Harrison Candelario

Recording Academy™ member since 2024, Harrison Candelario is a DownBeat™ award-winning jazz and r&b vocalist and songwriter whose music blends classic jazz sensibility with contemporary rhythm and blues. His work has been recognized by the GRAMMY® Museum with the Quinn Coleman Scholarship for “shaping the future of music through innovation, storytelling, and impact” (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences). A passionate performer and music industry professional, Harrison values collaboration, education, and artistic community – serving as a GRAMMY® U Ambassador to engage, educate, and empower the next generation of music creators and professionals. He was also named a New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Songwriter of the Year in 2023 for his original song, “What Did I Do?”, and was awarded the Patricia Wilde Music Scholarship the following year, reflecting his commitment to meaningful storytelling and musical excellence. Harrison is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Jazz Performance at the Eastman School of Music, with a minor in Audio Music Engineering at the University of Rochester. He also studies music business via the Recording Academy's Mentorship Program. Harrison's performance resumé includes appearances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kilbourn Hall, and City Field, as well as major jazz festivals, such as the Rochester International Jazz Festival. Harrison has also toured extensively throughout France, Switzerland, and Monaco. In 2025, Harrison released his first widely distributed original vocal track, “Misunderstood,” which was submitted for GRAMMY® consideration for a GRAMMY® Award for Best R&B Song.

As an educator, I believe music education should empower students not only to become stronger musicians, but more confident and expressive artists. I strive to create a supportive, engaging, and collaborative learning environment where students feel seen, heard, encouraged, and excited to grow creatively. Whether a student is pursuing music professionally, preparing for auditions, or simply looking to deepen their relationship with music, my goal is to help them develop the skills, confidence, and artistic identity necessary to pursue their goals authentically and sustainably. I currently offer instruction in contemporary commercial voice, including jazz, rhythm & blues, soul, pop, blues, fusion, and musical theater styles, as well as beginner and intermediate piano instruction and songwriting lessons. My teaching philosophy combines hands-on, applied learning with strong technical and theoretical foundations, allowing students to explore their artistry while building healthy and sustainable musical habits. For vocal students, lessons focus heavily on healthy vocal technique, vocal pedagogy, stylistic interpretation, improvisation, emotional communication, and developing a reliable, supported sound that can adapt across genres. Students learn how to approach different musical styles authentically while also discovering and cultivating their own individual artistic voice. Vocal health and long-term sustainability are central components of my teaching approach, as I believe technique should support students for years to come. For piano students, lessons emphasize proper technique, musicianship, expressive playing, voice leading, harmony, ear training, and stylistic versatility. Students develop both technical fluency and creative confidence while building a strong foundation in music theory and practical musicianship. For songwriting students, lessons center around storytelling, lyric writing, harmony, chord progressions, composition, arranging, instrumentation, and developing a personal artistic perspective. I encourage students to write from authentic experiences while learning the compositional tools necessary to communicate their ideas effectively and creatively. Across all disciplines, I believe music theory is an essential tool for the modern musician. Students receive a practical and growing understanding of theory that supports performance, creativity, improvisation, and artistic independence. My lessons are individualized to each student’s goals, learning style, and musical interests, and include one-on-one instruction, personalized exercises and warm-ups, customized presentation materials, and follow-up demonstration videos so students can continue reviewing concepts between lessons. In addition to technical growth, I deeply value artistic community and arts education. I believe music and the arts are vital parts of culture, connection, and storytelling. As both an educator and working musician, I aim to help students understand not only how to perform music, but how to connect meaningfully through it. I have nearly five years of teaching experience working with students of all ages and backgrounds. My students have prepared for high school musicals, youth choirs and bands, regional competitions, the New York State School Music Association All-State Festival, and college auditions for institutions such as the Eastman School of Music and Manhattan School of Music. I also have experience teaching music theory for local academic and musical institutions. My work as an educator has also been recognized by organizations including the Recording Academy, the GRAMMY Museum, DownBeat Magazine, and the New York State School Music Association, reflecting my commitment to music education, mentorship, artist development, and empowering the next generation of musicians and creatives. Above all, my hope is that students leave lessons feeling confident, inspired, and artistically empowered — whether they are preparing for auditions and performances, writing original music, or simply developing skills that allow them to engage with music more deeply and meaningfully.