently ran its 17th season at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Educational Facility. Bachleitner has performed as a professional jazz pianist in both New York City and abroad with several bands under her leadership.

In 2017, Bachleitner was commissioned to compose for the King of Thailand and was the recipient of the University of North Texas Music Entrepreneurship Award for innovative jazz programming. As a performer, Bachleitner has shared the stage with Rodney Jones, Clark Terry, Anthony Braxton, Quincy Jones, Mo Holmes and the Pioneers, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, and the Stan Rubin Big Band.

Education

• B.M., Manhattan School of Music
• M.M., University of North Texas

Areas of Expertise

Composition, songwriting, jazz, piano