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About
Barry Harris is an Internationally renowned Jazz Pianist, Composer and Teacher.
Dr. Harris has devoted his life to the advancement of Jazz and in the 1980’s founded the Jazz Cultural Theatre. For the past several decades Dr. Harris has been an exponent of the classic Jazz style that was developed by Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk and Coleman Hawkins.
Dr. Barry Harris receives frequent requests to appear as a guest lecturer by Universities and various musical venues all over the world. His lectures and interactive instrument and vocal workshops focus on the complete aspects of music including improvisation, harmonic movement and theory. His schedule includes lectures in the United States, Holland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Japan. When he is not traveling, Dr. Harris holds weekly music workshop sessions in New York City for vocalists, students of piano other instruments.
Recognition Awards
| Date | Awards | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| May 10, 2019 | Honorary Degree of Doctor of Musical Arts | Manhattan School of Music |
| Honorary Degree | Lewis College of Business | |
| Oct. 22, 2000 | Dr. Harris inducted into the American Jazz Hall of Fame for lifetime achievements & contributions to the world of Jazz | NJ Jazz Society Institute of Jazz Studies The State University of New Jersey-Rutgers |
| April 24, 1999 | 1999 Mentor Award | Manhattan Country School |
| Sept. 19, 1998 | Lifetime Achievements Award For Contributions To The Music World from the National Association of Negro Musicians | The High Cs of Westchester, Inc Branch, Tarrytown, NY |
| Sept. 15, 1998 | Congratulatory Letter as a Jazz Musician and Educator | U.S. White House |
| May 24, 1998 | Flo-Bert Award | NY Community Celebrates National Tap Dance Day at Town Hall |
| Oct. 26, 1997 | Dizzy Gillespie Achievement Award | The Bloomingdale Area Coalition |
| Sept. 27, 1997 | Recognition of Excellence in Jazz Music and Education | The World Stage and Leimert Park, California |
| Nov. 13, 1996 | Living Legacy Jazz Award Presented at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing in Washington D.C. | The Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Presented by Alan W. Cooper – Executive Director |
| Dec. 14, 1995 | Doctor of Arts – Honorary Degree | Northwestern University (board of Trustees) |
| Nov. 1995 | Special Presidential Award Recognition of Dedication and Commitment to the Pursuance of Artistic Excellence in Jazz Performance and Education | International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) |
| Sept. 19, 1995 | Honorary Jazz Award | House of Representatives |
| July 8, 1995 | Acknowledgment for Past and Present Contribution to Jazz | The Greater Jamaica Development Corp |
| May 15, 1995 | Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Service to Jazz Education | International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) – Tokyo, Japan |
| Nov. 29, 1994 | NY University SCE Jazz Fellow Award | New York University |
| 1993 | Jazz Camp – Jazz Masters Award | City Stages – Birmingham Festival |
| Oct. 24, 1993 | The Heritage Award | Cultural Crossroads Inc. Brooklyn, NY |
| April 25, 1993 | Musician & Humanitarian Award | Harlem School of the Arts |
| Feb. 21, 1993 | The John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie Memorial | Transfiguration Lutheran Church, Harlem , NY – Presented by Rev. Dr. James E. Gunther, Pastor |
| Dec. 5, 1992 | Family Award for Musical Excellence (FAME) | Manna House Workshops, Inc. |
| Feb. 24, 1992 | Contributions to Dance Award | T. Pratt & NY Dance Association |
| 1991 | North Sea “Bird” Award – Jazz Musician of the Year | Jazz Festival Congress Centre, The Hague Holland |
| June 1991 | Certificate of Appreciation Award for Devotion to Children and Education | P.S. 289 Chorus |
| March 24, 1990 | Recognition of Devotion to the Growth of Children | District 17 Choir – Brooklyn, NY |
| 1989 | Award For Excellence In The Arts | Manhattan Borough President: David N. Dinkins |
| Oct. 12, 1984 | A Tribute to Independent and Progressive Educators | NY Institute for Social Therapy and Research |
| Dec. 2, 1983 | Jazz Master Award | The Afro-American Museum, Philadelphia, PA |
| April 30, 1982 | For the Preservation and Proliferation of “The Jazz Heritage” | The Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey |
| Date | Awards | Organization |
Ensemble Concerts
| Concert Theme Title | Location and Date |
|---|---|
| Musical Magic – Magical Music | Symphony Space – Nov. 22, 2003 |
| A Beautiful Evening | Symphony Space – Nov. 30, 2002 |
| We Are One | Symphone Space – June 9, 2001 |
| Deep Love | Symphone Space – May 22, 1999 |
| A Rose A Wishing Well With Love to Cast a Spell | Symphone Space – Nov. 29, 1997 |
| Love Lingers On | Symphone Space – Oct. 19, 1996 |
| A Lovely Way To Spend an Evening | Symphone Space – May 28, 1994 |
| The Breeze’s Song | Manhattan Center – Dec. 15, 1989 |
| A Glimpse of the Beauty of Jazz | Symphone Space – May 17, 1988 |
| Jazz Ensemble in Concert | Symphone Space – June 17, 1986 |
| Jazz Ensemble in Concert | May 21, 1983 |
| Jazz Ensemble in Concert | Town Hall – April 30, 1982 |
| Jazz Ensemble in Concert | Sept. 1979 |