Curtis Nowosad is a Winnipeg drummer and a recent graduate of the Jazz Studies degree program at the University of Manitoba, mentoring with master drummers Terreon Gully and Quincy Davis, and internationally-recognized jazz bassist Steve Kirby. He has performed in club and concert settings nationally and in NYC with musicians such as Stefon Harris, Miguel Zenón, Anthony Wonsey, and Dave Douglas.
Since graduating from the University of Manitoba Jazz Studies Program in 2011 Curtis has acomplished quite a lot. Not only has he become Winnipeg's first call drummer, he recorded his first CD, The Skeptic and The Cynic, which features Steve Kirby, Will Bonness, Jimmy Greene and Taylor Eigsti. Curtis composed and/or arranged every track on this CD. He also created his own record label and publishing company called
Know-A-Sad Music which has two CD's under it's belt: The Skeptic and The Cynic and Farewell 274: Winnipeg's Jazz Community Celebrates Aqua Books both of which Curtis produced himself.
In the spring of 2012 Curtis was invited to take part in the Summer Jazz Workshop at The Banff Centre, Directed by Dave Douglas and in March of 2013 Curtis became a member of an elite group of young jazz musicians to take part in the prestigious Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program at The Kennedy Centre in Washington DC.
In June of 2013 Curtis was awarded the Winnipeg Arts Council RBC Artist On The Rise Award at the annual Mayor's Luncheon for the Arts. The award is a cash prize of $2500 and
recognizes the demonstrated promise of an emerging professional artist in any discipline.
After auditioning and getting accepted to both The Julliard School and Manhattan School of Music, Curtis will go to New York in September 2013 to study jazz performance at the Master's level at Manhattan School of Music. He has been accepted as a Fellow of The Manhattan School of Music Jazz Institute. This designation comes not only with the honor of a full scholarship but also the honor of being singled out to represent MSM with his talent, overall level of play and commitment they feel will bring to the Jazz Arts Program.
Congratulations to Curtis and we wish you all the best as you embark on your New York adventure in September of 2013!
While I was a student in the U of M's Jazz Studies Program, I had the opportunity to work directly with world-class faculty, including drummers Terreon Gully and Quincy Davis, as well as Jimmy Greene, George Colligan, Derrick Gardner, Laurent Roy, director Steve Kirby, and many great visiting musicians such as Lewis Nash, Stefon Harris, and Miguel Zenón. The U of M Jazz Studies Program emphasizes the importance of the rich tradition of jazz, while exposing the students to its newest developments. Studying jazz at the U of M not only taught me a lot about music, but also taught me a lot about how to be a professional, and have a sustainable career in jazz, while continuing to grow as an artist
Curtis Nowosad
Watch this excellent profile on Curtis Nowosad made by Shaw TV June 2013
Listen to the Curtis Nowosad arrangement of the Michael Jackson hit The Way You Make Me Feel from his 2012 CD release The Skeptic and The Cynic
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