Aric Schneller
A
native of Missoula, Montana, Aric Schneller was a resident of Manhattan from
2000-2005, where he was an active performer and arranger. Since January of
2005, Aric relocated to Denton, Texas and is now pursuing a D.M.A. in Trombone
Performance from the University of North Texas.
Aric launched his career as an artist and clinician on trombone and voice when he debuted his trademark clinic "The Art of Singing the Trombone" for Lance Boyd - Aric's first trombone teacher and mentor - and his trombone studio at the University of Montana in 2003. He also performed as a guest artist with the University's Jazz I Ensemble on their Winter Concert. During the same tour, Aric was the featured guest jazz artist and composer for the Jazz in Da' Root Festival hosted by Hamilton High School's Shawn Thacker. Aric composed the big band chart, Blews in Da' Root, for the festival's honor jazz band.
A true Renaissance man, Aric's many talents have led to the development of his groundbreaking clinic, which combines singing and instrumental playing in both the jazz and classical idioms, demonstrating the inherent connection between the voice and trombone.
In October, Aric visited one of his alma maters, the University of North Texas, where he presented his clinic to one of the largest trombone studios in the country. Vern Kagarice, Tony Baker, and Jan Kagarice head the department. In addition to the clinic, he also taught private lessons, performed as a guest artist with the Two O'Clock Lab Band at the Syndicate Lounge, and presented clinics for Paris Rutherford's jazz arranging and vocal jazz courses. Aric recently presented his masterclass at the 2005 Eastern Trombone Workshop to rave reviews. Before that Aric was a guest artist at the University of Louisville, where he presented his masterclass and performed with the school's Jazz 2 Ensemble.
Aric first made trombone/singing history when he performed the Sülek Trombone Sonata for the 1994 International Trombone Workshop Awards Banquet at the University of Minnesota. Everyone in attendance naturally expected Aric to perform the work on trombone; instead, all were surprised when he came out on stage and sang the piece as if it had been written for the tenor voice. Of Aric's performance, George Broussard wrote in the ITA Journal: "A particular highlight was the unique rendition of the Sülek Sonata – lyrics by Daniel Riley – sung with great passion and drama by tenor and University of North Texas trombonist Aric Schneller." Such a "buzz" was made about Aric's performance that he was asked back to the following ITA Workshop, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, to sing the Sonata once again. To this day, trombonists still approach Aric about these performances, many of them inquiring about videos of the events.
Aric is an alumnus of both the UNT One O'Clock and Two O'Clock Lab Bands, in which he was a featured trombonist as well as arranger and writer. He also directed the Seven O'Clock Lab Band for two semesters as a UNT Teaching Fellow, and was subsequently asked to direct the Five O'Clock Lab Band for the following year, though he declined in order to pursue his operatic interests.
Aric has performed with such artists as John Fedchock, Diane Reeves, Randy Brecker, Chuck Findley, Bill Watrous, Pete Christlieb, Lou Marini, Bill Prince, David Taylor, Louis Bellson, Ashley Alexander, and Rich Matteson.
As he was finishing his master's degree in Jazz Studies in 1995, Aric enrolled in vocal lessons with Laurel Miller, former Metropolitan Opera Studio Singer and voice teacher at UNT. That same semester, the voice faculty urged him to audition for the UNT Opera program. He accepted the prestigious Winspear Opera Vocal Scholarship; thus, Aric began working toward his second master's degree in Voice and Opera. While at UNT, he also performed and recorded with the UNT Jazz Singers.
During the 1990's, Aric performed many works from the vocal/operatic repertoire, including the tenor roles of Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus and Don José in Peter Brook's La Tragédie de Carmen. He later transfered to Boston University where he completed his second master's degree in 1998.
In Boston, Aric studied with numerous renowned teachers and stage directors, including Sharon Daniels, Boston University; Phyllis Curtain, Boston University; Nico Castel, Metropolitan Opera; Stephen Lord, Boston Lyric Opera; Leon Majors; Will Graham; Mikael Melbye and Richard Cassilly.
Aric's first professional opera engagement was with the Ohio Light Opera Company, directed by James Stuart, during the summer of 1998. From 1998 to 2000, Aric lived and worked in Boston and sang for the Boston Lyric Opera Company.
Aric is an artist and clinician for Conn-Selmer, Inc. He plays Bach and Conn instruments exclusively. Read more about Aric at www.aricschneller.com.