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Carol Hamersma
Carol Hamersma is a versatile multi-faceted artist, well versed in classical, jazz, and pop. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from The Mannes College of Music in classical guitar and a Master’s in Jazz Guitar performance from The Aaron Copland School of Music at Queen’s College. As both guitarist and vocalist, she has performed extensively in the metropolitan area leading her own combos. She has been heard at major hotels in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Philadelphia, appearing for such dignitaries as Governors Florio and Whitman, Mayor David Dinkins and Donald Trump. She has appeared at the Barron Arts Center Series Women in Jazz and Four Guitars and was a regular performer at Trumpets Jazz Club in Montclair. Classical performances have included the Montclair Art Museum and the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center. As a member of the Metropolitan guitar trio, she appeared on the Saturday Evening Concert Series sponsored by the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship. She played with the female rock band She at CBGB's and at Cami Hall with Electix. She has played production shows at the Trump Plaza and backed Regis Philbin and Kathy Lee at Caeser's Palace. She also performed in the orchestra of Kean College's production of Ragtime doubling on guitar, banjo, and mandolin. She has played in several musical productions at The Barn Theater in Montville including “A Christmas Story”, “Shrek” and most recently “The Spitfire Grill”. Her debut CD the Carol Hamersma Trio Out Of My Head features standards as well as original material, and is available from the Cadence Records Catalogue and www.cdbaby.com. The CD received airplay on WAER (Syracuse), WFMU (Teaneck) and was featured during an hour-long interview with WNTI's John Hammel on his Mozart to Motorhead show. Carol's latest release, Comes Love is available at www.cdbaby.com/Hamersma and www.carolhamersma.com, her website. She is a regularly featured player in the Seton Hall University annual faculty jazz concert at SOPAC in South Orange. Her trio has also appeared locally, at J.J.Bitting Brewery, and done several Wayne Public Library concerts. She has appeared on the Cosy Cupboard Tea Room Summer Jazz Series in Morristown, and the South Brunswick Jazz Cafe series sponsored by the city's arts council. Carol has taught at both Fairleigh Dickinson University and the College of St. Elizabeth. She is currently on the faculty of the County College of Morris and Seton Hall University and has her private studio in Woodbridge.