19th Annual New Jersey State Jazz Conference
The Nineteenth Annual Jazz Education Conference is provided FREE to all NJAJE members. Non-members may attend for a fee of just $75, which includes a one-year membership to NJAJE and a subscription to Downbeat Magazine. We are also pleased to offer a special discounted rate of $60 for retirees and $25 for students! Please join us for the Nineteenth Annual Jazz Education Conference by clicking here to register for 2023-2024 NJAJE membership.
This year’s event will be held on Friday, November 17, 2023 and we are THRILLED to be returning to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey for an IN-PERSON conference.
CLINIC DESCRIPTIONS
Some Secrets to My Success: Andrew Denicola, Clinician. Mr. Denicola recently retired after 50 years of teaching for Edison Public Schools and as a band director at John P. Stevens High School, where his jazz band(s) were consistent participants in the New Jersey State High School Jazz Festival. Meeting with phenomenal success in this festival and many others, Andy will share his thoughts on music education, rehearsal techniques, and regale us with stories of his amazing career! Not to be missed!!
Perspectives for Preparation and Performance: Dr. Jeffrey Kunkel, Clinician and Moderator. This session will focus on our state jazz festivals (high school jazz bands, high school jazz choirs, and middle school jazz bands). Clinicians in this panel discussion and information session will include some of our regular clinicians from the past including Leala Cyr (high school bands and choirs), Mark Gross (middle school bands), Sherrie Maricle (high school bands), Gunnar Mossblad (high school bands), Brenda Earle Stokes (high school bands and choirs), and Wilbur Witteman (high school bands). Listen to the clinicians that listen to our groups, and benefit from their view of student and director preparation for performance!
Reading Sessions: What’s New for Instrumental and Vocal Jazz Ensembles – Joseph Verderese & Randy White, clinicians
These sessions are the industry’s most comprehensive new music reading sessions, and features some of this year's best charts for
instrumental and vocal jazz ensembles at all levels - from beginning middle school to advanced high school and college. Conference
attendees are invited and encouraged to participate in the reading ensembles. Music provided by Hal Leonard, Belwin, Sierra,
Kendor, Doug Beach, Barnhouse, Kjos, Jalen Jazz, Jazz Lines and Walrus Publications. Joseph Verderese is Secretary of NJAJE, and has
been Director of Bands at Cresskill Junior/Senior High School since 2005. He is also co-leader of the One More Once Big Band, which
he directs with Timothy Hayward. Randy White is Vocal Jazz Chair of NJAJE, and is Director of Choirs at Hopewell Valley Central High
School. He directed the 2016 NJ Honors Jazz Choir and is the founder and director of the American Atlantic Chorale, an all-star high
school jazz choir.
Professional Development Credit
This conference has been developed according to the New Jersey Standards for Required Professional Development of Teachers.
The following PD standards will be addressed: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. The subject matter presented in this year’s conference will
assist music educators in helping their students reach grade-appropriate performance expectations found in NJ Student Learning
Standards 1.3B, 1.3C, 1.3D and 1.3E.
Five hours of professional development credit will be awarded to attendees. NJAJE is a registered professional development
provider (Provider No. 5098.)
For more information, contact:
Jeffrey Haas, NJAJE Vice President and Conference Chair
jhaas.njaje@gmail.com
201.207.6736
This year’s event will be held on Friday, November 17, 2023 and we are THRILLED to be returning to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey for an IN-PERSON conference.
CLINIC DESCRIPTIONS
Some Secrets to My Success: Andrew Denicola, Clinician. Mr. Denicola recently retired after 50 years of teaching for Edison Public Schools and as a band director at John P. Stevens High School, where his jazz band(s) were consistent participants in the New Jersey State High School Jazz Festival. Meeting with phenomenal success in this festival and many others, Andy will share his thoughts on music education, rehearsal techniques, and regale us with stories of his amazing career! Not to be missed!!
Perspectives for Preparation and Performance: Dr. Jeffrey Kunkel, Clinician and Moderator. This session will focus on our state jazz festivals (high school jazz bands, high school jazz choirs, and middle school jazz bands). Clinicians in this panel discussion and information session will include some of our regular clinicians from the past including Leala Cyr (high school bands and choirs), Mark Gross (middle school bands), Sherrie Maricle (high school bands), Gunnar Mossblad (high school bands), Brenda Earle Stokes (high school bands and choirs), and Wilbur Witteman (high school bands). Listen to the clinicians that listen to our groups, and benefit from their view of student and director preparation for performance!
Reading Sessions: What’s New for Instrumental and Vocal Jazz Ensembles – Joseph Verderese & Randy White, clinicians
These sessions are the industry’s most comprehensive new music reading sessions, and features some of this year's best charts for
instrumental and vocal jazz ensembles at all levels - from beginning middle school to advanced high school and college. Conference
attendees are invited and encouraged to participate in the reading ensembles. Music provided by Hal Leonard, Belwin, Sierra,
Kendor, Doug Beach, Barnhouse, Kjos, Jalen Jazz, Jazz Lines and Walrus Publications. Joseph Verderese is Secretary of NJAJE, and has
been Director of Bands at Cresskill Junior/Senior High School since 2005. He is also co-leader of the One More Once Big Band, which
he directs with Timothy Hayward. Randy White is Vocal Jazz Chair of NJAJE, and is Director of Choirs at Hopewell Valley Central High
School. He directed the 2016 NJ Honors Jazz Choir and is the founder and director of the American Atlantic Chorale, an all-star high
school jazz choir.
Professional Development Credit
This conference has been developed according to the New Jersey Standards for Required Professional Development of Teachers.
The following PD standards will be addressed: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. The subject matter presented in this year’s conference will
assist music educators in helping their students reach grade-appropriate performance expectations found in NJ Student Learning
Standards 1.3B, 1.3C, 1.3D and 1.3E.
Five hours of professional development credit will be awarded to attendees. NJAJE is a registered professional development
provider (Provider No. 5098.)
For more information, contact:
Jeffrey Haas, NJAJE Vice President and Conference Chair
jhaas.njaje@gmail.com
201.207.6736
| conference_flyer_2023.pdf |
