Collegium Musicum N J

Brian Verdi

(Ed.M, Ed.D, Columbia University, M.A., New York University, B.A., Montclair State University) is the orchestra director at John P. Stevens High School in Edison, NJ where he has taught since 2005. He is the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) of NJ president (20-22). Dr. Verdi is a violinist and performs with the Plainfield Symphony Orchestra. He received Suzuki training from the School for Strings in New York City under the direction of the Louise Behrend. Under his direction the orchestra program has more than tripled in size, and includes a chamber orchestra, a freshman orchestra, a concert orchestra and a full orchestra. In 2018 his chamber orchestra was accepted into the Music for All Orchestra America National Festival in Indianapolis, IN. In 2016, his chamber orchestra performed a joint concert with The Catholic University of America Symphony Orchestra at the Italian Embassy in Washington, D.C. His symphonic orchestra performed at the keynote address of the 2017 NAfME Eastern Division Conference in Atlantic City, NJ and his chamber orchestra was also selected to perform at the NAfME conference. He has published articles in the American String Teachers Journal and Arts Education Policy Review. He has also guest lectured at The Catholic University of America, Music Academy of Virginia and presented at the NJMEA conference and NJMEA summer workshop. His research interests include music teacher professional development and string pedagogy.