Tony Hagood is an internationally accomplished pianist and composer from Westerville, Ohio.  Tony received his bachelor of music performance degree from Capital University in 2010.  He has played for audiences in China, Japan, South Korea, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and many countries in the Caribbean. 

 

Tony is very passionate about music and its powerful influences. He will continue to pursue diverse musical paths and share them with all who listen. 

 

Here in the states, he plays for a large range of performances from restaurants to stadiums. When Tony is not performing with other bands, running his concert series at the Columbus Museum of Art, running the Tony Hagood Presents concert series at the McConnell Arts Center, or leading various versions of his trio, duo, or playing solo an average of 6 performances a week, he works as a staff pianist, lecturer, and instructor of commercial, jazz, and classical piano at Otterbein University, is a staff pianist at OSU, and accompanies Westerville South High School choirs,.  Tony also runs his music lessons company Noteworthy Music as President & Founder which teaches lessons in students’ homes and his music booking company, A Note Above the Rest Entertainment.

 

Tony’s performance experiences include playing with two time Grammy award winner Tamika Lawrenece, playing for the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and Ne-Yo for their sold out picnic with the pops concert, Playing with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra for Home for the Holidays concerts, playing with Byron Striplings Quintet, performing with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, big bands, musicals, various combo groupings, instrumental and vocal accompanist, cruise ship pianist, symphony orchestra pianist, choir accompanist and classic rock, country, top 40s, R&B and more cover bands. 

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Tony studied with mentor Mark Flugge from 2004 to 2010. Mark’s virtuoso techniques and stylistic flexibility have had a strong effect on Tony’s playing. He has also studied with Bill Dobbins, Luke Gillespie, and Dave Pietro.

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Tony has played with an accomplished list of jazz greats in Central Ohio and beyond. A partial list includes Byron Stripling, Vanessa Campagna, The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Two time grammy award winner Tamika Lawrence, The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Helen Welch, Westerville Symphony Orchestra, Ndugu Chancler, Gene Walker, Dave Pietro, Bob Mintzer, Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra, Jim Rupp, Chris Berg, Reggie Jackson, Andy Woodson, The Rick Brunetto Big Band, Steve Houghton, Ali Ryerson, Michael Cox, Pete Mills, Jim Powell, Jim Masters Wes Warmdaddy Anderson, was the pianist for Dwight Lenox for the last 1.5 years of his career before his death, Peter Yarrow, Brian Michael Smith, Dick Mackie and more.

 

Awards:

Louis Armstrong Jazz Award 2006

Free Tuition Scholarship to 2006 Band of America Summer Symposium

1st place Columbus Ohio Piano Gallery Jazz Composition Competition Outstanding recognition at Elmhurst College Jazz Festival 2008, 2010 Outstanding recognition at Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival 2010