Music at NJIT

Interested Musicians for Ensembles:  music@njit.edu
Concert Information on Theatre Arts and Technology homepage: theatre.njit.edu 

About the Music Initiative

In response to the enthusiasm expressed by hundreds of NJIT students and community members, the String, Wind, and Jazz ensembles were formed as part of the Music Initiative at NJIT.  Since its inception, the Music Initiative has received enthusiastic support from the NJIT administration, especially the Office of the Provost, the Office of the Vice President for Academic Support and Student Services, the Office of the Dean of Students, and the Humanities Department’s Theatre Arts and Technology Program.  The NJIT Student Senate and the Graduate Students Association have also been strong supporters, and philanthropic support has come from grants provided by the Bergen Foundation and the Rauch Family Foundation.

This is the rehearsal schedule for each ensemble:

• Jazz Ensemble meets Tuesday evenings:  7:00 until 9:00 pm
• Wind Ensemble meets Wednesday evenings:  4:00 until 6:00 pm
• String Ensemble meets Thursday evenings:  4:00 until 6:00 pm

The Music Initiative also sponsors guest performances throughout the academic year that are free to NJIT, Rutgers University-Newark and surrounding communities.

Collaborations are developed with the Rutgers University- Newark Chorus, and the Rutgers Mosaic Jazz Group.  All students, undergraduate and graduate, as well as faculty and staff are welcome and are encouraged to participate.  This is a unique opportunity to get to know and work with peers, professors, and others to enhance your experience at NJIT and truly become part of the diverse campus community. 

MUSIC - Rutgers University Chorus

• 21:087:232 Rutgers University Chorus (2 credits)
  Monday 11:30 PM - 12:50 PM  WRN-236
  Wednesday 2:30 PM - 3:50 PM
   
• 21:087:234 Rutgers University Chorus (2 credits)
  Monday 11:30 PM - 12:50 PM  WRN-236
  Wednesday 2:30 PM - 3:50 PM

Our Conductors

Wind Ensemble

Sarah "Carino" Carino-Koza received a Bachelors of Music degree in music education and piano performance at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, and earned her Masters of Arts Degree in music education and instrumental conducting from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York, NY. While at Westminster, she studied piano with Phyllis Lehrer and conducting with James Jordan and Joseph Flummerfelt. While at Teachers College, she studied aesthetics philosophy with Randall Everett Allsup, music education pedagogy with Hal Ables, and conducting with Dino Anagnost. 

Since 2003, Carino has served as Director of Bands at Spotswood High School where she directs and conducts the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Pep Band, Jazz Band, Brass Choir, and Percussion Ensemble. Over the more than 20 years of which Carino has been director, the bands have competed nationally and earned numerous 1st place and Superior accolades. 

Additionally, she teaches Honors and Advanced Placement Music Theory and serves as an Exam Reader for the College Board's annual AP Exam Reading, among a niche community of collegiate and high school theory educators. 

Carino continues to serve as a formal mentor teacher for dozens of undergraduate music education students across the tri-state area, providing guidance in pedagogy, conducting, group social dynamics, ensemble rehearsal technique. She performs regularly as an accompanist collaborative pianist, and can be spotted occasionally on French Horn with the Central Jersey Wind Ensemble.

String Ensemble

Christine Sweet received her undergraduate degree in cello performance at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington Indiana and earned her Master of Arts Degree from Teachers College, Columbia University.  While at Indiana University Ms. Sweet was a member of the Evansville Philharmonic, Terre Haute Symphony and the Owensboro Symphony. Ms. Sweet joined NJIT as the String Ensemble Director this past January. Ms. Sweet also holds the position as orchestra director at Arts High School where she has been teaching for the past decade.  While at Arts High School, Ms. Sweet has formed collaborations with New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Festival Orchestra, and the Newark School of the Arts providing lessons, master classes and performances for the Newark students. As a cellist Ms. Sweet has performed with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Paper Mill Playhouse, New Jersey Pops, and the Colorado Music Festival.

Jazz Band

David Rimelis’ music has been performed by orchestras internationally, including the Boston Pops, National Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Saint Louis Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Western Australia Symphony, Minnesota Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Nashville Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra the New York pops and the New Jersey pops. He has been featured artist with the Colorado Symphony, Eugene Oregon Symphony, Waco Texas Symphony, Concordia Orchestra, Plainfield New Jersey Symphony and many others.

He holds a position as artist-in-residence for the New Jersey State Council on The Arts. He is also Director of Music Education for the AIDS Resource Foundation for Children in Newark, New Jersey. He has served as composer-in-residence for the Concordia Orchestra in New York City from 1990 - 2002. In 2007 Dave was commissioned by the Louisiana Philharmonic to compose a piece dedicated to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.   In 2010 Dave was commissioned by the Baltimore Symphony to compose an anthem and recently took third place in Fiddler Magazine's international fiddle tune contest. 

His music is also featured in films and television programs.   As a guitarist and violinist, Rimelis has toured the United States, South America, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and the Middle East.  He is the founder and leader of the band “Life,” which performs original world jazz.  The son of country western singer “Idaho Ed,”  Rimelis was raised on American folk and popular music; he has won prizes in a number of regional fiddle contests.