BIOGRAPHY Eddie Guttman, a native New Yorker, grew up in Forest Hills, Queens and began playing piano at age four.
After attending the academically acclaimed Bronx High School of Science, he went on to receive a Bachelor of Music (in
piano) from Binghamton University graduating Summa Cum Laude. Wishing to further his musical writing interests, he then
completed a Masters Degree in Composition from New York University where his principal teacher was Marc-Antonio Consoli.
While attending NYU, Eddie wrote a number a chamber works - many of which were performed by some of the most outstanding
players New York City has to offer, as members of the First Performance Ensemble Group. It was also at this time that he
began his professional career in theater as a Musical Director and Vocal Coach. Throughout his life, Eddie has always been
juxtaposing his love of playing and composing both musical theater and classical music. Since beginning his compositional studies, awards and commissions were to follow soon thereafter. At the tender age of
twenty-five, Eddie was selected winner of the Josef Alexander Award in Composition by New Music For Young Ensembles for his
piece "String Trio." Also that same year he was the recipient of a grant from the Meet the Composer Fund. In 1999, his piece
"Exploding Landscapes" for large chamber ensemble had its world premiere by North/South Consonance after being chosen for
performance by the group during its annual composition competition. In the year 2001, Eddie received his first big
commission to compose for NYC Ballet principal dancer Peter Boal. The piece was commissioned for solo cello by choreographer
and founder of Dance as Ever, Leigh Witchel. The piece had its premiere in October, 2002 at the Theater at John Jay College
with Mr. Boal and cellist Ariane Lallemond. As music director, Eddie served under that title for the New York premiere, showcase production of Rockwell
- the musical at the Blue Heron Theater starring Mark Jacoby as Norman Rockwell. The show was directed by Conrad John Schuck
and was choreographed by NYC Ballet principal dancer Robert LaFosse. For this production all music, including dance, was
newly arranged by Mr. Guttman as well. The show also included a teriffic supporting cast with such Broadway talent as
Stephanie Pope, Joel Blum, Jane Summerhays and Bob Fitch. Off-Broadway director credits include Peg O' My Heart and A Celtic Christmas, both at the Irish Repertory Theater. Other musical director credits
Guys and Dolls and Fiorello starring Clark Gesner at the Player's Club; Paint Your Wagon - A Lerner & Lowe Tribute (Bandwagon)
with Helen Gallagher, Lee Roy Reems, Emily Loesser and Mark Jacoby; Cole Porter's Wake Up and Dream (Bandwagon) with Lynnette
Perry and Christopher Hewett. He has also music directed numerous benfits with such stars as Emily Skinner, Scott Wise, Jerry
Lanning, Dody Goodman, Walter Willison and Clayborn Carry. Regional credits include musical direction at The Spirit of Broadway (Little Women),
Cape May Stage (The Last Five Years) and at the Downtown Cabaret Theater with such shows as Blood Brothers and Dames At Sea (both directed by Richard Sabellico) and Joseph... (directed by
Lynnette Barkley). Also Off Broadway, Eddie played piano for the York Theater's production of A Doll's Life and served as their music copyist
on that production as well for it's production of No Way To Treat A Lady by Douglas Cohen. Other NYC credits include playing
piano for the HOBY dinner honoring Gen. Colin Powell at the midtown Marriott Marquis with Larry King as host; pianist for
the "Meet The Artist Series" at Lincoln Center since '96 accompaning such artists as Anastasia Barzee, Eric Scott Kincaid, Mary Illes, Joel Robertson and
Frank Mastrone; I Do!, I Do! with Donna McKecknie (Queens Theater in the Park - Asst. MD). He has also worked as a pianist
with cabaret star Jill Corey and has performed for such distinguished company as Mayor Rudy Gulianni, Mayor Ed Koch and
Governor Christy Todd Whitman. Eddie has composed extensively for the theater writing music for such shows as Mistress Lidian (about Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry
Thoreau and Emerson's second wife), The Dolly Sisters, Cain and Abel and two children's musicals: Finding Home (book/lyrics by Betina Hershey) and Upside-Down City. He has also
written music for productions of Shakespeare's As You Like It and Macbeth. From the recording studio, Eddie can be heard playing on Tracey Moore's CD "Workshop, Volume I," as well as on his own CD
entitled "Exploding Landscapes." He also plays on the present demo album of Rockwell - the musical featuring Broadway star
Lilias White. Presently, he serves as a vocal coach for the graduate program at the New School for Drama. In the past he has also served as
a vocal coach at such learning institutions as Wagner College, Marymount Manhattan College, New York University and the
American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Feel free to contact me regarding Composition Projects, Music Direction, Private Vocal Coaching, Music Copying (song
transposition), or about any of my past or upcoming events. Eddie Guttman Email: eddieguttman@gmail.com |
