Brent Runnels, Director of Jazz Studies
The Gregory Kennith piano faculty chair
Brent Runnels has fashioned a broad and diverse musical career as a performer, arts administrator, educator and musical entrepreneur.
As a pianist Brent Runnels has won critical acclaim for his performances in the US, Europe, Australia and Russia as an orchestral and recital soloist, chamber musician, and jazz pianist. He won first prize in the New Orleans International Piano Competition and second prize in the Jacksonville Classical Piano Competition. Mr. Runnels has appeared as a soloist with such orchestras as the Atlanta Symphony, Prague Radio Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Kosice State Philharmonic, Ural Academic Philharmonic, Slovak Sinfonietta of Zilina, Florida Orchestra, Florida Symphony, Dubuque Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, Mansfield Symphony, Brevard Symphony and the Gwinnett Philharmonic. He has given recitals in London, Prague,New York, Chicago,Los Angeles,Sydney and Atlanta.
Chamber music has become a significant part of his performance career. He founded and performed with The Inman Piano Trio from 1998-2009. A CD with the late violinist Beth Newdome of the Herbert Howells violin sonatas has been released on Mark Records. He has performed extensively as a jazz pianist and has appeared with such jazz artists as Jon Faddis, Clark Terry, Gene Bertoncini, Lou Soloff, Laurie Holloway, Francine Reed, The New York Voices and Joe Gransden.
Brent Runnels maintains a strong commitment to arts education and support for the performing arts. He is Executive and Artistic Director of Jazz Orchestra Atlanta, Inc (www.jazzorchestraatlanta.org), a not-for-profit arts organization based in Atlanta that conducts summer jazz music camps and presents jazz performances. He has presented masterclasses for the European Piano Teacher’s Association in Prague, Brno and as guest artist at the Urals Summer International Academy of Arts in Novouralsk, Russia. Dr. Runnels is currently on the faculty at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA and musical director at Temple Sinai in Sandy Springs, GA. He has taught on the music faculties of Rollins College, Concordia College, the Manhattan School of Music and Georgia State University.
Brent Runnels trained with Constance Keene and John Browning as a scholarship student at the Manhattan School of Music in New York. There he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree as well as the school’s highest graduate honor, the Harold Bauer Award. Other pianists he has worked with are Karl Ulrich Schnabel, Jeanne-Marie Darré, Martino Tirimo, Richard Goode and George Driscoll. A native of Rockville, Maryland, he is a member of the international roster of Steinway Artists.
As a pianist Brent Runnels has won critical acclaim for his performances in the US, Europe, Australia and Russia as an orchestral and recital soloist, chamber musician, and jazz pianist. He won first prize in the New Orleans International Piano Competition and second prize in the Jacksonville Classical Piano Competition. Mr. Runnels has appeared as a soloist with such orchestras as the Atlanta Symphony, Prague Radio Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Kosice State Philharmonic, Ural Academic Philharmonic, Slovak Sinfonietta of Zilina, Florida Orchestra, Florida Symphony, Dubuque Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, Mansfield Symphony, Brevard Symphony and the Gwinnett Philharmonic. He has given recitals in London, Prague,New York, Chicago,Los Angeles,Sydney and Atlanta.
Chamber music has become a significant part of his performance career. He founded and performed with The Inman Piano Trio from 1998-2009. A CD with the late violinist Beth Newdome of the Herbert Howells violin sonatas has been released on Mark Records. He has performed extensively as a jazz pianist and has appeared with such jazz artists as Jon Faddis, Clark Terry, Gene Bertoncini, Lou Soloff, Laurie Holloway, Francine Reed, The New York Voices and Joe Gransden.
Brent Runnels maintains a strong commitment to arts education and support for the performing arts. He is Executive and Artistic Director of Jazz Orchestra Atlanta, Inc (www.jazzorchestraatlanta.org), a not-for-profit arts organization based in Atlanta that conducts summer jazz music camps and presents jazz performances. He has presented masterclasses for the European Piano Teacher’s Association in Prague, Brno and as guest artist at the Urals Summer International Academy of Arts in Novouralsk, Russia. Dr. Runnels is currently on the faculty at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA and musical director at Temple Sinai in Sandy Springs, GA. He has taught on the music faculties of Rollins College, Concordia College, the Manhattan School of Music and Georgia State University.
Brent Runnels trained with Constance Keene and John Browning as a scholarship student at the Manhattan School of Music in New York. There he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree as well as the school’s highest graduate honor, the Harold Bauer Award. Other pianists he has worked with are Karl Ulrich Schnabel, Jeanne-Marie Darré, Martino Tirimo, Richard Goode and George Driscoll. A native of Rockville, Maryland, he is a member of the international roster of Steinway Artists.
John Sandfort, Saxophone
John Sandfort is an established tenor saxophone player in the vibrant Atlanta jazz scene. After completing his Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, Sandfort was an active presence on the Chicago music scene performing with many of Chicago’s great jazz musicians including George Fludas, Jodie Christian, Jeff Parker, and many others. While in Chicago, he became a member of critically acclaimed Sony recording artist The Mighty Blue Kings, appearing on Sony release The Mighty Blue Kings Live From Chicago, as well as the independent releases A Christmas Album, and Alive in The City. With The Mighty Blue Kings, Sandfort has toured extensively in the United States and Europe, sharing bills with B.B. King, Ray Charles, Diana Krall, Tony Bennett, Buddy Guy, and many others.
After a brief stint in Buffalo, New York, Sandfort has made Atlanta his home since 2008. He recently released his debut CD Southbound with Hot Shoe Records. He was also featured on several albums by the Joe Gransden Big Band in addition to albums from John Driskell Hopkins, Justin Varnes, and others. Sandfort maintains a busy performance and touring schedule throughout the Southeast and is a featured soloist with The Jazz Legacy Project. In addition to his active performance schedule, Sandfort maintains a busy teaching studio as an instructor for saxophone, improvisation, and big band through the Rialto Youth Jazz program at Georgia State, Lovett High School, and Pace Academy.
After a brief stint in Buffalo, New York, Sandfort has made Atlanta his home since 2008. He recently released his debut CD Southbound with Hot Shoe Records. He was also featured on several albums by the Joe Gransden Big Band in addition to albums from John Driskell Hopkins, Justin Varnes, and others. Sandfort maintains a busy performance and touring schedule throughout the Southeast and is a featured soloist with The Jazz Legacy Project. In addition to his active performance schedule, Sandfort maintains a busy teaching studio as an instructor for saxophone, improvisation, and big band through the Rialto Youth Jazz program at Georgia State, Lovett High School, and Pace Academy.
