Jose L. Encarnacion (He/Him/His)


Jose Encarnacion directing the LU Jazz Band
Phone
920-832-6629
Campus Address
Music-Drama Center
B25
Conservatory of Music
Title
Associate Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies
About

José L. Encarnación leads the jazz improvisation classes, directs the LU Jazz Band, coaches jazz small groups, teaches applied jazz saxophone, coordinates the jazz performance program and Chairs the Jazz & Improvisational Music Department and The Bachelor of Musical Arts Program at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. He studied saxophone, flute and clarinet at the Free School of Music in San Juan, Puerto Rico, completed his Bachelor of Music degree at the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he graduated magna cum laude, and received his Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music (including the 2002 Schirmer Prize in Jazz Performance). He previously served as Assistant Professor of Jazz Saxophone at the Eastman School of Music, Instructor of Saxophone, Latin Jazz Performance Workshop, and Youth Saxology for the Eastman Community School, and as Jazz Ensemble Conductor at the Rochester (NY) School of the Arts.

He has performed jazz, salsa, and Latin music with the Bob Mintzer Big Band, the Dave Rivello Ensemble, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Wisconsin Jazz Orchestra, Gilberto Santarosa, Roberto Rohena, Bobby Valentin, Domingo Quinones, Israel “Cachao" Lopez, Tito Puente, Danilo Perez, Dave Valentin, Giovanni Hidalgo, Batacumbele, Humberto Ramirez, and David Sanchez. His pops performances include appearances with the Temptations, Dianne Reeves, Natalie Cole, Doc Severinsen, Lou Rawls, New York Voices, Brasilia, Ann Hampton Calloway, and the symphony orchestras of Milwaukee, Rochester, and Green Bay.

Education
Free School of Music in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Berkeley School of Music - BM, Music Performance
Eastman School of Music - Masters of Music - Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media
Years at Lawrence
2011-present