Sten Hostfalt, Lincoln Center New York, NY 2002. Photo: LU.
Embodying a four-decade innovative contribution to music and music education, alongside leading musicians of our time, as a member of the New York music community since 1994, and Internationally since 1982. Composer, multi-instrumentalist and educator Sten Hostfalt is credited with one of the most riveting explorations of the microtonal world ever recorded (Signal to Noise), as a genuinely innovative musician that may be considered groundbreaking (Jazz Review), showing just how far an instrument can be altered to meet experimental and adventurous needs, taking you on a journey to a place where rules, quite simply, don't exist and anything is possible (All About Jazz).
First introduced to the teaching profession in 1977, as part of a high school vocational program, and in 2023 coming full circle by joining the New York City Department of Education teacher force. Mr. Hostfalt's music educator career have included serving as an instructor at The Royal College of Music in Stockholm, and Columbia University's Teachers College. Lecturing at New World School of The Arts at University of Florida, Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, and with Guillermo Klein's ensemble at Colegio Ward and Centro Cultural San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina. As well as work for New York Jazz Academy, and as a teaching artist for Midori & Friends, an organization supported by New York City Council on the Arts, NYC Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment of the Arts.
A recipient of a Master of Music Education Degree from Columbia University's Teachers College. And from the Department of Education, a New York State K-12 teacher certification in Music Education by way of The City University of New York CUNY at Brooklyn College. He also holds a Master of Music Degree in Jazz Composition, and a Graduate Diploma in Performance from New England Conservatory, as well as a Bachelors Degree in Professional Music from Berklee College of Music. All degrees received with honors, and/or scholarships and awards.
Through his private studio, or other schools or organizations, for the past thirty years, he has provided instructional assistance to students enrolled at academic institutions including: Juilliard School of Music, Columbia University, New York University, Rockefeller University, The Royal College of Music in Stockholm KMH, Fiorello LaGuardia High School for The Performing Arts, City University of New York, Mannes School of Music, Brown University, Boston University and Berklee College of Music. His students have been accepted into performing arts programs at Manhattan School Of Music, Eastman School of Music, The New School for Social Research, SUNY Purchase, State University of New York, University of Michigan School of Music, The Special Music School at Kaufman Center NYC, Bard College, Frank Sinatra High School for the Arts, The Jazz Academy at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Western Illinois University, and Berklee College of Music.
Publications featuring/representing Sten Hostfalt's pedagogical work: Fresh Music: Explorations With The Creative Workshop Ensemble
For Musicians, Artist and Teachers. by Jon Damian, YO Publications 2015. ISBN 978-0-9863105-0-8. Library of Congress Control
Number 2015901154. And Dictionnaire des musiques microtonales (1892-2013) Franck Jedrzejewski, L'Harmattan (France), 2014.
Membership: NAfME, NYSSMA, MEANYC, OAKE, AOSA, American Federation of Musicians Local 802, Guitar Foundation of America, the Audio Engineering Society, Society for Research in Music Education, The Society for Music Theory, Jazz Foundation of America, and BMI.
Collaborative work, recordings and concert appearances include mentors, legendary icons and pioneers of American Music
Jimmy Giuffre, and Paul Bley, and masters of Jazz Rob McConnell, Bobby Shew, Gary Burton, Peter Erskine, and Clare Fischer.
Principal instrument taught: Jazz guitar [guitar/plucked string instruments in improvised formats]
Secondary instruments taught: classical guitar, electric bass guitar, electronic/digital music production.
Tertiary instruments taught: mandolin, ukulele, piano, percussion, voice, alto saxophone, clarinet, flute.
Additional rudimentary functional instrument understanding: violin, viola, cello, trumpet, trombone, recorder,
and Arabic Oud. Also teaching: composition, arranging, music theory, ear training, ensemble, improvisation.
Composing-arranging for ensembles, creative development of repertoires, and curricular outlines, are features of Sten Hostfalt's work as a musician and educator. More recently exemplified by his Teachers College Columbia University internship at Fordham University at Jazz at The Lincoln Center, and the leadership of his own original projects including the 15-piece mixed winds, brass, strings and dance ensemble
Dimensional States. His direction of youth big bands at jazz festivals, and in competitions during the 1990s in turn draws on a decade-long membership in Jazz orchestras led by Phil Wilson, Herb Pomeroy, and Guillermo Klein. As well as conducting studies with George Monseur, (a student of Bernstein and Stokowski) and masterclasses with 20th century composers Toru Takemitsu, and Györgi Ligeti.
Educator philosophy: The representation of a longtime membership of the international creative music community,
collaborators, and the innovative traditions of pioneering mentors, means carrying a legacy of pragmatic, experiential,
and transformative processes of individual-collaborate creativity through improvisation and the power of imagination.
Embodying a four-decade innovative contribution to music and music education, alongside leading musicians of our time, as a member of the New York music community since 1994, and Internationally since 1982. Composer, multi-instrumentalist and educator Sten Hostfalt is credited with one of the most riveting explorations of the microtonal world ever recorded (Signal to Noise), as a genuinely innovative musician that may be considered groundbreaking (Jazz Review), showing just how far an instrument can be altered to meet experimental and adventurous needs, taking you on a journey to a place where rules, quite simply, don't exist and anything is possible (All About Jazz).
First introduced to the teaching profession in 1977, as part of a high school vocational program, and in 2023 coming full circle by joining the New York City Department of Education teacher force. Mr. Hostfalt's music educator career have included serving as an instructor at The Royal College of Music in Stockholm, and Columbia University's Teachers College. Lecturing at New World School of The Arts at University of Florida, Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, and with Guillermo Klein's ensemble at Colegio Ward and Centro Cultural San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina. As well as work for New York Jazz Academy, and as a teaching artist for Midori & Friends, an organization supported by New York City Council on the Arts, NYC Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment of the Arts.
A recipient of a Master of Music Education Degree from Columbia University's Teachers College. And from the Department of Education, a New York State K-12 teacher certification in Music Education by way of The City University of New York CUNY at Brooklyn College. He also holds a Master of Music Degree in Jazz Composition, and a Graduate Diploma in Performance from New England Conservatory, as well as a Bachelors Degree in Professional Music from Berklee College of Music. All degrees received with honors, and/or scholarships and awards.
Through his private studio, or other schools or organizations, for the past thirty years, he has provided instructional assistance to students enrolled at academic institutions including: Juilliard School of Music, Columbia University, New York University, Rockefeller University, The Royal College of Music in Stockholm KMH, Fiorello LaGuardia High School for The Performing Arts, City University of New York, Mannes School of Music, Brown University, Boston University and Berklee College of Music. His students have been accepted into performing arts programs at Manhattan School Of Music, Eastman School of Music, The New School for Social Research, SUNY Purchase, State University of New York, University of Michigan School of Music, The Special Music School at Kaufman Center NYC, Bard College, Frank Sinatra High School for the Arts, The Jazz Academy at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Western Illinois University, and Berklee College of Music.
Publications featuring/representing Sten Hostfalt's pedagogical work: Fresh Music: Explorations With The Creative Workshop Ensemble
For Musicians, Artist and Teachers. by Jon Damian, YO Publications 2015. ISBN 978-0-9863105-0-8. Library of Congress Control
Number 2015901154. And Dictionnaire des musiques microtonales (1892-2013) Franck Jedrzejewski, L'Harmattan (France), 2014.
Membership: NAfME, NYSSMA, MEANYC, OAKE, AOSA, American Federation of Musicians Local 802, Guitar Foundation of America, the Audio Engineering Society, Society for Research in Music Education, The Society for Music Theory, Jazz Foundation of America, and BMI.
Collaborative work, recordings and concert appearances include mentors, legendary icons and pioneers of American Music
Jimmy Giuffre, and Paul Bley, and masters of Jazz Rob McConnell, Bobby Shew, Gary Burton, Peter Erskine, and Clare Fischer.
Principal instrument taught: Jazz guitar [guitar/plucked string instruments in improvised formats]
Secondary instruments taught: classical guitar, electric bass guitar, electronic/digital music production.
Tertiary instruments taught: mandolin, ukulele, piano, percussion, voice, alto saxophone, clarinet, flute.
Additional rudimentary functional instrument understanding: violin, viola, cello, trumpet, trombone, recorder,
and Arabic Oud. Also teaching: composition, arranging, music theory, ear training, ensemble, improvisation.
Composing-arranging for ensembles, creative development of repertoires, and curricular outlines, are features of Sten Hostfalt's work as a musician and educator. More recently exemplified by his Teachers College Columbia University internship at Fordham University at Jazz at The Lincoln Center, and the leadership of his own original projects including the 15-piece mixed winds, brass, strings and dance ensemble
Dimensional States. His direction of youth big bands at jazz festivals, and in competitions during the 1990s in turn draws on a decade-long membership in Jazz orchestras led by Phil Wilson, Herb Pomeroy, and Guillermo Klein. As well as conducting studies with George Monseur, (a student of Bernstein and Stokowski) and masterclasses with 20th century composers Toru Takemitsu, and Györgi Ligeti.
Educator philosophy: The representation of a longtime membership of the international creative music community,
collaborators, and the innovative traditions of pioneering mentors, means carrying a legacy of pragmatic, experiential,
and transformative processes of individual-collaborate creativity through improvisation and the power of imagination.