1993
Graduated from Bloomfield High School, awarded over a dozen soloist awards with his high school jazz band under John Scott Chamberlain and Jeff Dieterle, accepted to Region and All State Jazz Bands through NJAJE, and a member of the Bloomfield Youth Band under Pat Burns. Studied under John Sbano (student of Joe Allard), and Nelson Hill (student of Phil Woods).
1997
Graduated the Hartt School of Music, studying under jazz legend Jackie Mclean. Also studied under Kris Jensen and classical saxophonist Kenneth Radnofsky. Other key mentors and professors- Steve Davis, Nat Reeves and Alan Palmer.
1998-present
Performed with Louis Haye’s Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band and the Louis Hayes Quartet, Eric Reed’s Sextet, Jeremy Pelt’s Quintet, Winard Harper, Natalie Cole, Wycliffe Gordon, Connie Francis, Gloria Gaynor, the Christian McBride Big Band, Cecile Mclorin, Michael Feinstein, Dianne Reeves, Jimmy Heath, the Count Basie Orchestra and the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
1999-2004
Joined Illinois Jacquet’s Big Band, US Tours, South America Tour, Iridium, Jazz Standard, Lincoln Center.
2007
Started as the first full time Jazz Director at Newark Academy. Currently conducts five jazz groups and the Middle School Orchestra.
2010-2018
Nine Consecutive NJAJE State Festival First Place Awards.
2010-2017
Director of Large Ensembles at Jazz House Kids. Directed big bands, combos, taught theory, and outreach programs during the school year and the summer.
2011-2018
Finalist in the Charles Mingus Competition and Festival. First place- Jazz House Kids Big Band- 2011, 2012, 2014. Newark Academy- 2014, 2015.
2012-2018
First Director to consistently have two bands at the Essentially Ellington Festival and Competition with Newark Academy (4) and Jazz House Kids (3). Includes two honorable mentions (4th place), three 2nd place finishes in the top high school festival in the country.
2013
Awarded the Illinois Jacquet Educator Award by the Illinois Jacquet Foundation.
2014-2018
NA Big Band (second band) NJAJE State Finalist.
2014
Hosted the First Annual Essentially Ellington Regional Festival at Newark Academy in partnership with Jazz at Lincoln Center.
2016 to present
Director of the Middle School Academy at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Manhattan Location.
2018
Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival, First Prize. Hosted by Paul Carr and Buster Williams as a judge.
2018 to present
Director of Large Ensembles at NJ Youth Symphony Jazz. Direct two big bands and a combo. Oversee the NJYS Jazz faculty and develop programing with David Schumacher.
2018 to present
Awarded the NJ Outstanding Educator Award by the NJ Jazz Association for Jazz Education, NJAJE.
2018 to present
Started JTole Music.