"Rocco Dapice is an excellent, highly skilled musician and educator who has a deft touch at the piano and a strong lyrical expression. He can cover all the bases."

-Phil Markowitz

Piano professor (graduate/doctoral), Manhattan School of Music; pianist, composer (4 years with Chet Baker; Saxophone Summit with Michael Brecker, Ravi Coltrane, Greg Osby, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, and Billy Hart; Toots Thielemans, Bob Mintzer, Mel Lewis, Marion McPartland, Phil Woods, Lionel Hampton, Nick Brignola, Joe Chambers, Miroslav Vitous, Joe Williams)

“Take the time to listen to Rocco’s music wherever and whenever you can, and hear the emergence of a wonderful pianist with a deep story to tell.”

-Rick Montalbano, Sr.

Piano professor at Colgate University, Hamilton College, Syracuse University; assistant director/pianist, Central NY Jazz Orchestra; pianist, composer (Chuck Mangione, Jaco Pastorius, Aretha Franklin, Clark Terry, Phil Woods, Nick Brignola, Sal Nistico, J.R. Monterose, Don Alias, Louis Bellson, Dave Liebman, Jimmy Heath, Lionel Hampton)

“Rocco Dapice is a phenomenally gifted pianist with a powerful and effortless ability to fit into any musical situation and instantly elevate the people around him. He has a deep history as a performer and educator, and the way that he articulates ideas with a profound kindness is extremely effective. He truly knows the music and has a genuine respect for the history and legacy of this great art form, and a vivid awareness of how the music continues to evolve in the present. He has my highest recommendation I can give, as any institution would be extremely lucky to have him as a part of their community.”

-Taylor Eigsti

2022 GRAMMY Award Winner, “Best Contemporary Instrumental Album”; pianist, composer (Chris Botti, Joshua Redman, Sting, John Mayer, Esperanza Spalding, Joshua Bell, Gretchen Parlato, Terence Blanchard, Snarky Puppy, Vanessa Williams, David Benoit, Chris Potter, Christian McBride, Julian Lage, Marian McPartland, Dianne Reeves, Vince Mendoza, Joey DeFrancesco, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Dianne Schuur, Joe Lovano, Brubeck Brothers)

“As a student, scholar, musician, and educator, Rocco Dapice is as good as it gets. Highest recommendation.”

-Bill Kirchner

1996 GRAMMY Award Winner, “Best Album Notes” (Miles Davis and Gil Evans: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings; Columbia/Mosaic); jazz history, composition, and score analysis professor at Manhattan School of Music, New School University, New Jersey City University; saxophonist and arranger; producer, compiler, and liner-notes writer/annotator for Blue Note, BMG, Columbia, GRP, Smithsonian, Verve, Warner Bros

“I would consider Rocco one of the top candidates to move our music forward. With a strong classical and jazz background he can readily and efficiently bring the message to the next generation. Rocco is also one of the most sensitive, well-mannered, and well-spoken people I have mentored in my years at Juilliard. When first working with him I quickly realized his strong level of discipline. He is a great team player with a huge future and would fit beautifully into any workforce. Highly recommended!”

-Mark Sherman

Jazz vibraphone and percussion professor at The Juilliard School; vibraphonist or percussionist (Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Lena Horne, Michael Bolton, Liza Minnelli, Mel Torme, Natalie Cole, Michael McDonald; Leonard Bernstein, Sir Georg Solti, Zubin Mehta, Herbert Von Karajan; numerous film and Broadway soundtracks)

"Rocco Dapice is a superior musician—an excellent pianist, a creative composer, and an improviser with the ability to adapt to all styles of music, whether it be classical, jazz, vocal or instrumental. He is dedicated to quality performance."

-Don Cantwell

International Association of Jazz Educators [formerly IAJE] and Berklee College John LaPorta “Outstanding Jazz Educator” award ('08); National Association of Concert Bands “National Mentor” award  (’12); Oneida County Historical Society “Living Legend” award ('12); Whitesboro, NY Central School Teachers Hall of Fame ('84)

“Rocco is a sincere searcher, a masterful pianist in more than one genre, a generous human in service to others, and a joy to work with.”

-Chris Rosenberg

Guitar and improvisation professor, Manhattan School of Music; Jazz Arts chair, MSM Precollege program; guitarist (13 years with Ornette Coleman's "Prime Time"; Don Cherry, Pat Metheny, Jerry Garcia, Harold Danko, John Mosca, Dick Oatts, Dewey Redman, Lou Reed, Steve Turre, Eliot Zigmund)

“Rocco Dapice is an excellent musician and a great composer, and I feel he would be a great asset as a teacher in any music school.”

-Mark Soskin

Piano professor, Manhattan School of Music; pianist, composer (14 years with Sonny Rollins; Pete Escovedo, Sheila E., Tom Harrell, Liza Minnelli, Cobham, George Russell, Herbie Mann, Claudio Roditi, Chris Potter, John Patitucci, Bill Stewart. Ravi Coltrane; Steve Smith's "Vital Information NYC Edition")

“Beyond superb technique, the most important aspect of Rocco’s artistry is the level of expression he achieves through performance. Listeners may feel as if he is speaking through the piano. Regardless of whether he is playing solo or in a trio, his attention to detail in preparing thoughtful and unique arrangements and his palpable passion for playing result in vivid and dynamic musical story-telling.”

-Reuben Allen

Jazz theory, arranging, and piano professor at The Juilliard School; Artist Diploma, Juilliard; BM, MM, Eastman School of Music; pianist, composer (Wynton Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Bernard Purdie, John Boutté, Bob Brookmeyer)

“Rocco’s teaching and entertainment skills deliver the medicine with a spoonful of sugar.”

-Marquis Laughlin

Actor; international dramatizer; founder/president, Acts of the Word

“Rocco is a serious and talented musician with a commitment to constantly growing and expanding his horizons. His congenial personality makes him a welcome addition to any project.”

-Richard Sussman

Film scoring and studio techniques professor, Manhattan School of Music; theme writer and scoring (Disney Network, Nickelodeon, ABC, NBC, CBS, Scholastic); pianist, composer (Lionel Hampton, Lee Konitz, Buddy Rich, Houston Person, Randy Brecker, Steve Slagle, Blood Sweat & Tears, David Sanborn, Carly Simon, Donna Summer)

“Rocco is a dedicated musician and interested in teaching young people to access their joy in music making.”

-Ruth Golden

Classical voice professor, Manhattan School of Music; leading soprano at the NYC Opera, 7 years (under Beverly Sills); adjudicator for the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions

“I was always in awe of Rocco’s native talent. He played with such lyricism that sometimes it would make me cry on the inside. He had such strong arms and great equipment, and played with such an energy and strong sense of rhythm. He is one of the few students I ever had that could have a successful career in both classical and jazz.”

-Frank Iogha

Piano professor, Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam; touring/recording pianist for Leonard Rose, cellist; 1950s Juilliard graduate from the studio of Rosina Lhévinne