NJMEA Master Music Teacher - Karen Gorzynski

MRS. KAREN GORZYNSKI is the Director of Choral Activities at Somerville High School, NJ where she is currently celebrating her 36th year. Mrs. “G”. directs three curricular and four extra-curricular vocal ensembles and also serves as vocal director for the annual spring musical. She is involved in the Central Jersey MEA and the New Jersey ACDA and is a longstanding member of NAfME and ACDA. She was chosen to conduct the Region II Women’s Chorus in February 2011. In 2013, she was named as both the Somerville School District’s Teacher of the Year and Somerset County Teacher of the Year. In 2014, she was a finalist for the National Teachers Hall of Fame. She has also enjoyed serving as a director with the American Music Abroad Red Tour and traveling with them to Europe on seven wonderful excursions.

Mrs. Gorzynski has been privileged to combine her passion for music and adolescents into a long and healthy career. She believes choral music is a conduit for helping others. Her choirs often perform in the community and have developed relationships with local senior citizens facilities, businesses, The Rotary Club, Women’s Club, The Visiting Nurse Association, Safe and Sound Somerset, and the broader Somerville and Branchburg communities. Of all the relationships that have been established, Mrs. Gorzynski is most proud of her Chamber Choir’s collaboration with the chorus at the Midland School, a school for special needs children. She says, “Groups of good people can do good things” and finds choral ensembles are a natural fit for service and charitable acts. Together, she and her students have participated in walk-a-thons and Relay for Life. They have cleaned up trash in the neighborhood surrounding the high school and left goodie bags on neighbors’ doors. Funds collected at concerts are often donated to charities. Food pantry items are collected as admission to SHS winter concerts and given to local food banks.

The Somerville High School Choirs have traveled to many festivals, creating wonderful musical moments and memories. Destinations have included Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, Nashville, Norfolk, Atlanta, Boston, Williamsburg and Virginia Beach. Mrs. G. treasures these travel experiences and believes a complete education must include activities outside of the classroom walls.

Mrs. Gorzynski’s choirs have received many invitations and participated in several collaborations. They have performed for the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders and The New Jersey Department of Education. They have sung with the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band, The Peter Mayer Group and Five O’Clock Shadow. A career highlight was the collaboration with several area choirs and the New Jersey Youth Symphony to perform “Carmina Burana” at NJPAC under the direction of Dr. Helen Cha-Pyo.

Karen is well aware that no one successfully achieves any sort of success in the demanding field of music education without the support of others. She has many people to thank for their contributions to her life as a choral educator. First, the passion must be recognized and encouraged. For that, she thanks her high school choral and band directors Joe Suchocki, Chris Wilhjelm and Nick Santoro. She is grateful for loving and supportive parents and siblings who never missed a performance. She is thankful for the wonderful education she received at Gettysburg College that prepared her for this role. She would also like to thank her family - her husband Gary and their three children Amanda, Daniel and Matthew, who always understood when she was not home because she had rehearsal or a performance. She would like to thank the many clinicians and instructors who accepted her invitation to come into her classroom and help her continue to grow in her craft and move her ensembles forward. She is grateful for all supportive administrators and colleagues, especially her beloved “Screen Porch Guild” who keep each other positive and energized even on the toughest days. Finally, she thanks her dear friend and colleague Matthew Krempasky for nominating her for this award and NJMEA for finding her worthy to receive it.

Some folks say they teach music. Karen Gorzynski teaches kids life lessons through music. That is the formula that has worked for her and brought her 37 years of joy and gratitude.

The Crescendo Foundation is a Not For Profit Corporation initially formed by leadership of the New Jersey Music Educators Association, who serves as the registered agent. The Association’s mission includes the advancement of music instruction in New Jersey’s educational institutions at all levels that provide in-service and enrichment opportunities for music educators, as well as sponsoring various festivals and All-State performing groups for K-12 students. As a result, the Foundation’s goal is to provide financial support to underserved students and communities to create access to the aforementioned festivals and performing groups. In this first phase of giving, funds will go to a scholarship model geared towards students aspiring to participate in All-State ensembles.

Through data assessment, it has been identified that All-State ensemble participation is not reflective of statewide total population demographics when comparing race and socio-economic status. The scholarship opportunities from the Crescendo Foundation gifts will allow students to apply for financial support to assist with any or all of the fees associated with participation including: • Audition Fee - $25 • Participation Fee - $35 • Housing - $315

As part of the All-State experience and upon acceptance, students are housed together throughout the performance weekend. Scholarship opportunities would be available to cover the entire cost of this invaluable experience. In subsidizing these costs for qualified students and easing the burden of financial access, it is the hope of the Foundation that our All-State programming will become more inclusive, diverse and equitable.

We acknowledge that the Foundation’s ability to realize the plans outlined in the Scholarship program will require the generous support of the community. The initial phase of the program will require $50,000 which aims to assist 150 students over the course of the next three years in the areas of All-State Orchestra, Choir, Band and Jazz. All-State ensembles contribute to a total of 6 concerts annually in both Atlantic City and Newark. The vision for the Foundation is to eventually go beyond the scope of All-State ensembles to positively support several aspects of music education programming both at the State and Region levels, making this an important first step.

All gifts are tax deductible and there are many ways and opportunities to support this important effort. We thank you in advance for your support of our state’s students and providing transformative experiences outside of their school programs.

Large Ensemble Concert Sponsorship - $5,000 • All State Orchestra and Mixed Chorus, Atlantic City • All State Orchestra and Mixed Chorus, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark • All State Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Treble Chorus, Atlantic City • All State Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Treble Chorus, NJPAC, Newark

Concert Sponsorship - $2,500 • All State Jazz, Atlantic City • All State Jazz, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark

Crescendo Giving Level - $1,000

Sforzando Giving Level - $500

Arts Advocate - $250

Friends of the Arts - $100

Other $_____________

All gifts and giving levels will be recognized in programs for that school year and program cycle, including concerts listed above, as well as NJMEA conference materials.

All gifts are tax deductible. Checks should be made payable and sent to:

The Crescendo Foundation 300 W Somerdale Road, Suite C Voorhees, NJ 08043-2236

Please include contact information and appropriate name listing for program printing.