4-23-2026 3:11pm

RVCC Student Jazz Ensemble to Perform May 7

Donnella Tilery Editor

Raritan Valley Community College’s (RVCC) Student Jazz Ensemble will perform in concert Thursday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. The concert will be held in the Welpe Theatre at the College’s Branchburg campus.

The group is directed by RVCC faculty member Jeremy Sweet.

The evening’s program features a dynamic mix of traditional and modern jazz arrangements, including selections from the Great American Songbook, hard bop classics, and Latin-influenced standards. Highlights include familiar works and original arrangements by such artists as Duke Ellington, Bill Evans, Roy Hargrove, and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Each piece offers student musicians opportunities to explore improvisation and ensemble collaboration. This concert also will feature special guest artist, RVCC professor and vibraphonist, Eldad Tarmu.

This semester’s ensemble showcases a wide-ranging group of student performers, from first-time improvisers to more seasoned players. The group includes:

Drums: Damon D’Angelo and Christian Sergle

Bass: Sydni Fields and Joseph Lascala

Guitar: Benjamin Hunkele, Jose Manrique, Nathaniel “Cory” Richemond, Larry Shteyn, and Daniel Upia

Piano: Daniel Santos and Zaire Wilson

Vocals: Cynthia Dimarco, Gabrielle “Peaches” Herrera, and Sarah Stefaniak

Horns: Benjamin Hunkele (Alto Sax) and Joseph Lascala (Tenor Sax)

General admission tickets cost $15 each, $10 for seniors. Students will be admitted free of charge. For tickets, contact the Box Office at 908-725-3420. For additional information, call 908-218-8876. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.