- Director, Briarcliff Music & Related Arts

Boston University: B.S.                                                                                                            New York University: M.A.                                                                                                 New School for Social Research, Graduate Faculty (Department of Anthropology)

John began teaching saxophone at the age of sixteen. He played with Jaki Byard’s big band for three years in the late 1950’s while attending Boston University and with bassist Buell Neidlinger, pianists Rudy Black, Mark Levine and Myron Schwartzman among others.

In the early 1960’s, John set aside his musical ambitions to do further graduate work and to teach anthropology and history in public schools.

He continued playing and teaching music part-time until he retired from the Byram Hills Schools in 1993. He then returned to his saxophone and flute to perform and to teach music full time.

He opened Briarcliff Music & Related Arts and The Yoga Center in April of 2002.

John has studied with Frank Foster, Fred Haas, Rudy Black, and flutist Ali Ryerson.