Elliott Stoffler
Degree: B.A. in Music with a Jazz Studies Certificate and a B.S. in Economics
Hometown: Charlotte
Graduation Year: 2028
How did you first get interested in music?
I initially became interested in music through my parents. Growing up, I was constantly surrounded by music. My parents both loved attending concerts and would take me with them many times; my dad also played the guitar throughout most of my childhood and still does today.
Like many instrumentalists, I started in the school band, but as I got to high school, I discovered an education program in Charlotte called Jazz Arts Charlotte. In Jazz Arts, I found a community of people who really motivated me. This is where I really began to pursue music more professionally, and my interest in jazz began to bloom.
What kind of career do you hope to have?
In the future, I hope to combine my economics and music degrees into a career in the music business. I want to find a position within the music industry that keeps me immersed in music on a daily basis and provides the stability and enough free time to continue my own musical practice. I hope to always perform locally on the side of whatever full-time career is ahead of me.
What is your favorite thing about the College of Arts + Architecture or the Department of Music?
My favorite thing about COAA is definitely the people, both students and faculty. In the music department, I feel a sense of a very tight-knit community and have found that I share many interests with many of my peers, even outside of class, which makes it very easy to make friends. Everyone on the faculty is amazing as well, but as a saxophonist, I have to give a big shout-out to Dr. Will Campbell. He is amazing, and I wouldn’t be in the position I am without his guidance.
Have you done any research projects or work in the community?
This previous summer, I represented the music department by presenting at the UNC Charlotte OUR Summer Research Symposium. I presented research titled “Transcription and Analysis of Improvised Jazz Solos: The Evolution of Musical Vocabulary in America’s Classical Music.” This research dived into five improvised jazz solos, each representative of a different decade in jazz history, and identified how they continuously influenced each other to get the art form to where it is today.
Do you have any scholarships?
I am currently a recipient of the MJR Jazz Scholarship through UNC Charlotte, funded by Jay and Mirunalini Raja. This award allows me the opportunity to complete research by studying one-on-one with some of my favorite saxophonists, as well as provides me with a trip to New York City during my final semester to go and see live music in what is widely regarded as the “jazz capital of the world.”
When you are not in class, studying, or working, what do you like to do for fun?
In my free time, I enjoy seeing live music whenever I can. I am constantly at jazz bars and clubs around Charlotte, seeing others perform, and I try to see big artists across all genres whenever they come through town. This most recent summer, I also took up cooking as a hobby and have been spending a lot of time in the kitchen.