Ross Margitza

Dr. Ross Margitza is a pianist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator. As a young musician, he studied with his father and grandfather, who were professional pianists in the city of Detroit, Michigan. Ross started playing piano at six years old and trumpet at age ten. He decided he wanted to become a jazz musician after listening to the recording “West Side Story,” by pianist Oscar Peterson.
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Ross received his Bachelor of Music from Michigan State University, his Master in Music from Northern Illinois University, and his Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin. He performed with musicians such as Russell Malone, Jon Faddis, Phil Woods, Patti Austin, Wess "Warmdaddy" Anderson, Roy McCurdy, Antonio Hart, Lynn Roberts, and Christian McBride. He also performed with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Detroit Jazz Orchestra, Glenn Miller Orchestra and Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. In 2009, Dr. Margitza placed second and won the audience favorite award in the Phillips Jazz Piano Competition. He currently resides in Austin, TX and is the Director of Instrumental Music at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.