Jazz Camp
In 2020, the Pace High Band proudly held a week-long Jazz Camp, dedicated to preparing for the upcoming school year with a focus on Jazz. This event featured "live" masterclasses and comprehensive training from professional Jazz musicians from across the US. It was open to all members of the PHS Band program (winds, percussion, or color guard) who had an interest in Jazz music! No experience in playing Jazz was required, and everyone was invited explore the musical world of Jazz!
Meet the Team
Jazz Camp Clinician Bios
Garrett Faccone
Garrett Faccone received his Masters of Music Performance degree from Towson University and Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Slippery Rock University. Garrett's professional credits include: Chicago the Musical (NYC Broadway), Aladdin the Musical (NYC Broadway), Tootsie the Musical (NYC Broadway), Radio City Christmas Spectacular feat. the Rockettes (NYC Broadway), 42nd Street the Musical (2016 US National Tour), In The Mood Live! (2015 US National Tour), Blast! The Show (2014 Japan Tour), Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Little Anthony and the Imperials, The Happenings, Streetlight Manifesto, Belle & Sebastian, Al Chez & the Brothers of Funk Big Band, the Capitol Bones Big Band, and the 2012, 2013, and 2015 Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Jazz Orchestra.
His former Drum Corps International / Marching Arts experience includes: 2009, 2010, 2011 World Champion Concord Blue Devils (Lead trumpet and featured soloist) and 2006, 2007, 2008 Jersey Surf (Lead trumpet and featured soloist). Garrett was also the Graduate Assistant for the World Famous Towson University Marching Band (2011-2013).
Garrett currently resides outside of Bridgewater, NJ with his awesome wife Laura & their rescue dog Zoey.
Auge Haas
Augie Haas currently lives in New York City where he is a professional trumpeter, composer, and teacher. As one of the most in-demand trumpet players in New York, Augie has worked with artists including Harry Connick, Jr., The Maria Schneider Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Gil Evans Project, Birdland Big Band, various Broadway shows, and The Radio City Orchestra. Augie is currently a regular member of the orchestra for Aladdin on Broadway.
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Augie earned his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies at Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of the Performing Arts. After Chicago, he attended The University of Miami’s Frost School of Music Conservatory for a Masters in Studio Music in Jazz, and a Doctorate in Musical Arts.
Augie has released five albums under his co-founded label Playtime Music: The Llama, Doing it Augie Style, Baby Jazz, Endless, and his most recent album, Have We Met? He also authored and self-published his book "Build Your Range" for both trumpet and trombone which has been sold worldwide.
Stephen Justice
Stephen Justice is a free-lance trombonist based in New York City. He is adept at many styles of music and can be heard performing anywhere from jazz clubs, to pit orchestras, to corporate and private events. Stephen has performed and recorded with groups such as the Mingus Big Band, the Gil Evans Orchestra, and the New York Jazz Nine.
Also an active composer and arranger, Stephen’s arrangements have been commissioned and performed by the Harvard Jazz Ensemble, featuring artists such as Angelique Kidjo and Cassandra Wilson. Stephen is also an educator and currently offers virtual private lessons in brass and jazz improvisation.
Stephen holds a Masters of Music degree in Jazz Studies from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Florida. In the summer of 2013, Stephen was a member of the Disneyland All-American College Band. He has studied trombone with Conrad Herwig, Dave Steinmeyer, and Clarence Hines.
Steve Picataggio
Steve Picataggio is a professional drummer and educator in New York City and hails from Coral Springs, Florida. From the age of ten, Steve immersed himself in classical percussion, marching drumlines, pit orchestras & big band jazz ensembles. He then made the commitment to study with world-renown jazz drummer Danny Gottlieb at the University of North Florida. He received his Masters Degree from New York University in 2013 where he studied with Billy Drummond.
After graduating from NYU, Steve Picataggio began a professional career as a bandleader and sideman. He has performed at The Blue Note Jazz Club, Birdland, The Kitano, The Bar Next Door & Feinstein's 54 Below. His debut record Two Feet on the Ground features original compositions and arrangements and is available on iTunes & CD Baby.
He performs regularly in New York with jazz and Broadway singers, straight ahead jazz small groups, big bands, cabaret, & musical theatre shows. Steve has also toured the US performing with the jazz group "The Hot Sardines".
​As an educator, he has created and established an unique curriculum for all groups, including beginners (age four), intermediate, advanced young teens, college students & adults. Steve Picataggio is a faculty member at The British International School of New York, Bang! The Drum School & The Thurnauer School of Music (New Jersey).
Jose Fabio Rojas
Jose Fabio Rojas is a multi-instrumentalist local to Orlando, Florida. Jose earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies at the University of North Florida. He has performed with a vast array of prominent jazz artists throughout his years, including Chris Potter, Donny McCaslin, Christian McBride, Mulgrew Miller, Randy Brecker, Maria Schneider, the Heath Brothers, and Danilo Perez.
Jose was a part of the Disneyland All-American
College Band in Anaheim, California for two years in a row: the first year as a member, and the second as an Assistant Director.
For the last decade, he has performed professionally with a number of various music groups in South Florida, spanning multiple styles and genres. Jose is well versed in the bebop language and is familiar with a plethora of musical genres.