With the help of a grant from the Bergen Foundation, a group of faculty, staff, administrators and students joined to form a group with the objective to bring classical music and jazz to NJIT. Over 800 members of our academic community responded to several surveys that were carried out in Fall 2013. As a result, beginning in September we expect to have in place a String Ensemble conducted by Karen Pinoci, a Wind Ensemble conducted by David Martin, and a Big Band Jazz group coached by jazz musician David Rimelis. Ms. Pinoci and Mr. Martin have wide conducting experience. Ms Pinoci has a Doctorate in music education and Mr. Martin is proceeding to a doctorate in music education at Rutgers-New Brunswick. Mr. Rimelis is well known in Essex County frequently playing in jazz clubs. He performed to great acclaim last October at the NJIT Technology and Society Forum. He is also a composer and his compositions have been performed by leading orchestras including the New Jersey Symphony.
If you are interested in participating with these groups you are invited to come to the first rehearsal of the String Ensemble on Sept. 11 in room B-35 of the Campus Center at 4 – 6 PM. The first session of the Wind Ensemble will take place on Sept 17 in B-35 at 4 -6 PM. The rehearsals will take place each week, leading to a concert on Nov. 21 in the Atrium. If you are interested in the Jazz Band, contact Eric Holzer or Mathew Lavine, the student leaders of the group.
In addition to performance opportunities the new Music Initiative will also be bringing professional performers to NJIT. Our first concert for the Fall semester will take place on Friday Sept. 26 from 11:30 – 1 featuring the concert pianist Donald Pirone. On October 29 Mark Shapiro, the conductor of the Cecilia Corus in New York, will come to give a talk on Music and the Brain. The talk will take place in the Atrium from 2:30 –4 PM.
We also plan to create a network in which musicians can informally meet others that play at their same level to play duets, chamber music, and other musical genres.
If you have any questions or wish to participate in this program contact [email protected] or [email protected].
By Jay Kappraff
