was established during the Spring semester of 1999 through the commitment of its conductor, Dr. Nanette de Jong, Professor of Music at Mason Gross School of the Arts. She is the recent recipient of the Rutgers Human Dignity Award from President Lawrence for her work with the band. Among RU Salsa Band's primary objectives has been to promote cultural diversity within the University and surrounding communities through musical performance. Focusing on the music of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Venezuela, the RU Salsa Band has become the virtual "House Band" of Rutgers, elected to perform at numerous University and community-sponsored events. 

    In 1999, the Band traveled to Puerto Rico, where members performed and studied the genre of salsa as well as various Puerto Rican music, including the Plena and Bomba. Upon its return, the band opened the Rutgers' SummerFest series, playing to a record-number audience. 

   Last year, the group was blessed with a visit from master drummer Leonard Reymound from Curacao, where professor de Jong continues her important ethnomusicology research yearly. He gave master classes on spiritual drumming in the Caribbean, and was our featured guest artist for a flurry of performances in April. One of those was meeting and opening for the famed Salsero Johnny Pacheco at the Cuban Expo,  clearly the highlight of our semester. 

   2002 has brought a steady gig at the Ritz in Edison, NJ and more forays into Newark, New York, and NJN Studios in Trenton. (look for pictures soon!) New players have joined us and we are very excited about where we are going to go from here. If you would like to audition, please get in contact with Dr. de Jong.

The band itself is diverse in its cultural, racial, and gender representation. We can be very flexible to fit your needs... We can be as small as a few players for a quiet gathering, and add just the right touch of Latin Music to color your atmosphere..

The RU SALSA COMBO is a stellar, tight-knit unit that really cooks at Latin night clubs and Hotels in New Jersey and New York. Sabor!    The full Band can be as large as 17 members to offer a full on Latin Big band experience to your celebration!