About / Registration
About The Rutgers Summer Jazz Institute (RSJI)
The Rutgers Summer Jazz Institute is ideal for High School and Middle School instrumentalists, grades 7-12, interested in improving their jazz improvisation, small group, and large ensemble skills. Students engage in daily rehearsals, masterclasses, workshops, and special events with the renowned jazz camp faculty. The one-week-long camp also contains an Honors component for those who qualify.
Beginner to advanced improvisation concepts will be covered while students dive into the classic large ensemble jazz repertoire of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Thad Jones, Buddy Rich, etc., as well as small group Jazz standards and originals. All music is curated and arranged for appropriate school-age levels of playing.
Examples of Repertoire:
Campers should have at least two years of experience playing an instrument to apply. Commuter and residential options are available to rising 9th to 12th graders (including new HS graduates). Rising 7th and 8th-grade students are welcome to participate as commuters.
Camp Registration Apply today!
About the Camp Faculty
Lead Directors
Joseph J. Verderese, Jr (Trombone). of Norwood, NJ, is a Middle and High School instrumental music teacher in the Cresskill School District since 2005, who received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 2003 and master’s in Jazz Studies from Manhattan School of Music in 2005. Verderese conducts the 7th & 8th Grade Bands and High School Band in Cresskill, NJ and the HS Marching Band, MS & HS Jazz Bands, Pit Orchestra, Orchestra, various chamber groups and Rock Band, as well as serving as the co-advisor of Tri-M Music Honor Society and Ski Club. He has contributed to music education in and around the state of NJ, having conducted the Bergen County Middle School Band, Region I Junior Jazz Band and Bergen County High School Band. In 2024, Verderese became the Rutgers Summer Jazz Institute co-director after having taught at the West Milford Summer Jazz Camp, Hartwick Summer Music Festival and New York Summer Music Festiva, as well as coordinator for MEBCI’s Elementary Band Festival and MS Jazz Festival. Verderese is the treasurer of the NJ Association for Jazz Educators and serves on the Board of Directors for the North Jersey Band Festival. In 2008, Verderesee co-founded a big band named “One More Once.” which has collaborated with artists such as Wycliffe Gordon, Jaleel Shaw, Rufus Reid, Ingrid Jensen, Gary Smulyan, Conrad Herwig, Terell Stafford and Slide Hampton, among many more.
Timothy Hayward (Saxes) was born and raised in Paris, France. He is a graduate of the Paris Regional Conservatoire, the Paris University and the Paris National Conservatoire. He began playing professionally at the age of 18 in classical, jazz, and contemporary music, including repertoire for ballet and theater. His career has led him to perform in Europe and the United States. Hayward splits his time equally between teaching and performing as a professional musician, leading his own groups, as well as being a busy “sideman” for other bands. Hayward relocated to the New York area in 2010 and has been a Band Director in the Clifton School District in New Jersey since 2012. He is an active published composer and arranger both in the classical and jazz domains. Additionally, Hayward joined 2021 the faculty of The Juilliard School in New York City as a saxophone instructor in their Music Advancement Program (Pre-College) and has been co-director of the Rutgers Summer Jazz Institute since 2024.
New York jazz trombonist Conrad Herwig (Trombone) has recorded 25 albums as a leader, receiving four Grammy nominations. He’s been voted #1 Jazz Trombonist three times in the DownBeat “Jazz Critic’s Poll” and nominated “Trombonist of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association on numerous occasions. In constant demand as a sideman, Herwig has performed with Joe Henderson, Horace Silver, McCoy Tyner, Joe Lovano, Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Paquito D’Rivera, and Michel Camilo. He is a longtime member of the Mingus Big Band, having served as musical director and arranger, including the 2011 GRAMMY-winning Live at the Jazz Standard CD. Herwig has also performed and/or recorded with Clark Terry, Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis & Quincy Jones, and the Gil Evans Orchestra. All told, Herwig has appeared on more than 200 albums in what is now a 40-plus-year career. Herwig performs exclusively on Michael Rath Trombones, England. He serves as chair of jazz studies at Mason Gross.
Instrumental Instructors
Robby Ameen, Drums
Freddie Bryant, Guitar
Abraham Burton, Saxes
Kenny Davis, Bass
Jon DiFiore, Drums
Orrin Evans, Piano
Will Gorman, Piano
Ben Hankle, Trumpet
Henry Heinitsh, Guitar
Victor Lewis, Drums
Alex Norris, Trumpet
Bob Sabin, Bass