Story
Leading Band Member
John Nyerges earned his Bachelors in Music in Education, Piano and a Masters in Jazz Piano Performance Studies at Eastman. He has taught for the RCSD and Hochstein and started at MCC in 1999. He taught Jazz Improvisation, Studio Production, MIDI, Performance class, piano classes, Jazz History and the Music Business for 25 years.
Since January 2025 he stepped down from full time to teaching one small jazz group. He also taught jazz piano and small group at Eastman’s Summer Jazz camp for more than 30 years.
As a performer, John has 3 CD’s out of original compositions as a leader on NBRJazz which received critical acclaim from JazzTimes (sic) and Cadence magazines as well as local reviews, has another CD of Vince Ercolamento of piano & sax (2 originals & standards) and is listed on All About Jazz.com. John has performed on more than a dozen other recordins, and has 3 more CDs coming out later this year. “Another Time” is a Quintet of originals. A Trio CD of “Nyerges Smith & Lake” with guest saxophonist Joe Pompili. Also, just released, 2025 “Joyride” with Jeff Tyzik and Mark Scatterday, conducting The Eastman Wind Ensemble featuring Alexa Tarantino, alto saxophonist with the LCJO.John’s Quartet performed at the RIJF (Rochester International Jazz Fest), Syracuse JazzFest, and has been the jazz pianist for Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra concerts for over 30 years. He has also worked with the Buffalo (with ‘Doc’ Severinson), Syracuse, Utica, Erie, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Williamsburg VA. and Wilmington, DE orchestras. Guests performed with the RPO or at Eastman, at Town Hall in NYC have included Joe Henderson, Maria Schneider, Steve Gadd, Benny Carter, The New York Voices, Arturo Sandoval, Peter Erskine, Gerry Niewood, “Doc” Severinson, Bob Brookmeyer, Joe Locke, Brian Scanlon, Chris Vadala, Terrell Stafford, Pat & Joe Labarbera, Denzal Sinclaire, Shayna Steele, Byron Stripling, Rich Thompson, Jeff Campbell, and Alexa Tarantino. John has also performed with Dave Rivello, Clay Jenkins, Victoria Corrigan, the NEJO (New Energy Jazz Orchestra), Vince Ercolamento, Mike McArthur, Mike Titlebaum and more. His Trio, the “Nyerges, Smith & Lake” band performs original music in the Rochester area. He also performs as a sideman for many other bands including A Few Bad Apples, Vince Ercolamento Band, Curtis Kendrick Band, Jon Randall Orchestra, Cinque, Bill Tiberio Band and Sofrito.