Pianist & singer plays Christmas jazz and standards

November 28, 2011 (Charlotte, NC) – Jazz pianist/composer/vocalist Marc Hoffman will perform five dates beginning this Friday, December 2nd, at Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge as part of their holiday celebration. Additional dates are Dec. 4th, 10th, 26th & 17th. All performances are from 2:00 to 5:30 PM.

Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge is located at 10000 Ballantyne Commons in Charlotte, NC.

“I love the music of the season and am excited to bring my own arrangements and standards to Ballantyne,” Hoffman says. “The resort goes all-out for the holidays!”

For these performances Marc will feature several tunes from his own Christmas CD, Christmas Time. Tracks from the CD can be heard on Marc Hoffman’s website, www.marchoffman.com, and at CDBaby, Amazon, and iTunes.

Marc’s recent performances venues include Childress Vineyards in Lexington, NC, an invitation-only concert in Charleston, SC and at the Ashe County Performing Arts Center in Jefferson, NC.

For more information on Marc’s recordings and performances, visit www.marchoffman.com.

About Marc Hoffman:

Composer/pianist/vocalist Marc Hoffman received his degree in composition from the North Carolina School of the Arts and studied film composition at USC. He also attended The Dartington International Summer School of Music in Devon, England. His composition teachers have included John Corigliano, Leo Arnaud, Neil Hefti, and Sherwood Shaffer. Marc performs across the US and abroad, as a soloist and with his jazz trio. A member of BMI and the American Composer’s Forum, he is also founder and artistic director of the Salisbury School of Music. Marc lives in Salisbury, NC with is wife, Anne, and their daughter August.

Quartet brings original jazz and standards to the City Club of Rock Hill

September 27, 2011 (Charlotte, NC) – Jazz pianist/composer/vocalist Marc Hoffman and his quartet will return to the City Club of Rock Hill this Friday, September 30, from 7 to 11 PM as part of 7th Annual Blues & Jazz Festival. The City Club of Rock Hill is located at 140 Main Street in downtown Rock Hill, SC.

For this performance, Hoffman will be joined by Chris Garges on drums, Terry Peoples on bass and Tim Gordon on sax.

“This is a wonderful festival and we are excited to be back for 2011,” Hoffman says. “It’s one of the best organized events I’ve had the pleasure of working on.”

For this performance Marc will feature several tunes from his upcoming Virillion Music releases, I Will, and Late September. Previous releases include last year’s Curioso,which featured the track, “Hefti” , a tribute to one of Marc’s composition teachers, Neal Hefti. Tracks can be heard on Marc Hoffman’s website, www.marchoffman.com, and at CDBaby, Amazon, and iTunes.

The Rock Hill event follows recent performances at Childress Vineyards in Lexington, NC, an invitation-only concert in Charleston, SC and at the Ashe County Performing Arts Center in Jefferson, NC.

Now in its seventh year, the Blues & Jazz Festival draws thousands of people from York County and throughout the southeast, showcasing some of the best blues and jazz entertainment in the region. Presented by the Arts Council of York County, the festival runs Thursday, September 29 through Saturday, October 1. For information on all performances and to purchase tickets online, visit www.yorkcountyarts.org.

For more information on Marc Hoffman, visit www.marchoffman.com.

About Marc Hoffman:

Composer/pianist/vocalist Marc Hoffman received his degree in composition from the North Carolina School of the Arts and studied film composition at USC. He also attended The Dartington International Summer School of Music in Devon, England. His composition teachers have included John Corigliano, Leo Arnaud, Neil Hefti, and Sherwood Shafffer. A member of BMI and the American Composer’s Forum, he is also founder and artistic director of the Salisbury School of Music. Marc lives in Salisbury, NC with is wife, Anne, and their daughter August. You can find him on Facebook under Marc Hoffman Music.

NC jazz pianist/vocalist/composer on “Music in the Vineyards” series

September 19, 2011 (CHARLOTTE, NC) – Virillion Music recording artist Marc Hoffman will perform this Saturday, September 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m at Childress Vineyards in Lexington, NC as part of the “Music In the Vineyards” series.

Hoffman, a NC native will include original instrumental and vocal jazz in his performance, as well as standards, Broadway and pop.

“I’m really excited to be back for a second performance on the “Music in the Vineyards” series,” Hoffman said. “Childress Vineyards is a beautiful and fun venue.”

Marc’s CD, Curioso, a compilation of eclectic original jazz tunes was released last year. His inspirations for various tracks ranged from Neal Hetfi to David Benoit and Jean Luc Ponty. The first airtime Curioso received was on WWOZ in New Orleans. Tracks from the CD have since been played on radio stations in Italy, the UK, and all over the US.

Childress Vineyards is located at Exit 89 off I-85, on Hwy 64 W.

Marc’s music is available on iTunes, Amazon.com and CDBaby.

About Marc Hoffman:

Composer/pianist/vocalist Marc Hoffman received his degree in composition from the North Carolina School of the Arts and studied film composition at USC. He also attended The Dartington International Summer School of Music in Devon, England and the Univ. of S. California. His original jazz and concert music has been performed all over the US and in the UK, France and the Netherlands, Marc performs over 100 dates per year as a soloist and with his trio. A member of BMI and the American Composer’s Forum, he is also founder and artistic director of the Salisbury School of Music. He lives near Charlotte, NC with is wife, Anne, and their daughter August. For more information about visit www.marchoffman.com. Marc’s music is available on iTunes, Amazon.com and CDBaby.

Jazz composer to premiere new work

September 7, 2011 (CHARLOTTE, NC) – Composer/pianist Marc Hoffman will perform on the Ashe County Arts Council’s “Tickling The Ivories” concert of piano music in the Ashe County Civic Center in West Jefferson, this Saturday, September 10, beginning at 7.30 PM.

Hoffman will perform several original jazz pieces and will premiere a new piece from his soon-to-be-released CD, Late September. For the “Tickling The Ivories” concert, Hoffman will perform an improvised take on his own composition.

Marc Hoffman is well known throughout North Carolina for his frequent live solo, duo, trio and quartet performances in various venues and as the artistic director of the Salisbury School of Music in Salisbury, NC. He is a regular performer in the Founders Hall concert series in uptown Charlotte and on September 30th will return with his quartet to Rock Hill, SC for the Olde Town Jazz & Blues Festival. Marc’s original concert and jazz pieces have been performed across the US and in the UK, France and The Netherlands.

The September 10th concert will mark his fourth year in the “Tickling The Ivories” concert in West Jefferson, where his family maintains a vacation home.

“I look forward to this concert every year,” Hoffman said, “and I am especially grateful to Jane Lonon, executive director of the Ashe County Arts Council for inviting me back this year.”

“Tickling The Ivories” features a diverse repertoire from professional and student pianists.

Advance tickets are available at the Ashe Arts Center or by phone: 336-846-ARTS. Tickets will also be available at the door. Ticket prices are $12 adult and $5 students. For more information on the Arts Council, go to www.ashecountyarts.org.

The Ashe County Civic Center is located at 962 Mt. Jefferson Road, West Jefferson, NC 28694. For more information, visit www.ashecivic.com.

For more information Marc Hoffman, visit www.marchoffman.com.

Lullaby Link calls Sleep, Little Child “a lovely book.”

August 26, 2011 (CHARLOTTE, NC) – Sleep, Little Child, author/composer Marc Hoffman’s new children’s book with accompanying CD, has received a glowing review from Amy Robbins-Wilson, aka “The Lullaby Lady,” on the blog, Lullaby Link.

Calling the book and CD “lovely” Robbins-Wilson writes: “If you are looking for a wonderful bedtime message to read or sing before prayers this book is a true gift. Marc Hoffman is a wonderful musician who has put his loving energy into these pages.”

After reading Sleep, Little Child, Robbins own child made the comment that, “When you’re not with me mom, I know that angels are watching over me.” Robbins-Wilson added, “The book explains how God is watching over you while you sleep so you don’t have to worry about anything.”

Sleep, Little Child is based on an original lullaby Hoffman wrote years before he decided to turn it into a picture book. It answers a child’s question about who will watch over him through the night after his parents are asleep. The author performs the lullaby on the accompanying CD. Other tracks include spoken-word readings and an all-instrumental version.

She concludes: “Sleep, Little Child is a wonderful addition to your child’s library and a great addition to your night time reading.”

Sleep, Little Child is published by Virillion Music of Salisbury and retails for $17.95. It is currently carried by The Literary Bookpost in Salisbury, NC, and on Amazon. For more information, visit www.sleeplittlechild.com and the book’s Facebook page. For more information about Marc Hoffman, visit www.marchoffman.com

Marc Hoffman Returns to Charlotte Venue

August 10, 2011 (CHARLOTTE, NC) — Virillon Music recording artist Marc Hoffman returns to Founder’s Hall on Friday, August 12, when he performs during the Friday Acoustic Concert Series from noon to 2 p.m.

Hoffman, a composer, pianist and vocalist, has been performing at Founder’s Hall since 2004. Along with original jazz compositions, both instrumental and vocal, his upcoming solo performance will include his own arrangements of standards, ballads and pop tunes.

Gary Dalkin, editor of Film Music on the Web, has described Hoffman’s original music as “somewhere between the contemporary approach of Windham Hill with a nod in the direction of Aaron Copland…Marc Hoffman may just be too talented for his own good. Hoffman’s gifts range from contemporary classical and film composer to jazz singer-songwriter.”

In 2010, Hoffman released his all-original CD “Curioso” to critical acclaim. Previous CDs include “Christmas Time” (2006), a jazz-flavored CD with new tunes and new arrangements of traditional music; “Long Way Home” (2003), He is currently recording two new CDs, one instrumental and one vocal with his trio.

Hoffman’s upcoming solo show is free and open to the public. Founder’s Hall is located at 100 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28255, at the Bank of America Corporate Center.

About Marc Hoffman: Composer/pianist/vocalist Marc Hoffman received his degree in composition from the North Carolina School of the Arts and studied film composition at USC. He also attended The Dartington International Summer School of Music in Devon, England. His composition teachers have included David Ott, Leo Arnaud, Neil Hefti, and Sherwood Shaffer. A member of BMI and the American Composer’s Forum, he is also founder and artistic director of the Salisbury School of Music. He lives in Salisbury with his wife, Anne, and their daughter August.

Contacts: Marc Hoffman, Virillion Music, 704-640-6564, marc@marchoffman.com;
Anne Cote (Marble Arch PR), publicist, 704-450-8739, pr@marchoffman.com

Marc Hoffman and John Shaughnessy bring variety to downtown Salisbury.

July 24, 2011 (CHARLOTTE, NC) – Virillion Music recording artist Marc Hoffman and duo partner John Shaughnessy will bring an evening of pop music versatility to The Blue Vine in downtown Salisbury on Friday, July 29, from 9-11:30 p.m.

This seasoned duo have prepared a fun and diverse playlist for the evening’s performance. “We’ll be covering a lot of ground, musically speaking,” Hoffman said. “Everything from Stevie Wonder Stevie Ray Vaughan. These days I mostly play jazz, so it’s a treat to dust-off the pop classics.”

As a pianist and vocalist, Hoffman, a Salisbury native, regularly performs a repertoire of original jazz and his own arrangements of standards, ballads, and. Marc most often performs with his trio, but works as a soloist and with other ensembles as well at concerts, festivals, and other public and private events.

At home on upright or electric bass, Shaunessy just completed a run in the pit for the Broadway touring production of Hairspray. “John and I don’t get to work together too often,” Hoffman says, “but it’s such a treat when we do. His versatility fits my chameleon-like musical tastes.”

The Blue Vine Wine Shop & Wine Bar is located at 209 S. Main Street, Salisbury. For more information, visit www.thebluevine.com.

For more information Marc Hoffman, visit www.marchoffman.com.

About Marc Hoffman:

Composer/pianist/vocalist Marc Hoffman received his degree in composition from the North Carolina School of the Arts and studied film composition at USC. He also attended The Dartington International Summer School of Music in Devon, England and the Univ. of S. California. Marc performs over 100 dates per year as a soloist and with his trio and other ensembles. His composition teachers have included David Ott, Leo Arnaud, Neil Hefti, and Sherwood Shaffer. A member of BMI and the American Composer’s Forum, he is also founder and artistic director of the Salisbury School of Music. He lives near Charlotte, NC with is wife, Anne, and their daughter August.

About John Shaughnessy:

John Shaughnessy has an extensive performing and teaching resume.
He has an A.S. in Electric Bass Performance from Villa Maria College where he studied with former Spyro Gyra bassist Jim Kurzdorfer; a B.A. in Music from SUNY Buffalo; and Jazz theory and improv studies with Frank Gerard. He was also the winner of the Audrey Schillo Performance Scholarship in 1990.

John has played all over Charlotte and the Northeastern US, and toured Alaska, Canada, South America and the Caribbean. He has played virtually every style of popular music from heavy metal to big band and all points in between. He has also played with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, does studio session work as a performer and producer/engineer, and composes music for his own bands.

Jazz and pop favorites are on the playlist

July 11, 2011 (SALISBURY, NC) – The Marc Hoffman Trio, led by composer/recording artist Marc Hoffman, will perform for the Krazy Night Out family festival in downtown Salisbury this Friday, July 15, from 6:00-9:00 p.m.

With Terry Peoples on bass and Rick Murray on drums, the trio will serve up many songs from Hoffman’s all-original jazz CD, Curioso, as well as other jazz and pop favorites.

Curioso features several tracks inspired by other jazz musician’s works. “Hefti” channels the light, lyrical work of Hoffman’s former composition professor, the late Neal Hefti. “Pontified” is Hoffman’s take on the late ‘70s music of Jean-Luc Ponty. “Introspective” is reminiscent of David Benoit’s smooth jazz. And Vince Guaraldi’s influence is apparent on the title tune, “Curioso.”

Virillion Music released the CD in 2010. Tracks can be heard on Marc Hoffman’s website, www.marchoffman.com, and at CDBaby, Amazon, and iTunes.

Marc will perform on July 30th at The Blue Vine in downtown Salisbury.

Krazy Night Out is a free family event featuring music, food, free trolley rides, the Ghost Walk and other entertainment, as well as late-night shopping throughout downtown Salisbury. Fun for kids includes inflatables, face painting, and more.

Downtown Salisbury, Inc., sponsors Friday Night Out events each month from April through October. “Many thanks to Betz McKeown and Downtown Salisbury for having us back this year,” Hoffman said.

For more information on Marc Hoffman, visit www.marchoffman.com.

Jeremy Vess joins guitar studio staff

June 20, 2011 (SALISBURY, NC) – Local musician and songwriter Jeremy Vess has joined the staff of the Salisbury School of Music. Vess will be teaching beginning guitar students and will also over-see the Band Jam program for teens which meets on Saturdays at the school.

“Jeremy is a wonderful performer and songwriter who’s music has been gaining popularity in NC and beyond for the past year,” said the school’s founder and artistic director, Marc Hoffman. “He is a natural when it comes to working with youth and we are excited to have him at the school,” Hoffman added.

Jeremy received a full scholarship to study music with a concentration on voice with at Chowan College in NC. He graduated cum laude in 2002.

Jeremy has been teaching beginner guitar lessons for some time now and enjoys the interactions with students and watching their progress. Jeremy’s motto in teaching is “Did you learn anything and did you have fun,” believing that a student is going to learn what he or she enjoys and is dedicated to learn.

Jeremy has been leading worship teams for over ten years at various churches in the area. He is currently leading worship at Destiny City, a new church plant in Salisbury. He has five years experience in full-time youth ministry, working with teens and young adults.
Jeremy and his wife Jessica live in Salisbury and together enjoy songwriting, performing, and training musicians and leaders for the next generation.

In 2010 Jeremy released his first four-song recording titled, “Feather in the Wind” and an accompanying music video for the title track came out the following year. In early 2011, his band VESS released its first single “Wild Horses,” now available on iTunes. Jeremy continues writing and recording, walking the line between folk and rock with songs that carry a message.

About the Salisbury School of Music:

The Salisbury School of Music offers private and group instruction in vocal and instrumental music for all ages, and classes in a variety of music topics. All classes emphasize music theory along with technique in order to develop the “whole” musician. All instructors are professional musicians and experienced teachers, most with advanced degrees. The music school also encourages student teachers. The studio is located on the second floor of the historic Meroney Theater, 213 S. Main Street, in Salisbury, NC 28144, For more information, visit www.salisburyschoolofmusic.com or contact Marc Hoffman at 704-633-8188.

About Marc Hoffman:

Composer/pianist/vocalist/author Marc Hoffman received his degree in composition from the North Carolina School of the Arts and studied film composition at the University of Southern California. He also attended The Dartington International Summer School of Music in Devon, England. A member of BMI and the American Composer’s Forum, he is also founder and artistic director of the Salisbury School of Music. He lives in Salisbury with his wife, Anne, and their daughter August. For more information Marc Hoffman and his work, visit www.marchoffman.com, He is also available on Facebook.

Jazz pianist and vocalist returns to downtown Charlotte venue

May 23, 2011 (CHARLOTTE, NC) – Virillon Music recording artist Marc Hoffman will bring his original jazz to Founders Hall on Friday, May 27, when he performs during the Friday Acoustic Concert Series from noon to 2 p.m.

Hoffman, a composer, pianist and vocalist, has been performing at Founder’s Hall since 2004. Along with original jazz compositions, both instrumental and vocal, his upcoming solo performance will include his own arrangements of standards, ballads and pop tunes.

Gary Dalkin, editor of Film Music on the Web, has described Hoffman’s original music as “somewhere between the contemporary approach of Windham Hill with a nod in the direction of Aaron Copland… Marc Hoffman may just be too talented for his own good. At least for a world that expects artists to do one thing then keep doing it over with minimal variation equating to maximum commercial gain. Hoffman’s gifts range from contemporary classical and film composer to jazz singer-songwriter.”

Hoffman’s upcoming solo show is free and open to the public. Founder’s Hall is located at 100 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28255, at the Bank of America Corporate Center.

In 2010, Hoffman released his all-original CD “Curioso” to critical acclaim. Previous CDs include “Christmas Time” (2006), a jazz-flavored CD with new tunes and new arrangements of traditional music; “Long Way Home” (2003), a collection of original piano solos; and “Dream of God” (2003), a collection of original and traditional Christian songs. He is currently preparing for the release of a new jazz CD this spring.

About Marc Hoffman: Composer/pianist/vocalist Marc Hoffman received his degree in composition from the North Carolina School of the Arts and studied film composition at USC. He also attended The Dartington International Summer School of Music in Devon, England. His composition teachers have included David Ott, Leo Arnaud, Neil Hefti, and Sherwood Shafffer. A member of BMI and the American Composer’s Forum, he is also founder and artistic director of the Salisbury School of Music. He lives in Salisbury with is wife, Anne, and their daughter August.