While the NJJS provides the funds for the annual scholarships, it is the jazz studies directors and their staffs at the five universities who select the student recipients.
2019
New Jersey City University had two recipients of the New Jersey Jazz Society’s Don Robertson Scholarship for 2019:
Myles McGowan (trombone, vocals) was co-recipient of the Don Robertson Scholarship, which is awarded to deserving Jazz Studies students at the Jersey City school. Myles resides in Lodi and participates frequently in the local club scene, bringing his trombone and smooth vocal style to jam sessions.
Chris Paredes (drums, percussion) is a Paterson, NJ native and was also nominated for the second consecutive year for a Don Robertson Scholarship for New Jersey City State University students. Chris identifies drummer Tim Horner as his most influential teacher, as many past students also have.
Rowan University had two recipients of the New Jersey Jazz Society’s Bill Walters Scholarship for 2019:
Thomas Reilly (drums, arrangements) began his studies of jazz drumming, arranging and composing with Bernardsville High School Band Director Fred Trumpy and continued them with Rowan’s Director of Jazz Studies Denis DiBlasio.
Luis Ozoria (trumpet) is another member of the Rowan Jazz Band as well as the Philadelphia Wind Symphony. Luis hails from Galloway, NJ. and attended Absegami High School.
Griffin Ross (tenor sax) is from Hillsborough, North Carolina and was the Jack Stine Scholarship awardee for 2019 from among many excellent players at the William Paterson University Jazz Studies Program. Griffin has studied with Branford Marsalis and performed at both the 2017 Jazz Grammy Awards ceremony and in frequent Jazz Room concerts at the Shea Auditorium on campus.
Vito Cakaroglu (trombone) was the 2019 recipient of the NJ Jazz Society Board of Directors Scholarship, awarded to a Montclair State University Jazz Studies student. Vito attended Tottenville High School on Staten Island. He has studied jazz trombone under the tutelage of Mike Boschen at Montclair State.
2018
William Paterson University professors David Demsey and Bill Charlap nominated guitarist Jianing Yang to receive the 2018 Jack Stine Scholarship. Jianing hails from Guangzhou, China, near Beijing where, according to CNN’s China desk, “There is a now-vibrant and fast-developing jazz scene targeting China’s ever-growing middle class.” The Beijing Blue Note, in fact, has been buzzing since opening in 2016.
Jianing completed his studies at William Paterson on a student visa and was part of the generation-spanning tutelage of Gene Bertoncini.
Montclair State University Jazz Studies Director Jeffrey Kunkel summoned his faculty, which nominated two players for the 2018 New Jersey Jazz Society Board of Directors Scholarship. Trumpeter Carlos Juncal is a graduate of Arts High School in Newark and studied with master horn player Josh Evans. Carlos was also a former member of the Jazz House Kids Dynasty Big Band and the Brick City Jazz Orchestra in connection with NJPAC.
As many sax players before him have, Salvatore Alaimo credited instructor Mike Lee as being a major influence and jazz role model. Sal is a graduate of Tottenville High School in Staten Island and also credits his former teacher Chris Garone.
The Rowan University jazz faculty and its director Denis DeBlasio, who years ago helped Maynard Ferguson manage his band, also split the NJ Jazz Society’s 2018 award between drummer Joseph McGuth, from Erdenheim, PA and bassist Matthew Kiefer,who hails from Ramsey, NJ. Each player acknowledged their most influential faculty member: Joe’s mentor was drummer Dan Monaghan and Matt’s was bassist Douglas Mapp. Both teachers are also highly-regarded players in the Philly area. The award is named after long-time Board member and jazz activist Bill Walters.
At New Jersey City State University, Jazz Studies Director Gabriel Alegria, who recently took over that post from fellow horn player Walt Weiskopf, nominated drummer Chris Paredes of Paterson for the 2018 Don Robertson Scholarship. Many Jazz Society members remember Don’s drumming skills, and several players nominated from that school over the years have identified drummer Tim Horner as their most influential teacher, as Chris did this time.
Saxophonist Pablo Hernandez from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers, New Brunswick was the recipient of the 2018 scholarship named in honor of Pee Wee Russell. The Pee Wee Russell Scholarship is the oldest of these grants, originating in January of 1988 when the Jazz Society sponsored – and sold out – a Carnegie Hall concert commemorating the 50th anniversary of Benny Goodman’s 1938 groundbreaking date at that esteemed venue. The Rutgers grant is derived in part from the interest and dividends which this 30-year-old fund throws off.
2017
For the first time, the scholarship program included students from the Montclair State University Jazz Studies Program.
Justin Jones, Alto Saxophone, William Paterson University – Jack Stine Scholarship Patrick Higgins, Baritone Saxophone, Rowan University – Bill Walters Scholarship Dhalil Sadiq, Trumpet, Montclair State University – NJ Jazz Society Board of Directors Scholarship Galo Inga, Piano, Montclair State University – NJ Jazz Society Board of Directors Scholarship Ian Heisler, Bass, New Jersey City University – Don Robertson Scholarship Michael Yaw, Drums, New Jersey City University – Don Robertson Scholarship Pablo Hernandez, Saxophone, Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University – Pee Wee Russell Scholarship
2016
Vincent Dupont, Bass, William Paterson University – Jack Stine Scholarship Diego Ferreira, Saxophone, New Jersey City State University – Don Robertson Scholarship Cristiano Ludwig, Saxophone, New Jersey City State University – Don Robertson Scholarship Keith Bianchini, Trombone, Rowan University – Bill Walters Scholarship. Devenny Bennett, Trumpet, Rutgers University – Pee Wee Russell Scholarship
2015
Eric Zolan, Guitar, William Paterson University – Jack Stine Scholarship Adam Malarich, Trumpet, Rowan University – Bill Walters Scholarship Anthony Bianco, Bass, New Jersey City University – Don Robertson Scholarship Devenny Bennett, Trumpet, Rutgers University – Pee Wee Russell Scholarship
2014
Brandon Dixon, Saxophone, Rowan University – Bill Walters Scholarship Matt Tischio, Saxophone, William Paterson University – Jack Stine Scholarship Chelsea Hughey, Drums, New Jersey City University – Don Robertson Scholarship Isaac Dye, Tenor Sax, Rutgers University – Pee Wee Russell Scholarship
2013
David Zaks, Piano, William Paterson University – Jack Stine Scholarship Paulo Cantarella, Drums, New Jersey City University – Don Robertson Scholarship Isaac Dye, Tenor Sax, Rutgers University – Pee Wee Russell Scholarship Matthew Hartmann, Trumpet, Rowan University – Bill Walters Scholarship
2012
Marcell Bellinger, Trumpet, New Jersey City University – Don Robertson Scholarship Melissa Meehan, Vocals, Rowan University – Bill Walters Scholarship William Macirowski, Bass, Rutgers University – New Jersey Jazz Society Scholarship Errold Lanier, Jr., Drums, William Paterson University – Jack Stine Scholarship
2011
Jason Teborek, Piano, New Jersey City University – Don Robertson Scholarship Gavin McCauley, Drums, Rowan University – Bill Walters Scholarship Kevin Sanchez, Alto Saxophone, William Paterson University – Jack Stine Scholarship Brett McDdonald, Alto Saxophone, Rutgers University – Pee Wee Russell Scholarship
2010
Jeremy Fratti, Tenor Saxophone, New Jersey City University – Don Robertson Scholarship Chris Simonini, Piano, Rowan University – Bill Walters Scholarship Adrian Mooring, Bass, William Paterson University – Jack Stine Scholarship Ark Ovrutski, Bass, Rutgers University – Pee Wee Russell Scholarship
2009
Michael Preen, Bass, New Jersey City University – Don Robertson Scholarship Michael Zdeb, Guitar, Rowan University – Bill Walters Scholarship Jacob Webb, Bass, William Paterson University – Jack Stine Scholarship Andrew Michalec, Piano, Rutgers University – Pee Wee Russell Scholarship Brent Chiarello, Trombone, Rutgers University – Pee Wee Russell Scholarship
2008
Brandon Blackburn, Drums, Rowan University – Bill Walters Scholarship Adam Lomeo, Guitar, William Paterson University – Jack Stine Scholarship Pablo Rodriguez, Trombone, New Jersey City University – Don Robertson Scholarship Matt Janiszewski, Saxophone, Rutgers University – Pee Wee Russell Scholarship Donald Malloy, Trumpet, Rutgers University – Pee Wee Russell Scholarship
2007
David Pollack, Alto Sax, William Paterson University – Warren Vaché, Sr. Scholarship Robert Edwards, Trombone, New Jersey City University – Don Robertson Scholarship Mark Pryzbylowski, Bass, Rowan University – Jack Stine Scholarship Rudy Royston, Drums, Rutgers University – Bill Walters Scholarship Gareth Bane, Baritone Sax, Rutgers University – Pee Wee Russell Scholarship Jianyi Huang, Piano, Rutgers University – Pee Wee Russell Scholarship
