Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Frank Bongiorno, professor of music and coordinator of Jazz Studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, has been named a 2011 Excellence in Teaching Award recipient by the Board of Governors of the 17-campus University of North Carolina system.

The award will be presented at the UNC Wilmington spring Commencement exercises for the College of Arts and Sciences Saturday, May 14.

"This is well-deserved recognition for Frank," said Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo. "The university has been privileged to have him on its faculty for many years. His passion for music and his love for teaching have left an indelible mark on UNCW's Department of Music. It would not be the strong, dynamic, student-focused department it is today without his influence."

Bongiorno has been a faculty member at UNCW for 29 years. His many titles include teacher, author, musician, director, composer and record producer. Bongiorno's teaching and music careers are decorated with professional honors and awards, including a UNCW Distinguished Teaching Professorship Award, the J. Marshall Crews UNCW Distinguished Faculty Award and a listing in the 2000 Outstanding Musicians of the 20th Century- 1st edition.

Although Bongiorno's passion for music is undeniable, teaching has always been at the heart of his professional life. Of his teaching career, Bongiorno said, "Teaching has been my passion since my days in high school when I first started tutoring younger students in music. Since I consider teaching and learning a reciprocate process between teacher and student, where ideas, concepts and information flows regularly from one source to another, over the years I have learned just as much from my students as I hope they have learned from me.

"I have grown as a teacher and musician over the years because of these experiences between my students and myself, and I look forward to continuing my growth as I continue teaching and working with students in the future."

Sherrill Martin, professor of music at UNCW, wrote in support of Bongiorno's nomination for the Board of Governors teaching award.

"For almost 30 years, Frank Bongiorno has demonstrated sustained excellence in teaching at UNCW," Martin said. His vast experience, training and knowledge, coupled with the ease and enthusiasm in which he communicates the subject matter to his students, personifies the essence of an excellent teacher. His accomplishments are a testament of his excellent work as a teacher and a credit to the teaching, performing and scholarly professions."

From 1994-2008, Bongiorno served as the chair of UNCW's Department of Music while maintaining a full teaching load. During his time as chair, the department's community visibility rapidly increased, producing more than 40 public concerts a year. In 1986, he created and developed all the courses for the university's highly regarded Jazz Studies curriculum. For 14 years he has been the director and workshop instructor for the UNC Wilmington Summer Jazz Workshop for high school students.

Having performed as a supporting musician for headliners such as Kenny Rogers, Aretha Franklin, Red Skelton, Johnny Mathis, and Frankie Vallie, it is evident that Bongiorno's dedication to his music is as solidified as his teaching. He has performed in more than 200 recitals, jazz concerts, concertos, chamber music ensembles, orchestras and operas in seven countries. Since 1982 he has been invited to perform at each World Saxophone Congress and in 2003 he was recognized as one of the "50 Important People in the Wilmington Arts Community" by the Star-News.

Bongiorno has written more than 150 articles and reviews in such journals as The Saxophone Symposium, The Saxophone Journal, Jazz Player, The National Association of College Wind & Percussion Instructors Journal and the North Carolina Music Educator. He is currently on the board of directors for the Cape Fear Jazz Appreciation Society and is the coordinating reviews editor for the North American Saxophone Alliance. He is a member of the College Music Society, Music Educators National Conference, North Carolina Music Educators Association and Phi Kappa Phi.

Bongiorno earned his Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance and Music Education from Ithaca College. He earned his Master of Music in Saxophone Performance with a minor in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas. He earned his Doctorate of Music from Indiana University in Saxophone Performance with cognate areas in music education and jazz studies.

Media contact:
Emily Jones, media relations, 910.962.3171 or jonesel@uncw.edu