Rich Shemaria is a New York City-based composer, celebrated for his collaborations with a wide range of iconic artists including Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, and the Brecker brothers. From 1994 to 1996, he directed Finland’s national radio big band, the UMO Jazz Orchestra, recording two albums and touring with legends like Natalie Cole and Dee Dee Bridgewater. His own album, 3:AM, features his New York big band, The Rich Shemaria Jazz Orchestra. Rich Shemaria is also the composer and pianist for Combo Nuvo, whose orchestrations have been performed at world-renowned venues and with international orchestras, including the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional of Costa Rica and the National Symphony of Mongolia.
An accomplished composer for concert and chamber ensembles, Rich Shemaria has written pieces like his “Concerto for Trumpet” and “Orchestra” and his recent “George Gershwin Medley,” which was commissioned by NYU and premiered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Beyond his composing, he is a dedicated educator who has held faculty positions at prestigious institutions like the Sibelius Academy and the New School. He currently teaches composition at New York University, where he has been a faculty member since 2003, shaping the next generation of musical talent.
Hi Rich Shemaria! Tell us about who you are and where you are from.
I’m a composer/pianist/orchestrator, originally from Southern California. I have been living and working in New York City since 1985.
How did you get your start in the music industry, and how long have you been in the industry?
I started playing music at an early age and started doing local gigs playing in rock bands as a teenager. In 1974, I moved to Orlando, Florida and worked as a professional musician at WDW and other venues. I moved to NYC in 1985.
What led you to choose this career path? What makes your story unique?
Music, more or less, chose me, and I never even considered doing anything else. More than a career path, it was a life path.
What was the first piece that you composed?
I was fifteen and wrote a small tune for a quartet that I was playing in. I couldn’t get the music out of my head and felt the need to write it out and convey it to others. I figured out how to transpose for the various instruments and when I heard it played, I was hooked by the composing bug.
You’ve worked with legends, such as Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder. What are some of the most memorable works that you’ve worked on?
The Tony Bennett Birthday Special on NBC in 2016 with Stevie & Lady G. The album Michael Brecker in Helsinki, The Prescription with SNL band leader Lenny Pickett.
You recently launched a blog where you bridge the gap between music and sports, particularly baseball. What was the inspiration behind it? What is the intersection between classical music and baseball?
The link that I refer to starts with the old adage about being a sports fan: ‘you don’t pick your teams, they pick you.’ Eventually, I compare it to becoming an artist in the same fashion: ‘I didn’t choose to become a musician, music chose me.’
How has your New York Mets fandom played a role in the blog?
They are the team that ‘chose’ me. I had a choice when I first moved to NYC and something about the NYM just drew me to them.
What are some of your goals for the future of the blog?
I will continue to speak on different topics offering my views from the composer’s perspective.
Do you have any role models or influences that have guided your journey?
Many! Outside of the obvious ones like the great classical composers (Stravinski, Copland, Hindemith, Richard Strauss, etc.) and jazz composers (Quincy Jones, Gil Evans, Oliver Nelson, Thad Jones, Bob Brookmeyer), I’ve also had many personal mentors, musicians and non-musicians alike.
What words of advice do you have for people with similar aspirations?
Follow your dreams.
Any collaborations or upcoming projects that we should currently be on the lookout for from you?
I am working closely with my longtime music colleague, Dave Schroeder, on a new version of our group, Combo Nuvo. We have added a string orchestra to it, and I am currently composing new pieces for this ensemble.
Where can we follow you on social media?
Websites: www.richshemaria.com / www.combonuvo.com
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Before you go, let’s ask you a couple of off-topic questions:
What is a hobby of yours?
For many years, I have been developing a hobby of mine: making homemade ice cream. I have created a lot of flavors (some retired, some still going). My personal favorite is vanilla. Everyone thinks vanilla is a metaphor for ‘plain,’ but in reality, it is a truly exotic flavor.
If you were not in the music industry, what would you be doing?
As a kid, I imagined my adult self as a professional sports player. I enjoyed playing basketball and football, but baseball was always my passion. Recently, this came full circle when Keith Hernandez (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMN2Wy-JwVe/) gave me a shout out regarding my new blog titled HOW UNDERDOGS, DEPRESSION, AND CREATIVITY SHAPE A LIFE (https://www.richshemaria.com/blog).
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
