She is an active educator and has held positions at the New School, Stanford Jazz Institute, Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music (Chennai, India), Jacob’s Pillow, Litchfield Jazz Camp, Western Connecticut State University and the New York Jazz Academy, and has led masterclasses around the globe. She was one of the youngest faculty members ever hired by Berklee College of Music, joining their piano department from 2005 to 2009.

Herbie Hancock and Wynton Marsalis are known to be vocal fans of her music. Herbie Hancock made this statement about her work:
“Carmen Staaf is a consummate jazz pianist with equal talent in composition, orchestration and arranging. I [am] impressed by her consciousness of blending instruments and musical elements from various cultures…She very much displays a complete knowledge of the history of her instrument but more importantly Carmen is constantly reaching beyond history and is not afraid to go into the unknown and challenge herself at every moment.”

The Carmen Staaf Trio is completed by Noah Garabedian on upright bass and Roberto Giaquinto on drums. Noah Garabedian holds a BA in Ethnomusicology from The University of California Los Angeles, and a Master of Music Performance from New York University. He is a 2022 Calouste Gulbenkian In View Grant recipient; 2021 Fellow with Creative Armenia and AGBU; 2022 and 2016 Fulbright Specialist Grant recipient; and 2011 International Society of Double Bass Competition finalist.

Italian drummer Roberto Giaquinto is currently based in New York City and is involved in a lot of projects such as the Jesse and Forever, Leandro Pellegrino Trio, Yakir Arbib Trio, Daniel Rotem Group, Mike Bono Trio, Adison Evans Quintet and Silvano Monasterios Group. He has formed the band Radio Intro with pianist Yakir Arbib, which is a duo of improvised music that also has a well-received album “Sketches on the Radio: Live in Canada.” Encouraged by his mentor Hal Crook, Giaquinto gave life to his own project in which he plays his original compositions. He recently discussed a thesis on “How to Improve Your Time, Feel and Sense of Rhythm,” for his master’s degree in jazz studies at the Aaron Copland School of Music of NYC, a program directed by Antonio Hart and with Dennis Mackrel.

The concert will include a short interview at 7:00 pm. The host of this series, Keigo Hirakawa will invite Ms. Staaf to share her musical history and inspirations. Join us for this unique musical experience on March 30, 2024 at 7:00 pm at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center at 301 West Main Street, Troy, Ohio. The concert is free due to the generosity of the citizens of Troy. Learn more about this concert and the Hayner at www.TroyHayner.org.

DIY Earrings and Pendant
with Connie Galey

Art teachers from schools throughout Troy select work completed by local art students for the exhibit. Students consider it an honor to have artwork chosen for this prestigious show. Teachers use a variety of mediums in the classroom to teach art history, aesthetics, criticism, and skill. This display illustrates the students’ artistic responses to the instruction they receive in the classroom. Members of the community are encouraged to come and see the talent and skill of our local art students that will be displayed throughout the historic Hayner Mansion.

The Troy-Hayner Cultural Center is proudly supported by the citizens of the Troy City School District through a local tax levy and by generous gifts to the Friends of Hayner.

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