With a vastly diverse musical repertoire and over 13 years of performance experience, Jessica Stewart is a formidable piano player and musician.
At age 6, her prodigious talent was well-recognized, as she performed at some of Cleveland’s most prestigious facilities, such as the Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland Historical Society, and the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory. As she continued to develop her abilities through her youth, she was always among the top performers at classical music festivals. She routinely received acclaim awards for her efforts, including 8 consecutive years of regard as the top under-13 piano performer in Ohio.
By the time Jessica entered High School, she had been studying privately for 10 years. At this point, however, her musical background expanded to include jazz, and before graduating, she received the top jazz performer award for her work in her school’s ensembles. In addition, she began spending her weekends performing at local clubs and coffee shops as the keyboard player in local rock and pop bands.
She continued her passion for music as a student at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she tested into upper level courses after taking the school’s rigorous entrance exams. She majored in piano performance and studied privately with many of the U.S.’s premier jazz educators. She also began writing and recording her own compositions, and took part in many recording projects, live performances, and ‘jam sessions’ with her fellow students.
In autumn of 2003, Jessica became an internationally-renowned performer: a booking agent from the Caribbean Virgin Islands visited her website and immediately contacted her for possible bookings. Jessica accepted a week-long contract with Tommy’s Club in Charlotte-Amalie, St. Thomas, performing nightly for both locals and tourists. The ‘buzz’ around the Island grew daily, and the local media covered the shows each night.
Today, Jessica is an active performer in New York City.
Clients/Venues have included:The Caroline Apartments, NYC
BB King Blues Club, NYC
The Knitting Factory, NYC
Smalls Jazz Club, NYC
The Duplex, NYC
Don't Tell Mama's, NYC
The Swan Club, NYC
Rockwood Music Hall, NYC
Club Midway, NYC
The Alphabet Lounge, NYC
The River Room Of Harlem, NYC
MoBay Restaurant, NYC
Southpaw, NYC
Twin Jazz Club, Washington D.C.
The Cleveland Browns
Fox 8 Morning Show
The Cleveland Renaissance Hotel
The Cleveland Ritz Carlton Hotel
The Cleveland Hilton Garden Inn Hotel
The Intercontinental Hotel
Westin Great Southern Hotel
Embassy Suites
Holiday Inn Hotel
Borders Books & Music, Macy’s
Pettiti’s Garden Centers
Legacy Village Shopping Center
Fat Fish Blue Restaurant and Club
Castaldi’s Market and Grill
Zin Bistro
The Velvet Tango Room
Pickwick & Frolic Restaurant and Club
Vito’s Italian Grill
Hilarities Comedy Club
State Theatre
Allen Theatre
Ground Floor Theatre
The Barton Center
Moreland Mansion
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland State University
The Cleveland Heart Association
Hillcrest Hospital
Marymount Hospital
Toledo Art Museum
Grand Rapids Art Museum
Vexor Technologies Inc.
Choice One Realty
Harpersfield Winery
The Oaks Lodge
Signature Of Solon Country Club
Red Tail Country Club
Shaker Heights Country Club
Williams On-The-Lake
Berea Arts Festival
The Cleveland Jewish Community Center
The American Restaurant Associations
Mothlight Productions
Lakewood Public Library
Jessica has also been involved as a music director/accompanist for musical theatre productions by Black Box Entertainment NYC, The Cleveland Opera, The Beck Center, Clague Playhouse, John Carroll University, Lakeland Community College, Hathaway Brown High School, Shaker Heights High School, Geneva High School, and for the community musical group The SELREC Singers.
Productions have included:Goldilocks
Fade Out Fade In
Oliver
HMS Pinafore
Pirates Of Penzance
Bye Bye Birdie
Meet Me In St. Louis
Children of Eden
The Fantasticks
Hello Dolly
The Music Man
The Wizard Of Oz
The Pajama Game
Seussical
Annie
Guys & Dolls
One On This Island
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Footloose
Jessica also prides herself on her work as a music educator. She has taught at John Carroll University, Hathaway Brown High School, and maintained a private instruction schedule of 20+ students.
Currently Jessica performs weekly shows in the greater NYC area. During the day she is a pianist/teacher for NYC's premier children's program, Little Maestros. Jessica is also a member of many diverse ensembles and accompanies several cabaret/jazz/rock/pop vocalists & groups. She currently ‘gigs’ as a piano player for weddings, private parties, restaurants, cocktail hours, festivals and other events.
Comments from clients:
WEDDINGS:
"Jessica, Thank you for sharing your talent with us and making our day so special. I did get a chance to see the video and you played beautifully! Again, Thank you!" -Jamie
"Hi, Jessica. The wedding went beautifully! Take care." -Marlys
"We would like to thank you. You received so many compliments. You are wonderful. Thank you again." -Kristy and Bill
Hey Jess, "Thanks again for everything, it went great." -Brian and Colleen
"Jess, I was just writing you a card (which I will still send your way)! Your performance was remarkable. I am sorry I did not get a chance to talk with you more. Hectic day indeed. George and I are very satisfied with all your songs and both the ceremony & cocktail hour!! We will definitely recommend you to anybody with occasions requiring a pianist. Thank you so much! You helped make a very memorable and special day even better. Best wishes in the New Year! And we hope to reserve you again in the future!" -Kim C.
"Hi Jessica, Just wanted to thank you for doing such a great job at our wedding! Please feel free to give my name and e-mail if you ever need a referral. Thanks again!" -Natalee M.
"Hi!!!! Thank you so much for everything!!!! You sounded awesome!!! I heard my aunt's and especially my brother’s comments - you sounded phenomenal!!!!!!! Thank you for all of your hard work!!! Good luck with everything you do! You are an awesome person!" -Michelle H.
"Jessica- I so enjoyed your playing. Actually, what I noticed is your passion for playing. I REALLY enjoyed that! Thank you for putting yourself out there to make a musical difference in the world!" -Kerry C
LIVE PERFORMANCES:
"Hi Jessica, We all loved your performance and I greatly appreciate that you came all this way. I will definitely have you come again, maybe in the fall. I will contact you when I have a date closer to the event. Thanks so much! also if you ever need a referral, please put me down." -April
"Jessica, I just wanted to thank you for such a great job on Saturday, at Alex's Bat Mitzvah. You played a great variety of music. It was just what I wanted. Everyone really enjoyed your playing. Thanks again for helping to make it a great party! Sincerely," -M. Pollack
"Everyone loved the performance -- it was great!" -J. Onysko
"Dear Jessica, I could not wait to thank you for the wonderful renditions of those classics that you just performed. I am still in the library thanking you. They were heavenly. Now I'm going to have to learn music, and I know nothing besides Every Good Boy Does Fine and FACE. However, I am becoming an expert in longevity, so I suppose that I have enough time to learn it. I am working on a spiritual project now. Do you have time to answer some questions for it? You seem like a spiritual lady, not of this world in fact! Greater Peace & Blessings," -Tony T.
"Hi! I was wondering if you're heading down south at all? I heard a CD that someone gave me, and it's awesome. If you're ever coming to Florida - please let me know- i'd like to bring some of my friends to see you perform. Awesome!" -Les
"Hi Jess, On behalf of Lakewood Public Library, I want to thank you for presenting a program for our "Sunday with the Friends" series. It was a pleasure to meet you and to see your program so well attended. I got a lot of positive feedback from people about you so I hope you will join us again in the future. Sincerely," -Martha W.