Rick Kerber Scholarship
Rick Kerber left an indelible mark, embracing various musical positions with passion and
purpose. Whether performing, arranging, conducting or teaching, he poured energy into
everything he did, leaving behind a legacy far greater than the years he had. He was one of
those rare versatile musicians accomplished in all genres of music, and so was equally at home
playing trumpet in theaters, recording studios or showrooms in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
However, his deepest satisfaction came from his work as an educator. He was a skilled and
committed teacher, energetic and enthusiastic, with a strong work ethic and wonderful sense of
humor. As a clinician and adjudicator, Rick’s comments were always positive and meaningful for
students and their teachers. His influence continues today, because many of his former
students are now teachers themselves.
In addition to serving as chair of the brass department at The University of the Arts, he was on
the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia branch of the Recording Academy, conducted the
Mid-Atlantic Grammy Band and was active in the New Jersey Association of Jazz Educators.
Rick passed away at age 46 in 1999, leaving behind his wife Florance, children Ashley and
Paul, and his brother Ron. This scholarship was established in his memory.
purpose. Whether performing, arranging, conducting or teaching, he poured energy into
everything he did, leaving behind a legacy far greater than the years he had. He was one of
those rare versatile musicians accomplished in all genres of music, and so was equally at home
playing trumpet in theaters, recording studios or showrooms in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
However, his deepest satisfaction came from his work as an educator. He was a skilled and
committed teacher, energetic and enthusiastic, with a strong work ethic and wonderful sense of
humor. As a clinician and adjudicator, Rick’s comments were always positive and meaningful for
students and their teachers. His influence continues today, because many of his former
students are now teachers themselves.
In addition to serving as chair of the brass department at The University of the Arts, he was on
the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia branch of the Recording Academy, conducted the
Mid-Atlantic Grammy Band and was active in the New Jersey Association of Jazz Educators.
Rick passed away at age 46 in 1999, leaving behind his wife Florance, children Ashley and
Paul, and his brother Ron. This scholarship was established in his memory.
Scholarship Criteria
The "Rick Kerber Scholarship" is an award in honor of the late Rick Kerber who left this world much to early. His influence on students in the area of jazz music was profound and is missed. The "Rick Kerber Scholarship" is presented to an outstanding senior who is graduating from high school and will be attending college for the further study of music after graduation. Students are recommended for the scholarship by their jazz band directors. These students are then evaluated during the NJ State Jazz Band Festival performances and are then approved by a selection committee from the NJAJE executive board, the NJ State Jazz Band Festival Coordinator, and the State Festival Adjudicators.
The New Jersey Association for Jazz Education has established a scholarship fund in the memory of Rick Kerber.
Donations may be sent to:
The Rick Kerber Scholarship Fund
c/o Joseph Verderese, NJAJE Treasurer
23 Carter St.
Norwood, NJ 07648
Make checks payable to: NJAJE Kerber Scholarship Fund
Donations may be sent to:
The Rick Kerber Scholarship Fund
c/o Joseph Verderese, NJAJE Treasurer
23 Carter St.
Norwood, NJ 07648
Make checks payable to: NJAJE Kerber Scholarship Fund
Previous Recipients of the Rick Kerber Scholarship
Recipients of the Rick Kerber Scholarship are listed by Finals Division in the following order:
Division I (largest school populations) *Includes magnet and private schools after 2018
Division II (moderate school populations)
Division III (smallest school populations)
Data is currently unavailable for the years 1999 - 2006
2007
Eric Neveloff - Alto Sax (West Orange)
Dave Pomerantz - Trumpet (Shawnee)
Sara VanderVeen - Alto Sax (Sparta)
2008
Joe Streater - Trumpet (Camden)
David Hardy - Drums (Northern Burlington)
Rob Tait - Drums (Shawnee)
2009
Unavailable at this time
2010
Dean Schweiger - Drums (Cherokee)
Brian Simontacchi - Trombone (Newark)
Melissa Srolovitz -Tenor (Seneca)
2011
Kristina O’Dea - Vibes (Cherokee)
Richard Thomas (Jackson)
Henry Ellis Drums (Newark)
2012
Arnetta Johnson - Trumpet (Camden)
Alex Anderson (Princeton)
Dan Ponti - Guitar (Overbrook)
2013
Zachary Prezant - Bass (Bridgewater)
Mark Stern (Princeton)
Nathan Rice (Newark)
2014
Justin Jones, JP Stevens Jazz Ensemble
Panayiotis Dimopoulos - Alto Sax, SPF Moonglowers
Coleman Hughes - Trombone, Newark Chameleon
2015
Richard Williams, Alto Sax, Camden
Alex Karakis, SPF Moonglowers
George Austin, Bass, NA Chameleon
2016
Carlton Harris, Flute/Sax, Camden
Joe Bell, Guitar, Princeton Studio Band
Matt Voltaire, Trumpet, Overbrook
2017
Jean Paolo Flores, Edison
Raphael Krause Palit, Sparta Blues Inc.
Alex Kerssen, Tenor Sax, West Milford
2018
Varun Das, Drums, John P. Stevens
Liam Sutcliffe, Trumpet, Princeton Studio
David Grahm, Alto Sax, Deptford
2019
Bryana Crockett, Drums, Cherokee
Simon Hwang, Princeton Studio
Sidiq Huballa, Drums, Highland
2020
No State Finals were held due to the Covid-19 pandemic
2021
The State Jazz Festival was not held due to the Covid-19 pandemic
2022
Siddarth Chalasani, Tenor Sax, NA Chameleon
Nirayka Monga, Piano, SPF Moonglowers
Ben Hoadley - Tenor Sax, Sterling HS
2023
Matthew Nelson, Drums, J.P. Stevens JE
Jiakun (Kevin) Huang, Alto Sax, Princeton Studio
Sara Smith, Flute, Highland Regional HS
2024
Jacob Tolentino, Trumpet, NA Chameleon
Jared Berkoff, Alto Sax, Moorestown
Rachel Schiaritti, Clarinet/Alto Sax, Bordentown
2025
Giacomo Messina, Guitar, NA Chameleon
Audrey Coyne, Bass, SPF Moonglowers
Pierce Godshall, Bass, Deptford
Division I (largest school populations) *Includes magnet and private schools after 2018
Division II (moderate school populations)
Division III (smallest school populations)
Data is currently unavailable for the years 1999 - 2006
2007
Eric Neveloff - Alto Sax (West Orange)
Dave Pomerantz - Trumpet (Shawnee)
Sara VanderVeen - Alto Sax (Sparta)
2008
Joe Streater - Trumpet (Camden)
David Hardy - Drums (Northern Burlington)
Rob Tait - Drums (Shawnee)
2009
Unavailable at this time
2010
Dean Schweiger - Drums (Cherokee)
Brian Simontacchi - Trombone (Newark)
Melissa Srolovitz -Tenor (Seneca)
2011
Kristina O’Dea - Vibes (Cherokee)
Richard Thomas (Jackson)
Henry Ellis Drums (Newark)
2012
Arnetta Johnson - Trumpet (Camden)
Alex Anderson (Princeton)
Dan Ponti - Guitar (Overbrook)
2013
Zachary Prezant - Bass (Bridgewater)
Mark Stern (Princeton)
Nathan Rice (Newark)
2014
Justin Jones, JP Stevens Jazz Ensemble
Panayiotis Dimopoulos - Alto Sax, SPF Moonglowers
Coleman Hughes - Trombone, Newark Chameleon
2015
Richard Williams, Alto Sax, Camden
Alex Karakis, SPF Moonglowers
George Austin, Bass, NA Chameleon
2016
Carlton Harris, Flute/Sax, Camden
Joe Bell, Guitar, Princeton Studio Band
Matt Voltaire, Trumpet, Overbrook
2017
Jean Paolo Flores, Edison
Raphael Krause Palit, Sparta Blues Inc.
Alex Kerssen, Tenor Sax, West Milford
2018
Varun Das, Drums, John P. Stevens
Liam Sutcliffe, Trumpet, Princeton Studio
David Grahm, Alto Sax, Deptford
2019
Bryana Crockett, Drums, Cherokee
Simon Hwang, Princeton Studio
Sidiq Huballa, Drums, Highland
2020
No State Finals were held due to the Covid-19 pandemic
2021
The State Jazz Festival was not held due to the Covid-19 pandemic
2022
Siddarth Chalasani, Tenor Sax, NA Chameleon
Nirayka Monga, Piano, SPF Moonglowers
Ben Hoadley - Tenor Sax, Sterling HS
2023
Matthew Nelson, Drums, J.P. Stevens JE
Jiakun (Kevin) Huang, Alto Sax, Princeton Studio
Sara Smith, Flute, Highland Regional HS
2024
Jacob Tolentino, Trumpet, NA Chameleon
Jared Berkoff, Alto Sax, Moorestown
Rachel Schiaritti, Clarinet/Alto Sax, Bordentown
2025
Giacomo Messina, Guitar, NA Chameleon
Audrey Coyne, Bass, SPF Moonglowers
Pierce Godshall, Bass, Deptford