Jay Contrino, bio

Jay is the owner and instructor of Contrino Drum School in Cape Girardeau, MO, where he specializes in the study of drum set performance. "Lessons for All Ages".

He is also an adjunct instructor of music at Southeast Missouri State University where he teaches Jazz Appreciation, Theories of Music in Culture, Aural Skills, and applied drum set lessons. 

Jay Contrino grew up near Boston where he began drum set lessons at an early age. He began his professional career while attending Berklee College of music where he performed in original and cover bands throughout the New England area as well as a trio led by his father, Joe Contrino. In 1996 Jay left Boston to pursue a career in music which led to opportunities to perform and travel throughout the USA, the Caribbean, and Europe.

Throughout his career, Jay has performed in a variety of music styles and genres including pop, rock, funk, jazz, big band, country, and Broadway style musicals. He has performed on cruise ships, at theme parks, small clubs, large hotels, symphony halls, and jazz festivals.

Notable performances include the New Orleans Jazz Festival in 2007, the Denton Jazz and Arts Festival in 2008, Glenn Miller Orchestra with the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra in 2008, and the Smokey Hill River Festival in Salina, KS, in 2011. In 2008 he toured throughout the United States as a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

During his 4 year tenure with Royal Caribbean cruise lines, he performed with entertainers such as Maureen McGovern, Ben Vereen, Tommy Tune, the Osmond Brothers, Lorna Luft, Joanne Whirley, Bowzer, Mickey Dolenz, the Platters, the Coasters, and The Diamonds.

Since moving to Cape Girardeau in January 2010, Jay has performed with the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra, the SEMO Theater and Dance department's Spring and Fall musicals, and with the SEMO faculty jazz ensemble, The Jazz Sultans.  In March, 2011, Jay was the featured guest artist with the SEMO Percussion Ensemble. Jay also performs in regularly in Cape Girardeau with the Lower Downtown Jazz Quartet.

As an educator, Jay is former band director at Marco Island Charter Middle School in FL, former instructor at North Texas Music Academy in Lewisville, TX, and former adjunct faculty at Eastfield College in Dallas, TX. 

Jay holds a Bachelor in Performance (B.M.) from Berklee College of Music, and a Master's degree in Jazz Studies (M.M.) from University of North Texas.

Jay has studied with Gary Chaffee, Ed Soph, Ed Kaspik, Ian Froman, and Dick DiCenso.