Darren Litzie

Biography

Pianist/Composer Darren Litzie has been performing professionally in a wide variety of settings for over fifteen years. He holds a Master of Music in Jazz Studies Degree from The Hartt School’s Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the University of Hartford, and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance Degree from Western Connecticut State University. While completing his graduate studies, Darren was nominated by The Hartt School faculty for membership in the Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society for achieving musical and academic excellence.

Darren has had the privilege of studying with Javon Jackson, Jim McNeely, Mike Holober, Dr. Rex Cadwallader, Jimmy Greene, Peter Tomlinson, and Jamie Begian. He has performed and recorded with world-renowned artists such as John Riley, Dave Santoro, Jon Wikan, Jeff Fuller, Marlene VerPlanck, Mike DiRubbo, Andrew Beals, Frank Basile, Chris Morrison, Nick Biello, Harvie S, Phil Palombi, Tom Melito, and many others.

From 2009-2010, Darren was the touring keyboardist for singer Andrew Strong of the band/1991 film The Commitments. Stops on the tours included The Regatta Bar in Boston, B.B. King Blues Club in NYC, and Anthology in San Diego.

An avid composer and arranger, Darren completed a three-year stint as a member of New York’s prestigious BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, in which several of his works were selected to be premiered in concert by the BMI Jazz Orchestra.

Since 2013, Darren has served as an Adjunct Professor of Music at Sacred Heart University, where he teaches The Music of Latin America & The Caribbean, The Beatles’ Legacy, Sight-Singing I and II, and piano lessons.

Also an active recording artist, Darren has appeared on six records as a sideman, and his debut as a leader, My Horizon, was released in June 2022 on Summit Records. See the Music page for more info.