Born and raised in Veneto, Italy, Michele Fiorindo is a professional guitarist who has a thriving career working as a soloist, band leader, and sideman and certified music educator. He's played with groups ranging in styles from jazz, '80s alternative, reggae, ska, rock, classical, and Latin; he has followed the teaching of the great jazz pianist Barry Harris for more than 20 years.

After studying classical guitar with Christopher Kenniff at Kean University, Michele received a degree with honors in music education and classical guitar in 2007.  That study of classical music influenced Michele's style and technique, both on nylon string guitar and traditional jazz hollow body guitar.  

While working as a music educator in public school systems for 17 years, From 2007 to 2010, he taught guitar at Arts High School in Newark, NJ, where he was the Director of the Guitar Ensemble and the Latin-jazz band, having directed his ensemble on multiple performances in on and off campus.

Michele currently works as a freelance guitarist throughout the New York metropolitan area, directs strings and guitar ensembles in Union County NJ,  and is also a member of the New Jersey Guitar Orchestra, an ensemble that collaborates with world-class guitarists and performs in the tri state area in various festival-colleges (Kean-WPU-NJCU-Carnegie Hall).

Contact & Booking:   celeste.sd67@gmail.com      917-362-1202

 

 

michele fiorindo guitarist bANDLEADER teacher

🞂Mr. Michele Fiorindo 

Based in Union County, NJ - USA

917-362-1202 

Celeste.sd67@gmail.com 

Youtube.com/michelefiorindo 

Objectives 

To be a professional Musician and Music Educator, Band/Orchestra Leader, Guitar Instructor, that facilitates higher levels of accomplishment by  students, working in a positively driven education system; to inspire students and to entertain with high quality musical material. 

Education 

Guitar Performance Degree with Standard Teaching Certification k-12 (Kean University; 2004-2007) 
Barry Harris Jazz weekly Workshop (Manhattan, New York City; 1999-2021) 
Political Science Bachelor and Masters Degree (Padua, Italy; 1986-1993) 
Manhattan School of Music Summer Program (Castelfranco, Italy; 1994) 

Experience 

Music instructor/performing artist (Westfield's NJ Workshop for the Arts; 2024-current)

Guitar/Ukulele/Bass/Mandolin Instructor (Elefante Music, New Providence, NJ; 2005-current) 
Prek-8 Music teacher for Newark Public Schools (2015-2019) 
Instrumental/General music teacher, Elliott st. Elementary (2010-2014) NPS 
Instrumental Music Teacher, Arts High School ( 2007-2010)  Newark Public Schools 
ASTA-NJ Clinic “Fingerstyle Jazz” @ Kean University (August 2007) 
Guitar Instructor, (CalderoneSchoolofMusic, Springfield, NJ; 2003-2006) 
Head of Guitar Department/retail (Rondo Music, Union, NJ; 2000-2004) 
Freelance Musician/guitarist/Bandleader ( Italy, 1985-1998; NYC area 1998-present) 

Skills 

Performer/Educator of Classical, Latin and Jazz music (Guitar-Bass-Band-Orchestra) 
Music Technology/ Computer Music Specialist (Notation, recording and instruction softwares) 
Multilingual: Italian (native), English (fluent), Spanish (Ok), Portuguese (Basic), German (basic) 

Accomplishments as Guitar program director @ Arts High School  

Doubled guitar program size during the last 4 years of employment, here’s a sample of student’s performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QAvDbR0ucQ. Outreach for beginner Guitar (Little Kids Rock certified). 

Organized Master Classes led by Kean University faculty members, and their students (2007-2009).                                           Organized Master Classes led by NJCU faculty members, and their students (2009-20010).                                                                     As Director of the Arts High Latin Band : awarded with a certificate of appreciation by the district attorney office, for  the performances of at official events during the Hispanic Heritage month (Oct 2008).                                                                                                                                        Prepared 2 guitar students to be selected as finalists at the NJ Star Ledger Scholarship (Apr. 2010).  

Accomplishments as a performing artist (Guitarist) 

As a member of The NYC Classical Guitar Orchestra, he performed at Carnegie Hall in June 2019, and recorded original compositions commissioned specifically for the large ensemble, created by prominent world renowned composers (Andrew Yor, Peter Leisner, and several others). In 2024, after joining the NJ Guitar orchestra, performed at most local Campuses and @ Carnegie Hall's Progressive nusicians night (7/1/2024). After creating a private middle school guirar ensemble, Michele is preparing some of the students to audition for the NJMEA honors guitar ensemble, and the group succesfully premered at Kean University's Guitar Fest on June 15, 2024  

As leader of  Michele Fiorindo Guitar Trio/quartet, performing Jazz and Latin music in the NYC metro area for over 20 years, an average of 30 performances a year, featuring Haruna Fukazawa (fl.) and Alex De Lazzari (ts.). As solo performance, proficient in Classical, fingerstyle jazz, Ethnic music styles, performing an average of 20 times per year in the nyc area. As Sideman (performing-recording), featured in other bands, including Dave Arndt Quartet, Billy Bang Quarter, Yasko Coco band, Off Broadway musical productions (Chatham Hs), Diane Garisto/Southside Johnny project, etc.                                 

Recordings, as guitarist 

“Ritmi Globali Contest winner” ,Positive Men - 1994 
“NYC studio”, Michele Fiorindo Trio - 2000 
“Day by Day”, Rebecca Baumann Quartet - 2002 
“Live”, Kean University Big Band, directed by Andy Fusco- 2005 
“A Taste of Heaven”, with vocalist Maricarmen Rodriguez - 2009 
“Choro and More” duet with Japanese flutist Haruna Fukazawa – 2014  
“Unconventional Standards”, duet with renowned singer Diane Garisto (Steely Dan, Paul Simon)-2020 

 

Some Venues where performed 

Carnegie Hall (NYC)2019, with the NYCGO 
The Metronome, Cleopatra’s Needle (NYC) 
Prudential Center Arena, Newark (NJ) - Kean Hall, Union (NJ)