About
Meet the Staff
Jazz Ensembles
Dave Adams, Jazz Workshop Conductor
Dave Adams graduated from the University of Southern Maine School of Music in 2002 with a degree in Jazz Performance where he studied jazz and classical music . Playing lead alto saxophone, he is an original member of the Boston based funk band Addison Groove Project, winner of the 2004 Boston Music Award for Best Funk Band. While touring with AGP, Dave performed at the 2004 Bonnaroo Music Festival , and has played with artists such as Maceo Parker and Trey Anastasio. Dave has studied with Bill Street , Chris Oberholtzer, and Ryan Parker. Dave also works at the BU School of Law Career Development Office as the Senior Program Coordinator for the Clerkship and Pro-Bono Programs.
James Merenda, Big Band & Honors Combo Conductor
Since 1998 James has been leading the Masked Marvels, assembling an ever-expanding core of energetic and razor-sharp musicians to showcase the masterworks of legendary bassist/composer Charles Mingus. James also performs on piano with the James Merenda Trio and in a duo setting with vocalist Vanessa Morris. He currently collaborates on the experimental, improvisational project Noise is Music's Dream of Us and with bassist John Voigt's Something Different Series. James has also led and performed with Portrait of Mingus, Tribute to Horace Silver, Phenus Khaben and Perilous Foil.
As an educator James has created a curriculum infusing classic music instruction with third stream concepts to students ranging in age from infant to age twelve at Paige Academy in Boston. He's led jazz ensemble classes at New England Conservatory of Music and Northeastern University and is currently on the staff of the N.U. Department of Music. Since 1992 James has taught privately and since 1994 he has taught piano at the Brookline Music School. A native of Brooklyn , New York , James is a 1991 graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, studying with Ran Blake, George Garzone, Geri Allen and George Russell.
Evan Sanders, Vocal Jazz Conductor
Evan Sanders graduated from BU in 2003 with a degree in psychology and a minor in music. He became accustomed to the ins and outs of BU's music organizations having performed in the big band, several jazz combos, and the vocal jazz ensemble. Aside from directing the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Evan works at Harvard Medical School by day and is completing a master's degree in Higher Education Administration at BU's School of Education. As a trumpeter, he regularly performs for public and private events and has done studio work for Time Warner Cable, ESPN, Josh Nelson Productions, and other local and regional artists. Evan also plays keyboards and trumpet for That Handsome Devil, a fringe pop band that was featured in the 2006 video game smash "Guitar Hero 2." In his native Cleveland, Evan composed, arranged, and directed music for children's theatre and performed in various community ensembles.
