Jeremy Poparad
Theory, History, Composition
Theory, History, Composition
Style:Jazz, Classical
Education:PhD in Music Theory/Composition, Kent State University
Master of Music in Electric Guitar Performance and Music Composition, Cleveland State University
Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and Music Composition, The University of Akron
Jeremey Poparad is a guitarist, bassist, composer, educator, recording engineer, and effects pedal builder in the Northeast Ohio area. He is a 2006 graduate of the University of Akron with bachelor’s degrees in jazz studies and music composition and a 2018 graduate of Cleveland State University with master’s degrees electric guitar performance and music composition. He is currently pursuing a PhD in music theory/composition at Kent State University.
As a performer, Jeremey regularly appears with jazz and rock groups as well as classical ensembles and in musical theatre pit orchestras. He performs regularly as co-principal double bass for the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, musical theatre productions at the Cleveland Playhouse, Canton Players Guild, and Porthouse Theatres, with jazz big bands such as the Skatch Anderssen Orchestra and Danjo Jazz Orchestra, the special event cover band Perfect Choice, and as a band leader with his own ensembles. Jeremey leads and composes music for the progressive rock band Axon-Neuron, the electronic-jazz ensemble Volt Meter, the hybrid classical-jazz group Janus Ensemble, as well as a French Manouche jazz group The Hot Club of Akron. Upcoming performances can be viewed at www.poparad.com. Jeremey is a member of the Cleveland Local 4 chapter of the American Federation of Musicians union.
As an educator, he has taught for over 20 years both privately and as an adjunct professor at Kent State University, Cleveland State University, Ashland University, the University of Mount Union, and Lakeland Community College where he has taught guitar, electric bass, double bass, composition, theory, ear-training, and electronic music. He has published transcriptions and lessons through Premier Guitar magazine and Mel Bay Publications (“Ben Monder Compositions, Volume 1”).
As an active composer, Jeremey writes for numerous ensembles that he performs in. He also writes for and performs on an 8-string electric guitar, which extends the range of a standard electric guitar an octave lower. As both and electric guitarist and a fan of classical music, Jeremey is an advocate for the electric guitar as a serious instrument in the classical idiom, and works to compose and perform chamber music for the instrument. He has premiered compositions by Greg D’Alessio including a concerto for 8-string electric guitar and chamber ensemble.
Lastly, Jeremey is also a recording engineer and effects pedal builder. Popemobile Studios, which focuses on mixing and mastering audio recordings, video editing, and mobile audio capture and PopaFX where he designs and hand builds original effects pedals.