2025 May TEMPO

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The New Jersey Music Educators Association is a state unit of the National Association for Music Education and an affiliate of the New Jersey Education Association. It is a nonprofit membership organization.

TEMPO (ISSN 0040-3016) is published four times during the school year: October, January, March and May. It is the official publication of the New Jersey Music Educators Association.

The subscription rate for non-members is $20.00 per year. The subscription for members is included in the annual dues.

A copy of dues receipts (Subscriptions) is retained by the NJMEA Treasurer. Inquiries regarding advertising rate, closing dates, and the publication of original articles should be sent to the Editor.

Volume 79, No. 4, May 2025

TEMPO Editor - William McDevitt

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President's Message

David Westawski High School Choir Director westawski.njmea[at]gmail.com

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Happy Spring!

As the school year winds down and we turn our attention to spring performances, I want to begin my final column as NJMEA President with my warmest wishes for successful, joy-filled concerts and culminating events. May your music-making this season be a celebration of your students’ growth, your creativity, and the strength of our music education community. With all the uncertainty that surrounds us, the world needs our performances now more than ever. Realize the lasting impact of music and approach these concerts with the deep understanding that what you and your students share on stage has the power to inspire, to heal, and to bring people together in ways words alone cannot.

Serving as president of NJMEA has been the honor of a lifetime. I am endlessly grateful for the opportunity to advocate for and support the work of music educators across New Jersey. You are the heart of this association, and your dedication to your students and your craft continues to inspire me. Over the past two years, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of NJMEA—insights and experiences I never could have fully appreciated from the outside. This organization thrives because of the passionate volunteers and emerging leaders who step up to serve. I extend heartfelt congratulations to our new president-elect, Anthony Lanzerotti, Jr., for answering that call to leadership. I encourage each of you to consider how you might get involved, whether within your region or at the state level. It’s easy to critique from the sidelines, but it’s something else entirely to step forward and contribute. Your voice, your perspective, and your service can make a lasting difference in shaping the future of NJMEA.

As I prepare to pass the baton on June 30, I look ahead with optimism and pride. NJMEA is strong because of the collective efforts of its members—and especially because of the remarkable leadership of our Board. I want to extend my deepest thanks to each of you who have served, collaborated, and contributed to the success of this organization. Your time, energy, and vision matter deeply and have helped position NJMEA as a leader among state MEAs. Our associa-

tion stands at the forefront of innovation and creativity, and other states often look to New Jersey as a model for what is possible when a dedicated community works together.

A special note of gratitude goes to Dr. Wayne Mallette, who will be stepping down from the Board after six years of distinguished service. Wayne’s thoughtful leadership, unwavering commitment, and generous spirit have left an indelible mark on NJMEA. On behalf of the entire membership: thank you, Wayne!

As Yale Snyder begins his term as president, I have every confidence that NJMEA is in exceptionally capable hands. His experience, insight, and passion for music education will serve the organization well as it continues to grow and evolve.

As we look toward the summer, I hope each of you finds time for rest, renewal, and reflection. Whether you’re attending professional development, recharging down the shore, or planning for the year ahead, may the season bring the balance we so often postpone during the academic year.

And finally, a reminder: advocacy for music education doesn’t take a summer break. Our programs, our students, and our communities depend on our year-round efforts to ensure that music remains a vital part of every child’s education. Keep telling your story. Keep showing your impact. Keep making music matter.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve. I’ll see you in the audience, at the conference, and always in harmony.

With gratitude and admiration,

President Elect's Message

Yale Snyder Monroe Township Schools snyder.njmea@gmail.com

Happy Spring! I hope everyone is doing well. The change of seasons brings renewed energy and excitement, and I know that for many of you, this is one of the busiest and most rewarding times of the year. Spring Concert season is in full swing, and our students are showcasing their hard work, dedication, and musical growth in performances that bring joy to their schools and communities. This is a time to celebrate all that we do as music educators, and I want to take a moment to acknowledge and thank you for the countless hours you dedicate to making these moments so special and motivational for your students.

As I prepare to step into the role of President of NJMEA on July 1, 2025, I am filled with immense gratitude, excitement, and a profound sense of responsibility. It is truly an honor to serve this incredible organization and to continue the legacy of advocacy, excellence, and passion for music education in our great state.

First and foremost, I want to extend my thanks to our outgoing president, David Westawski, as well as to our past president, Wayne Mallette. Their hard work and dedication have helped shape NJMEA into the thriving organization that it is. The contributions they have made has been instrumental in strengthening our community and ensuring that music education remains a vital part of students’ lives across New Jersey. I have been fortunate to have followed both David and Wayne from our times as region presidents in CJMEA to now state presidents in NJMEA. I appreciate greatly the support that both have shown me. Additionally, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to our executive director, William McDevitt, for being the glue that holds us together and to the outgoing region presidents for their dedication and service to our membership.

Attending the NJMEA Conference in Atlantic City this year reaffirmed my unwavering belief in the power of music education. The performances by our NJMEA Performing Groups were nothing short of extraordinary, showcasing the exceptional talent and dedication of our students and educators. Additionally, the All-State ensembles demonstrated the highest level of musical artistry, a testament to the incredible work happening in classrooms and rehearsal spaces throughout New Jersey. I am beyond proud of the efforts of

our educators and students, and I am committed to supporting and uplifting their continued success.

Looking ahead, one of my many (many!!) goals as President is to bring as many educators, administrators, and musicians as possible to our state conference in February 2026. It is my mission to ensure that this conference is world-class, offering "something for everyone" and bringing the leading names in all areas of music education right here to New Jersey. This event will serve as a powerful opportunity for professional growth, collaboration, and inspiration for all involved.

As we look to the future, we must also acknowledge the challenges facing music education in our state. The shortage of qualified music teachers, drastic budget cuts, and the need to retain our most talented educators are just some of the pressing concerns that require our collective attention. Addressing these challenges and others will require collaboration, advocacy, and innovative solutions. I am dedicated to working closely with educators, administrators, policymakers, and community members to ensure that every child in New Jersey has access to a high-quality music education.

NJMEA is more than just an organization; it is a family of passionate educators, dedicated students, and supporters who believe in the transformative power of music. I am honored to lead this organization and to be a voice for music education in New Jersey. Together, we will continue to champion the importance of music in our schools, support our educators, and inspire the next generation of musicians and music lovers. I am here to support and listen to YOU!

Thank you for your commitment to music education. I look forward to working alongside each of you as we embark on this exciting journey together. If you ever need me, I am only an email away. I wish each of you a happy and healthy summer!

All my best,

Yale Snyder

Past President's Message

Wayne Mallette Scotch Plains-Fanwood District mallette.njmea@gmail.com

As I conclude my term on the NJMEA Executive Board, I am filled with profound gratitude and hope for the incredible path we have navigated together in New Jersey's music education community.

At the start of my term, we were emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, which challenged us in ways we could never have anticipated. When COVID-19 swept through our schools and communities, our music education landscape dramatically changed. Yet, our community demonstrated remarkable resilience. We pivoted quickly, developing innovative online teaching strategies, creating virtual ensemble experiences, and supporting our members through unprecedented challenges. Our membership survived and emerged stronger, more adaptable, and more creative than ever.

Perhaps our greatest achievement has been our deep commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). We:

• Intentionally diversified our annual conference offerings, ensuring representation from various cultural backgrounds and musical traditions at sessions.

• Developed and strengthened the Crescendo Foundation scholarships.

• Implemented our diversity statement and guiding principals for selecting All-State conductors and programs.

• Create safe, welcoming spaces that celebrate the rich musical heritage of all New Jersey communities.

I am immensely proud that our annual conferences continued to see record-breaking attendance over the past four years. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, music educators demonstrated their unwavering commitment to professional development and community connection.

As I conclude my tenure, I leave you with this urgent plea: continue to advocate fiercely for music education in every New Jersey school. Our work is far from complete.

We must:

• Champion music as an essential part of a holistic education

• Increase empathy through musical experiences that bridge cultural divides

• Ensure that every student, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to high-quality music education

The power of music to transform lives is not just a platitude—it is a fundamental truth we witness daily in our classrooms, rehearsal halls, and performance spaces. We must advocate for a quality music education for all. With all the bluster coming from the current administration, it is important, more now than ever, to ensure that everyone has access to a comprehensive music education, regardless of race, gender, or socio-economic status. While I am excited to embark on my new role as President-Elect of the Eastern Division and serve on the National Executive Board, I am eternally grateful for my time on the NJMEA Board. Whether it was as Choral Procedures Chair, President of CJMEA, or President of NJMEA, I did my best to be a voice for you, the membership of NJMEA, and I hope I managed to lift you up in the process. Thank you for the privilege of serving this extraordinary community. To paraphrase Ted Kennedy, the music goes on, the melody endures, hope still lives, and the dream never dies. The dream of music education for everyone is not unattainable, but we must work for it. I am confident that the next generation of music educators will compose an even more beautiful, inclusive, and resonant future.

Yours in Song,

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News From the Board of Directors

Choral Festivals

Donna Marie Berchtold firesongwed[at]gmail.com

NJMEA sponsors two Middle School Choral Festivals. We are extremely happy to see these wonderful school choirs from across the state of New Jersey!

The first event was held at Rowan University on March 20, 2025. The NJMEA Middle School Choral Festival held in the northern part of the state will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2024 at Monroe Township Middle School. Each event features middle school – junior high choral groups ranging from grade 5 – 9.

Those choirs which participated at Rowan University were from the following schools: William Davies Middle School, Buena Regional Middle School, Monroe Township Middle School, West Deptford Middle School, Collingswood Middle School, Roland Rogers Elementary School, Greenbrook Middle School, Alexander Batcho Intermediate School, and Thorne Middle School.

The adjudicators for that event were: Vanessa Bond, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Graduate Music Education at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ, and Charles Bass, composer, publisher, and Retired Choral Director, Oakcrest High School, Mays Landing, NJ. The Hosts were Dr. Rick Dammers, Dean of the College of Performing Arts and Dr. Chris Thomas, Associate Professor and Director of Choral Activities at Rowan University.

The coordinators for both Festival events are: Donna Marie Berchtold, NJMEA Choral Festivals Chairperson, (Retired) from the Hamilton Twp. School District (Atlantic County), Mays Landing, and Karen Blumenthal, (Retired) from Von E. Mauger Middle School, Middlesex.

At the Festivals, each participating choral group receives written and aural evaluations by the adjudicators, along with a plaque from NJMEA which recognizes the commitment and involvement by the school, its chorus, and the director(s).

Any schools interested in participating in the Middle School – Jr. High Choral Festival(s) next year, should be sure to complete the application form found in the January 2026 issue of TEMPO magazine, or online at www.njmea.org.

For more information, contact Donna Marie at: firesongwed[at]gmail.com, 609-226-7751 or Karen Blumenthal, Von E. Mauger Middle School at: mitchkaren85[at]gmail.com , 908.581.5053

PreK-8 General Music

Amy M. Burns aburns[at]fhcds.org

In this edition, we are pleased to present an overview of Musicplay Online , the fourth installment in our ongoing series focused on elementary music curricula. This series, which began in the May 2024 issue of Tempo, has previously highlighted MusicFirst Elementary (May 2024), Essential Elements Music Class (October 2024), and Quaver Music (January 2025). We are excited to showcase Musicplay Online in this edition, with plans to feature Purposeful Pathways in the October 2025 issue.

This month’s article not only offers an overview of Musicplay Online , but also honors the legacy of its visionary developer, music educator, author, and cherished friend, Denise Gagne. Denise was a trailblazer who profoundly impacted the field of music education, and her contributions will continue to resonate with educators for years to come. We encourage you to read the article and reflect on Denise’s invaluable influence on music education.

Lastly, a reminder about the upcoming NJSMA Elementary Choral Celebration on May 28. For more information, please visit: https://njsma.org/elementaryhome/

News From the Board of Directors

Choral Performance

Brian Williams NJAllStateChoir[at]gmail.com

Thank you to everyone who has helped to make this past season as successful as it has been! Looking ahead to next year we are excited to keep working on making the All-State Choir experience a memorable musical achievement while also keeping its scope manageable to students and directors who are getting busier every year. With all the positive feedback we have received about the change to the rehearsal schedule we are going to continue to only utilize two rehearsals outside of Atlantic City. Practice tracks are provided for students to learn their music ahead of time, these are available through the running document on NJMEA.org and are also sent out via email. Additionally, one area that we ran into this year that was problematic was school firewalls blocking our mass mailing system to update directors and students via email. The All-State MailChimp account is active throughout the year, if you are not getting emails when you think you should be, please feel free to email Ken Bryson or myself to troubleshoot at NJAllStateChoir[at] gmail.com.

Thank you all for everything you do for your students! As always, if you need anything, please feel free to reach out to Ken or myself via email. Enjoy the last few weeks of school!

Accessible Music Education

Maureen

Butler maureenbutlermusic[at]gmail.com

Congratulations on nearing the end of another school year! After a school year filled with concerts, assemblies, assessment and deadlines and more, the summer presents an ideal opportunity for reflection and renewal. Let’s consider how our students with disabilities fared this year, and how we can better address their needs next year.

Here are three suggestions:

1. NAfME has many informative recorded webinars that can be accessed at the website; they can be easily viewed in short time spans as your summer schedule allows.

2. Read Valerie Luther’s excellent article in this edition of TEMPO - she writes about a subject that is not often discussed or understood - PDA. You may notice that some of your students present with the traits associated with PDA, and you will learn how to better help these students learn. (Actually, don’t wait until summer!)

3. An outstanding resource that was recently published is Brian Wagner-Yeung’s new book, The Accessible Music Classroom for ALL . Brian has been a member of our state Accessible Music Education committee since its inception, and many of you will remember his informative and helpful workshops at our yearly conferences. His book is just like his workshops - filled with great advice, strategies, and insight.

Finally, you are welcome to reach out to me and the committee with your concerns and questions during the summer or any time of the year. Our members will be glad to help you help your students!

News From the Board of Directors

Diversity/Equity/Inclusion/Access

Isaiah C. Mason deia.njmea[at]gmail.com

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) Committee offered multiple sessions for you at the 2025 NJMEA Annual State Conference!

● Breaking Down Barriers: Perspectives on Accessibility

● Band & Orchestra Reading Sessions: A Focus on Diverse Repertoire

● Updates on Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Access (DEIA)

Connecting with so many New Jersey teachers at NJMEA’s Annual State Conference was a pleasure! I am inspired by the level of passion and dedication among our state music educators. Please let us know how we could support you and your music programs. We look forward to connecting with you throughout the year!

Email deia.njmea[at]gmail.com to learn more about our various initiatives or to join our team!

Orchestra Performance/Festivals

Susan Meuse susanmeuse[at]gmail.com

The Orchestra Procedures Committee would like to extend congratulations to all of the students selected to participate in the 2025 All State Orchestra and All State Intermediate Orchestra. We would like to thank Auditions Chair, Sue Mark for all of her hard work. Thank you also to Phil Senseney for helping to make sure the results were completed in a timely manner. We would also like to thank Craig Stanton for hosting at Westfield High School. Of course the All State Orchestra events would not take place without the effort of all of the directors involved.

The Procedures Committee has selected the solo lists and scales for the 2026 auditions. Look for the requirements in this issue of Tempo! and the NJMEA website. It is important to note that the committee has decided to make some changes to the ASO requirements. Instead of playing orchestral excerpts, students will play excerpts from a solo. They will also no longer be required to prepare minor scales. The committee would also like to make directors and private teachers aware that "Bowings and fingerings are at the discretion of the auditioner. You do not need to follow exact bowings or fingerings printed in the music."

Right now, the All State Intermediate Orchestra is working hard to prepare for their concert on Saturday, May 17. Sue On is conducting an exciting program. Come on out and listen to these talented students!

The All State Orchestra will begin rehearsing in June with conductor Louis Kosma. We are always in need of help at rehearsals, especially with chaperoning in Atlantic City. It is a great opportunity to meet other directors and watch a talented conductor work with students. Please reach out if you would like to come.

The Middle/Junior High School Festival was very successful this year. All the groups who participated sounded fantastic. Michael Berry worked with the students and helped each group improve. Thank you to Caty Butler (Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School) for organizing and hosting. Unfortunately, the High School Festival was cancelled due to weather this year. If you have any interest in attending one of our festivals, please send me an email.

News From the Board of Directors

Retired Members/Mentorship

Kathleen Spadafino kspadeb[at]aol.com

Good spring everyone! It’s concert season, starting to miss those seniors (or 5th graders) and wrap up another year. We at NJRMEA are preparing for our next year. We have voted for Frank Hughes to take over as president. Our unending thanks go out to Ron Dolce who has been our president for the last 4 years and has worked tirelessly to improve our organization. We continue to reach out to all of you - have you retired and are now looking for something to do that is musically involved? Are you wondering what will you do with your time once you do retire? Please contact me at kspadeb[at]aol.com or Frank at bugle11[at]yahoo.com.

At our March executive meeting we decided to change our fiscal year from the calendar year to February 1. We have the most members attending our General Membership meeting at the NJMEA conference in Atlantic City, so we can collect dues then. Still $5 per year!! We are also excited to start planning our next General Membership meeting in October. We changed it from May so that more people will be able to attend. Please keep tuned in for the latest details. We should have everything in place by the October TEMPO, and we have a pretty extensive email list that we keep in touch with everyone. We’ll also send a TEMPO express!

Enjoy the rest of your school year, and have a great summer! Please stay in touch!

Administration/K-12 Ed Tech

If you didn’t stop by and check out the 2025 NJMEA Music TechFEST down in AC, I highly encourage you to come by in February 2026! The TechFEST has evolved into an educational event focused on student experience and teacher professional development. This year’s TechFEST featured four masterclasses presented by acclaimed music educators and industry professionals from across the country.

Fun fact - you don’t need to have a music production program in your high school to bring your students! This event is now for any high school student who is interested in learning more about music technology and the music industry. And, project submission for adjudication is an added bonus, but not mandatory for participation.

So, whether you’re curious about what technologies are out there and being used to create music, interested in expanding your program, or anything in between, mark your calendar now for Music TechFEST26 on Thursday, February 19th in Atlantic City. Bring your students or just bring yourself! Either way, I promise you will be excited and revived with new ideas!

Please go to the NJMEA website for more information under the "festivals" tab or to hear the projects from our 2025 TechFEST submissions!

News From the Board of Directors

Collegiate/Higher Ed/Research

Marissa Silverman silvermanm[at]montclair.edu

Happy Spring, New Jersey music educators. The end of winter signals rebirth, yet that rebirth is temporary, so it is incumbent upon us to pay attention. About this season, poet Emily Dickinson wrote: “A Light exists in Spring / Not present on the Year / At any other period – /When March is scarcely here / A Color stands abroad / On Solitary Fields / That Science cannot overtake /But Human Nature feels.” Indeed, spring and its light, amidst cherry blossoms and tulips, reminds us that technicolor dreams exist in the world. It is up to us to feel those colors, to live through and lean into the possibilities that multihued experiences and spaces yield.

So, with annual convention behind us, it’s time to get ready for next year’s gathering. I will send out a Call for Research Papers—the selected of those would present during a poster session at the 2026 NJMEA Conference. So, stay tuned. Additionally, I’d like to find out what I can do for New Jersey music teachers. More, I love visiting schools. So, please reach out if you need support. I’ll do my best to help.

As William Shakespeare stated: “April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.” Enjoy the rainbows that anticipate summer beach days and ice cream cones.

Advocacy

Arwen Kapusta arwenkapusta[at]gmail.com

It was wonderful to meet so many of you at the NJMEA Conference in February. I enjoyed speaking with everyone who stopped by the Advocacy booth in the convention hall. Special thank you to all who filled out a postcard answering the question “Why is music important in our schools?” We gathered hundreds of personal statements from educators, future educators, and students who provided feedback on how participating in music at school has positively impacted their life.

I would urge all of our members to come up with their own personal list of reasons why music is important and necessary in your school. As we approach the end of the school year and budgets are finalized for the following school year, remember you are your own best advocate! If you need assistance, please reach out to arwenkapusta[at]gmail.com.

Wishing everyone a fantastic finish to the school year!

Riverwalk Plaza

Riverwalk Plaza

34 Ridgedale Avenue East Hanover, NJ 07936 (973) 428-0405

34 Ridgedale Avenue East Hanover, NJ 07936 (973) 428-0405

276 Morris Avenue Springfield, NJ 07081 (973) 476-4888

276 Morris Avenue Springfield, NJ 07081 (973) 476-4688

2025-2026 All-State Orchestra High School Audition Requirements

All scales are to be memorized. Please no vibrato. Judges/Audition Chair will select which scale(s) is/are to be played. A metronome tempo will be given before each scale. Students will not receive extra points for additional octaves or a faster tempo.

VIOLIN

All 12 major scales (C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, Db, Ab, Eb, Bb, F)

3 octaves, 8 slurred to a bow as 8th notes, with the quarter note = 120bpm

VIOLA-CELLO

All 12 major scales (C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, Db, Ab, Eb, Bb, F)

3 octaves, 8 slurred to a bow as 8th notes, with the quarter note = 120bpm

BASS

All 12 major scales (C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, Db, Ab, Eb, Bb, F)

2 octaves*, 4 slurred to a bow as 8th notes with the quarter note = 96bpm

*No octave drop.

REQUIRED SOLOS: All solos must be original copies. Bowings and fingerings RE At the discretion of the auditioner. You do not need to follow exact bowings or fingerings printed in the music.

Instrument Composer Title

Mvt(s) Excerpt(s) Publisher

VIOLIN Mozart Concerto No. 5, A Major Mvt. 1 m127-152 & m164-216 International

VIOLA Hoffmeister Concerto in D Major Mvt. 1 pick-up to m159 through m201 International

CELLO Saint-Saens Allegro Appassionato, Op. 43 All m146, beat 2 - to the end International

BASS Capuzzi Concerto in F Major Mvt. 1 pick-up to m50 to m87 Boosey & Hawkes

2025-2026 All-State

Intermediate Orchestra Audition Requirements

All scales are to be memorized. Please no vibrato. Judges/Audition Chair will select which scale(s) is/are to be played. A metronome tempo will be given before each scale. Students will not receive extra points for additional octaves or a faster tempo. Do not repeat the tonic within the scale. Repeating the highest note is acceptable.

VIOLIN

9 Major scales:

D, Eb, E, F in 2 octaves; G, Ab, A, Bb, C in 3 octaves

Separate Bows: each note will be played as a quarter note with the quarter note = 104mm.

Slurred Bows: 8 notes slurred to a bow, as 8th notes, with the quarter note = 104bpm.

VIOLA

9 major scales:

G, Ab, A, Bb, in 2 octaves; C, D, Eb, E, F in 3 octaves

Separate Bows: each note will be played as a quarter note with the quarter note = 104mm.

Slurred Bows: 8 notes slurred to a bow, as 8th notes, with the quarter note = 104bpm.

CELLO

9 major scales:

G, Ab, A, Bb, in 2 octaves; C, D, Eb, E, F in 3 octaves

Separate Bows: each note will be played as a quarter note with the quarter note = 104mm.

Slurred Bows: 8 notes slurred to a bow, as 8th notes, with the quarter note = 104bpm.

BASS

9 major scales:

G, E, F, Ab, in 2 octaves*; A, Bb, C, D, Eb in 1 octave*

Separate Bows: each note will be played as a quarter note with the quarter note = 104mm.

Slurred Bows: 4 notes slurred to a bow, as 8th notes, with the quarter note = 84bpm. *No octave drop.

REQUIRED SOLOS: All solos must be original copies. Bowings and fingerings RE At the discretion of the auditioner. You do not need to follow exact bowings or fingerings printed in the music.

Instrument Composer Title

VIOLIN O. Rieding Concertino in G, Op 24

VIOLA Telemann Sonata in a minor

CELLO Squire Tarantella

BASS Vivaldi Six Sonatas

Movement(s)

Edition

Mvmt 1, Allegro moderato Bosworth

Mvmts 3 & 4, Soave and Allegro International

Complete work Fischer

Sonata 3, Largo Schirmer

2025 - 2026

ALL STATE BAND SOLO LIST

Instrument Solo Composer Publisher

Piccolo Concerto in C Vivaldi International 2782

Flute Sonata - mvmts 1, 3, March Hindemith Euro Am/Schott ED2522

Oboe Concerto in d minor Marcello Schott OBB32

English Horn* Divertissement Bozza Southern SS268

Eb Clarinet* Concertino (Bb Clarinet Version) vonWeber Carl Fischer W1893

Bb Clarinet Solo de Concours (No pg 1; Lento-16th note=63) Rabaud Southern SS282

Eb Alto Clarinet* Sonata in a minor (Bass Clarinet edition) Marello Southern SS159

Bb Bass Clarinet Sonata Op 40a (Andante tranquillo & Allegro vivo) Kibbe Shawnee Press

Contra Clarinet* Sonata in a minor (Bass Clarinet edition) Marello Southern SS159

Bassoon Sonata in f minor Telemann International 1151

Bb Sop. Sax* Incantation and Ritual Gates To the Fore Publishing

Eb Alto Sax Sonata Creston Shawnee Press

Bb Tenor Sax Sonatina Schmidt Western International AV138

Eb Bari Sax Ssptieme Solo de Concert Singelee Northeastern Publications

Bb Trumpet Concert Etude Goedicke Hal Leonard HL00121835

Horn Morceau de Concert Saint-Saens Alfred TS0002

Trombone Contest Piece Alary Carl Fischer CU754

Bass Trombone* Sonata Wilder Margun Music/Shawnee

Euphonium Rhapsody Curnow Winwood Music

Tuba A Stylized Suite Salotti Schaffner Music 051222

Harp* Concerto for Harp Handel Schirmer/Hal Leonard HL50502290

Piano* Sonata Op 13 - mvmt 1 Beethoven G. Henle Verlag HN1348

Timpani Solo No. 3 - "Timpanese Waltz" Rieppi Bachovich Music Publications (from 12 Modern Timpani Solos)

Mallets Yellow After the Rain Peters TRY Publishing 1082

Battery Percussion

Snare

Keyboard

Etude No. 8 from 12 Studies for the Drum Delecluse Leduc AL23410 (Douze Etudes)

Etude No. 9 Whaley Meredith Music (from Musical Studies for the Int Mallet Player)

*Instruments will be used as needed.

NJ State Marching Band Festival

A unique opportunity for your Marching Band to perform in a Festival (rating only) setting.

Quality Evaluation! Local Bands!

Enthusiastic Audiences!

State Sponsored! Non-Competitive! One time commitment!

State Marching Band “Ratings” Festival

Saturday, October 18, 2025, 5:00 pm. Wayne Hills High School

Contact: Matthew J. Paterno (mpaterno[at]wayneschools.com) or Anne Pascale (annepascale[at]wayneschools.com)

Don’t miss out on this unique addition to your present Marching Band activities!

Sign-ups begin MARCH 1ST, 2025

Learning Music from Students

Marissa Silverman

John J. Cali School of Music - Montclair State University silvermanm[at]montclair.edu

As a preservice music teacher educator, often I am asked the important question, “What music should I teach future students?” Perhaps an equally important question worthy of all music teachers’ consideration: “What musics will students teach me?”

Working at Long Island City High School (LICHS), in Queens, NY, with solely a classical music background, I was, quite sadly, underequipped to teach multiple musics. I suppose I could fake it, but doing so would do a disservice to the students I taught; it would also disrespect the music I hoped to explore. Why? Because musics are sites of relationships and engagements. And when we try to welcome others into those musical relationships and engagements, it is important we, ourselves, have had authentic and meaningful experiences with those musics (Elliott & Silverman, 2015).

Imagine trying to introduce someone you do not really know to another person. Sure, that person can be described by way of appearance, some obvious traits, and other characteristics. But is this all there is to a person? Or is there more? Of course there is more. Much more. Same with all music. Just like I can better introduce one person to another if known personally, I need to know a music—from the inside out—if I want to help students form relationships and engagements with those worlds.

So, what do teachers do when, like me at LICHS, we are not ready to authentically welcome students into multiple musical worlds? One possibility is we flip the classroom, and students become the experts in the room.

A good “rule” to live by: Ask for help when needed; sometimes, luck will strike, and help will emerge. So, very humbly and honestly, I approached my LICHS students about my lack of knowledge when it came to all matters related to rap and hip-hop: “You know, I wish I knew more about rap and hip-hop. But I don’t. You think you can help me?” After asking, at first the students did not believe I honestly wanted them to teach me. But I did. They knew so much about a rich domain of creativity that I did not know. Why not go to them as the experts in the room? When they realized I sincerely wanted to learn, they began to teach. And I—and other students in the room who were, like me, under-equipped in all things rap and hip-hop— learned.

Indeed, many of them talked about rappers and hip-hop artists at lunch, in the hallways, in the stairwells, and outside school. They emulated their favorite rappers by re-creating performances; they studied the ways rappers created their verse; they appreciated the way hip-hop artists sampled material from other musical genres; they “borrowed” their favorite beats and remixed them in creative

ways. In other words, they analyzed, systematized, categorized, and re-energized rap and hip-hop in the same sorts of ways I would the music I love. So, yes, they were the specialists in the room when it came to this music; they had so much to give.

One of the most powerful things a teacher can do is seek out help from students. Doing so illustrates to students a few things. First, seeking help from students shows students that they are equipped in areas that their music teacher is not. This not only shows students that their teachers are “not perfect” and “not all-knowing.” It also shows that all human beings, including teachers, have room to grow and learn.

Second, seeking help from students shows students that their music teacher trusts them enough to be vulnerable; that teachers are people, too, who do not have all the answers all the time. Being vulnerable is being brave (Brown, 2015). This is an excellent lesson to teach and learn.

Third, seeking help from students shows students that the things that matter to them matter to their music teacher, because teacherstudent relationships are relationships (Hendricks, 2018; Noddings, 2016; Silverman, 2012). And relationships, by their very nature, need to express and receive understanding and care. Imagine having a parent or friend who never wants to talk about or understand something that matters to you. What would that do to the relationship?

Like relationships between parents and children, the studentteacher relationship maintains differentiated power roles (Noddings, 2016). That is a natural consequence of this kind of relationship. However, flipping the classroom in this way shifts power. Students become the experts in the room, both by way of peer teaching— because not everyone in the classroom knows and values the same things—and by teaching the teacher something of value.

So, what am I now able to do, all thanks to my students? I can have informed conversations about differences between, say, famous and infamous rappers from the early 2000s; I can appreciate Eminem and—certainly in the privacy of my own home or car—rap along-side him if I so chose; I can write my own verse and, particularly when I find a rhythmic track of, say, “The Monster,” I can rap alongside Eminem and Rihanna; I can hear how sampling in hip-hop can make or break a track; I can feel the profundity of a bass line in ways I could not before; and I have my favorites, too—for reasons too numerous to mention here—such as A Tribe Called Quest, N*E*R*D, and Missy Elliott. I also can appreciate a way of being that I could not before; a particular way of being that attempts to de-chain social, political, economic, and psychological constraints. Does this mean I

find myself comfortable with all rap and hip-hop? No, that would be silly. Just like I am not comfortable with misogynistic operas, or overly affected art song, or virtuosic concerti that are devoid of content aside from champagne-like melodies, I have my bones to pick with lots of rap and hip-hop. However, the point is now I can engage through those issues with thoughtfulness, intelligence, and truthfulness, all thanks to my students.

Before being taught by my students, I learned about rap and hiphop via the news/media, books, and, yes, I listened to some, all the while not really “getting it.” However, when I experienced rap and hip-hop through the eyes of my students—through empathy—I felt its values and importance. And when they taught me how to think and “be like” a rapper and hip-hop artist, I could learn through this music in ways that pure academic treatments of it could not compare.

What students value outside school should be valued inside school. Within reason, of course. This does not necessarily mean a music teacher should spend every day exploring rap and hip-hop in the classroom. Nor should she teach solely R&B, or the soundtrack to Frozen, or whatever students value outside of school. Of course not. The point is that music teachers need to help all students authentically find themselves through multiple musics, in as meaningful a way as possible (Elliott & Silverman, 2015). When we are not ready to do so, perhaps our students are ready. Why not give them the space to teach?

Please do not misunderstand me: I am not suggesting that students become responsible for teaching. Rather, I am suggesting that, if and when students—as well as parents, other school-based colleagues, community members—possess knowledge in areas that will help a music teacher expand and grow, consider leaning in and being thoughtfully and ethically curious about domains of musical thinkingdoing that matter to students. Doing so might help enrich the relationships forged between and among teacher and students.

I continue to learn various musics through and from students, both past and present. For example, while then an undergraduate, Jessica Finkelstein (named here with permission) introduced me to numerous artists. I am the better for it. Thanks to her, and to give readers just a few examples, I can feel through Chance the Rapper. I can engage with Noname, specifically the album Telefone. The Black femininity and pain that emerges across the album yields an evocative, powerful social, musical, cultural, political, ethical experience worthy of serious consideration. Indeed, the stories of those silenced—like mothers and grandmothers—come alive through Telefone. Speaking only of one track from the album, “Freedom Interlude” draws upon Nina Simone in a nostalgic, melancholic quest for agency and voice; it, like the whole of the album, is fuel for reflection in the hopes of transformation, voice, and agency. Jessica also taught me about Nai Palm (singer and guitarist from the Australian jazz-funk band, Hiatus Kaiyote). Specifically, Palm’s “Crossfire / So Into You,” from Jessica’s then favorite album, Needle Paws. Not only did I listen to the song and album, but also, I listened with the intent to understand (as best I could) Jessica better. Currently an orchestra teacher in Fair Lawn, NJ, Jessica continues to grow and develop as a musical being. As a member of a folk-inspired rock band, unbeknownst to her, she continues to inspire my musical education and development. Witnessing the ways Jessica continues to expand her own musical being provides me with the courage to expand my own musical being and becoming.

Returning to my public school students-as-teachers, via social media

out of the blue not too long ago, I heard from a previous LICHS student. She reminded me of the day she introduced me to Tiësto, which was the same day I introduced her to Tomaso Albinoni. To provide some background, every day in music class, I held a “Show & Tell.” Students brought in music that mattered to them. I recall this particular “Show & Tell” experience like it was yesterday, though it occurred nearly 20 years ago. On her scheduled day, this student expressed her love for Tiësto. The DJ and record producer mattered to her particularly because she and her mom danced around their apartment to a specific track, which she was prepared to share. So, in class for “Show & Tell,” she explained that, while her mom passed away when she was 14, she continued to dance to this track throughout her adolescence to keep her mom nearby. After explaining this and noting that she did not know the name of what she was about to share, she quickly pressed “play” on the CD player and the club groove took over. As this student swayed in time with the music at the front of the classroom seemingly in a state of trance, I noticed a shift about a minute into the track. I thought to myself, “Why do I recognize this?” And then, at about one minute and a half, it became clear. Indeed, for those who do not know this DJ, Tiësto remixed Albinoni’s “Adagio for Strings.” Some of the students saw my surprise the moment I figured this out, though this student did not. Not until the track ended. While the student, then, did not know where the remix came from, she learned that day during “Show & Tell.” When she reached out recently via Facebook messenger: “You still into techno?” To which I responded: “YES, thanks to YOU!” I asked her: “You still into Baroque music?” To which she responded: “Does Bach count?” To which I responded: “YUP!” It turns out she is now a nurse and listens to Bach every now and again in the hospital while working late night shifts. She was shocked when I told her how her teaching me about techno, Tiësto, and memories of her mom really made a big impact on me as a teacher. I said: “We learn as much from our students as they learn from us. That's the way relationships work.” As critical pedagogue Paulo Freire (2012) stated: “Education must begin with the solution of the student-teacher contradiction, by reconciling the poles of the contradiction so that both are simultaneously teachers and students” (p. 72). I am humbled and blessed that I continue to learn from the students I teach.

References:

Brown, B. (2015). Daring greatly: How the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we live, love, parent, and lead. Penguin.

Elliott, D. J., & Silverman, M. (2015). Music matters: A philosophy of music education (2nd edition). Oxford University Press.

Freire, P. (2012). Pedagogy of the oppressed. 50th anniversary edition. Trans. M. B. Ramos. Bloomsbury Academic.

Hendricks, K. S. (2018). Compassionate music teaching: A framework for motivation and engagement in the 21st century. Rowman & Littlefield.

Noddings, N. (2016). Philosophy of education. Routledge.

Silverman, M. (2012). Virtue ethics, care ethics, and “The good life of teaching.” Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education, 11(2), 96–122.

5 Reasons Elementary Music Educators Should Add Musicplay Online to Their Classrooms

Stacy Gagne, daughter of Denise Gagne and Amy Burns, Far Hills Country Day School

Denise Gagne’s journey with Musicplay began in response to the lack of resources for elementary music teachers. After successfully publishing music theory books for high school and middle school students, her work for younger students was rejected by a publisher. Undeterred, in 1989 she bought a computer and printer to begin self-publishing her lesson plans, worksheets, and evaluation tools. Her resources quickly gained popularity, establishing her as a highly regarded clinician at music conferences. Her goal from the beginning was to make music accessible to all students while simplifying lesson planning for teachers.

In the early 2000s, Denise started compiling her resources into what would become the Musicplay curriculum. Focusing on play and games as tools for learning, her curriculum became popular for bringing fun into the classroom. She hired local musicians to record songs that could be used in classrooms, further expanding the scope of Musicplay.

Initially a print resource, in 2009 Denise envisioned transitioning Musicplay to a digital format, which led to the creation of Musicplay Online (https://musicplayonline.com/). During the pandemic, her materials became a lifeline for elementary music teachers worldwide. Denise Gagne passed away in February 2024, but her curriculum and resources continue to impact classrooms globally, leaving a lasting legacy in music education.

#5 Learning Modules

The learning modules are pre-built, customizable music lessons for Pre-K to middle school, organized by week and grade level, offering a structured approach to music education with resources like printable lesson guides, song notation, and activities.

#4 John Jacobson Materials

When John Jacobson started JJ&Me, Denise offered to bring his materials to Musicplay Online and a great partnership was born. When you login to Musicplay Online, click on John’s picture and you have access to many of his songs, videos, and musicals.

#3 Solfa and Rhythm Practice

Use these videos daily in class as retrieval practice for melodic solfa patterns and rhythm patterns. The students will love the Poison games as well.

#2 Games

Have the students practice multiple musical skills with these 40 games from note names to dynamics to finding the missing Bobo by identifying intervals.

#1 Lesson Planning

Denise provides an array of resources at your fingertips for each grade level. This includes scope and sequence, posters, I Can statements, sub plans, standards, assessments, monthly outlines, templates, and so much more. Whether you are a first-year teacher or a veteran, you can always find something new in Musicplay Online to immediately add to your classroom.

Remembering Denise Gagne

Denise was an extraordinary music educator whose influence reached far beyond the classroom. A renowned clinician, she presented at professional conferences throughout the States and in numerous countries, sharing her wealth of knowledge with educators worldwide. Her impact on the music education community is immeasurable.

Denise’s curriculum was a testament to her vision—designed to be inclusive and accessible to all educators. Whether you were a newcomer to the field or a seasoned veteran, Denise’s work provided something for everyone, blending philosophy, methodology, and innovative approaches in a way that empowered educators at every level.

Her summer professional development workshops with Artie Almeida became a cornerstone of many music educators' annual learning experiences. These gatherings, filled with music-making, dancing, and spirited collaboration, were not just opportunities for growth—they were celebrations of the joy and passion that music education brings. Denise and Artie’s enthusiasm was contagious; their love for teaching and their ability to create an environment of positivity and mutual respect made every participant feel welcomed, inspired, and energized.

I recently reached out to fellow music educators here in New Jersey to share their memories of Denise. Here are just a few highlights from those reflections:

I was lucky enough to meet Denise in the early 2000s when I introduced her at her sessions at NJMEA. Afterward, she and I discussed technology and its role in music education. A few years later, I was awestruck when she attended my TMEA session where I featured her recorder app. She was one of the first music educators to create a recorder app for the iPad. I was so inspired by her vision. The next time I caught up with Denise was at another conference. She and I went out to dinner, and she showed me a rough draft of what is now Musicplay Online. My jaw dropped to how she was changing music education for the better so that all students, no matter their learning style or the school budgets, could learn with Musicplay Online. From there, the website launched, the curriculum grew, and the price stayed affordable so that music educators could use a high-quality product in their classrooms, whether one device or 1:1.

I remember dancing and singing at the NJMEA conference with Denise! Her energy was contagious!

I meet Denise Gagne at an NJMEA conference, and it was a game changer for me! She was truly an inspiration for all music educators! Musicplay is a life saver! Her music will live on for generations to come!

Denise was at the NJMEA Conference a few years ago and was so incredibly gracious and funny and kind. I am so thankful that I got to meet her!

It was so much fun seeing her present in Atlantic City! She was full of great energy, and I learned so much from her.

Thank you, Denise, for Musicplay Online, and such great resources. Denise was always so enthusiastic and positive in her workshops and presentations. I also appreciate Denise's collaborations with other great music educators.

I was retired and accepted a long-term position during Covid which included elementary general music. Having taught high school for 38 years, I was definitely out of my comfort zone. I found Denise Gagne on an elementary music Facebook page. She reached out to me personally, gave me a subscription to Musicplay Online for free, walked me through how to use it, and saved me! I used Musicplay Online for every other longterm assignment that followed. Denise was one of a kind.

Though we mourn Denise’s loss, we celebrate the profound impact she has had on all who were fortunate enough to learn from her or use her materials and resources. The world of music education is forever changed, and her spirit will live on through the music, the students, and the educators she has inspired.

Have you Heard of the PDA Autistic Profile? Updates for Music Educators

Val Luther Elementary Music Teacher

Moorestown, NJ

vluther[at]mtps.com

I know of at least 2 music teachers in New Jersey who have because they teach my sons! But don’t feel bad if you haven’t, it is just beginning to be recognized in the US.

PDA stands for “Pathological Demand Avoidance.” There are several more neuro-affirming versions being created like “Persistent Drive for Autonomy.” It is a profile under the umbrella of Autism. PDA has been recognized in the UK and Australia, among other places, for several years. It is not yet in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) so many medical professionals here in the US are not recognizing it. For my family, learning about PDA was like finally getting the owner’s manual for my sons!

PDA can present much differently than the narrow criteria for Autism currently in the DSM-5, and some PDA children may not be recognized as Autistic. At first I had been told that my sons gave too much eye contact and were too social to be Autistic, but this is actually consistent with the PDA profile. I am not able to diagnose of course, but I have had students in my music classes that seem to meet the criteria for PDA.

Child psychologist, author, and founder of “Lives in the Balance,” Dr. Ross Greene, says in his book Lost At School that, “A kid shouldn’t need a diagnosis to access help.” It is with this in mind that I’d like to share some characteristics of PDA and strategies to support them because statistically, some of you reading this have undiagnosed PDAers in your music rooms. These strategies can work with many children who are hesitant or seem to avoid demands.

The disabling part of PDA is the demand avoidance. It surpasses not being able to get started with an activity or refusing to participate. Demands create a stress response that activates the nervous system. Think bear in the woods, “fight or flight” response.

School is an incredibly difficult place for PDAers because of the multitude of demands. There are the obvious ones like explicit demands which are directions from the teachers. “Open your music book to page 12.” “Put your rhythm sticks away,” etc. Additionally, there are implicit demands which are implied demands or norms that are understood like, “you

can’t scream or run in the hallway.” PDAers are also affected by their own internal demands. The key difference between PDA and general demand avoidance is that it affects their ability to participate in activities that they want to do.

My 10 year old fell in love with the electric guitar last year. It became a huge focus for him from designing his own guitars online, to listening to ACDC, and even practicing! He had a teacher who was not only an amazing human being, but an amazing musician. If my son walked into his lesson and said he was listening to “Thunderstruck,” his teacher would immediately start playing it, and make it accessible for my son to learn. He was truly responsive to my son’s interests and needs.

Family members began talking about how well he was doing. His teacher was so encouraging. He was bringing his guitar into school to play for his class on Fridays (although the girls were upset he wasn’t learning any Taylor Swift). Most kids would be encouraged forward with the support he was receiving. He truly seemed to love playing. Then one day, he just stopped. He couldn’t pick up his guitar anymore. The pressure of everyone’s expectations along with the internal pressure he was putting on himself became too great.

Some of you may be shaking your heads at me for allowing him to take a break. I know my son though, and I know how demands affect him differently. He hasn’t worn pants all winter because my mom will not stop mentioning that he needs to wear pants. Dude will probably never wear pants again!

You may have a child who is extremely musical, but unable to participate because they want to do well so badly that the internal demand combined with what they perceive as your expectations to do well make it impossible for them to join in. There have been several times when I have left an instrument next to a student who hasn’t joined and told them, “I’m just going to put this here in case you want to join us.”

Have you ever had a student who is super bright, but becomes dysregulated if they are not called on to answer a question, play an instrument first, or get a turn in a game?

Their reactions may seem like that of a younger child who is still developing coping skills for waiting or handling disappointment. This is consistent with PDA. (Note that negative reactions to losing in a game could also be due to a trauma trigger of loss.)

These seemingly over-the-top reactions can escalate into what the PDA community refers to as “equalizing.” A PDA child does not have an innate sense of social hierarchy. They see themselves as equal to or above those around them, including adults. An event that causes a stress response can be internalized as a threat. “Equalizing” is an action taken or a reaction in an attempt to restore their position in the social structure and therefore their safety.

I have had a student who displays several PDA traits, and recall a day when we were practicing the echo song “Where, Oh Where” from First Steps in Music. I told them I had a lion puppet hidden in the music room and asked them to guess where they thought the lion was. When it was their turn to sing, they could take a step towards the lion. When it was my turn to sing, they had to freeze. One student happened to see the lion during a previous activity and headed straight toward it. When she found the lion first, my suspected PDAer yelled from the other side of the room that he had seen it first! (You and I know that he had no idea where that lion was.) So why the emotional response?

Not knowing where the silly lion was, while a peer did, made him feel like he was less than that student. It triggered a nervous system response in which his body felt like he was in imminent danger. Before learning about PDA and nervous system responses, I probably would have ignored this, given a stern look, or perhaps said a few stern words. This time though, I smiled at the student, walked closer, and whispered in a conspiratorial but validating way that I thought they noticed it earlier. I probably even winked. Creating this shared moment of connection helped to relax the stress response they were having. It was signaling, “you are safe here with me.”

Reactions like this can be triggering for many adults because it can look like they have never heard the word, “no.” However, no lecture about the many other students who want a turn too will override the stress response that is occuring. When a child’s nervous system is activated in this way, their prefrontal cortex (the thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, and language parts of the brain) goes offline. They are functioning from their survival brain. In those moments, they need us to help them feel safe enough to get their thinking brain back online. Check out “co-regulation” to learn more about this!

Declarative language is another way to signal safety to the nervous system. Rather than giving a direct instruction, like “sit down on the rug” to a child (especially in front of their

peers), we can say a statement like “the class is sitting on the rug.” Think of this as a narration of what’s happening in a light tone. For some of my students, this can help them follow the direction. For others (like one of my sons) they may need the option to opt out or join when they are ready. Nothing shuts my younger son down more than a power struggle. Instead, saying to him privately that “we’re sitting on the rug, you can join us when you’re ready” counterintuitively helps him to be able to join sooner than the direct demand would have.

The difficult thing to help others understand is that sometimes, these kids need to go first. This is what accommodating this disability may look like, especially while still establishing your relationship and teaching space as a place of safety.

Despite what my father thinks about his grandsons, trying to “teach them a lesson” by being tough with them, is not going to change their brain. At least not in a positive way! The “tough love” approach and the typical behavior modification programs found in most NJ schools, can actually make things worse. Being escalated to “fight, flight, freeze or fawn” modes because of the demands of school are only going to strengthen those responses.

Neuroplasticity refers to the amazing ability of our brains to continue changing throughout our lives. We cannot and should not make it a goal for a child to appear less Autistic or less PDA Autistic. We can, however, harness the power of neuroplasticity to help lessen their stress responses. Focusing on creating relational and felt safety will strengthen their neural pathways for connection. They will come to associate our music classrooms and performance spaces with safety. If we allow power struggles to occur in our relationships and music rooms, then they will learn to associate our spaces as a threat.

I am thrilled with the movement of creating accessibility in our music classrooms so all learners can thrive. As music educators, we have an incredible advantage in making our spaces accessible to PDAers. 1 - Our content area is awesome and creating connections through music-making is inherently regulating to the nervous system! 2 - We often see our students for multiple years and get to build trust through our relationships with our students. We can truly be a safe place where the nervous systems of our students, PDA and otherwise, can land to regulate and feel a sense of belonging.

Val Luther is a late-diagnosed Autistic mother of 2 PDA Autistic children. She is in her 19th year as an elementary music teacher in Moorestown, NJ and holds a certificate in Applied Educational Neuroscience from Butler University. She is the Book Study Coordinator for the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint and a volunteer with EndSaR-NJ and PDA North America.

NJMEA SALUTES OUR OUTSTANDING ALL-STATE MUSICIANS

The New Jersey Music Educators Association is proud of the hundreds of NJMEA members who sponsor the many thousands of students who audition for Region and All-State ensembles during the year. Listed below are the outstanding musicians who were accepted into the 2024-2025 New Jersey All-State Performing Ensembles. Many hours of practice and preparation have been spent by the students and the teachers who have helped these students attain this noteworthy goal. We congratulate everyone who has been a part of these activities.

2025 New Jersey All-State Wind Ensemble

PICCOLO

Evangeline Martin Cherokee HS

FLUTE

Renee Whittemore ....................... Holmdel HS

Keerthisri Kannan Ridge HS

Olivia Lee Glen Rock HS

Aleena Zhang Princeton HS

OBOE

Avery Welcome Ridgewood HS

Erin Lenox Watchung Hills Reg HS

ENGLISH HORN

Chloe Chung ........................... Bergen Co Acad

BASSOON

William Song Cresskill HS

Connor Mark .... W Windsor-Plainsboro HS No

Eb CLARINET

Audrey Cai Union Co VoTech Sch

Bb CLARINET

Joshua Lee .............................. Bergen Co Acad

Yixuan Yao Ridge HS

Victor Chen Union Co VoTech Sch

Willy Lee Fort Lee HS

Daniel Choi ................................ Metuchen HS

Edward Lee ..................................... Tenafly HS

Kenny Shao` East Brunswick HS

Skylar Li Kent Place School

Michael Hanna Egg Harbor Twp HS

ALTO CLARINET

Nicholas Micheludis Watchung Hills Reg HS

BASS CLARINET

Sahil Kulkarni ...................... John P. Stevens HS

Daniel Ruzicka New Providence HS

CONTRABASS CLARINET

Bridget O’Beirne Freehold Twp HS

SOPRANO SAXOPHONE

Ishan Chikka....... W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

ALTO SAXOPHONE

Abner Brijesh Montgomery HS

Zachary Rubin Watchung Hills Reg HS

TENOR SAXOPHONE

Shreyas Thirumale John P. Stevens HS

BARITONE SAXOPHONE

Siddharth Vaidya ................ John P. Stevens HS

TRUMPET

Ananth Raman Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Thomas Cook ............................... Chatham HS

Ahava Walpola ................ Toms River HS South

Michael DeNicuolo North Brunswick Twp HS

Fisayo Ogunsulire Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Trevor Steelman Ridgewood HS

FRENCH HORN

Christopher Juan John P. Stevens HS

Alyx Martos West Orange HS

Holden Bergam Millburn HS

Margaret Eidel ................ Toms River HS North

Barbara Ashley ....................... Mount Olive HS

TROMBONE

David Laird Millville HS

Pranav Vemulapalli ............. John P. Stevens HS

Austin Hart Paramus HS

Alex Fullam Roxbury HS

BASS TROMBONE

Adriana Coccaro Paramus HS

EUPHONIUM

Sophia Fontaine ......................... Somerville HS

James Krempasky Bridgewater-Raritan HS

TUBA

Eshin Nadpara John P. Stevens HS

Theodore Medina ........................ Fair Lawn HS

BATTERY PERCUSSION

Gavin Salgado East Brunswick HS

Benjamin Yao Saint Joseph HS

Luca Anello-Fiorina ....................... Kinnelon HS

Michael Piccolo Kinnelon HS

Jonathan Ford Randolph HS

Adwait Kulkarni John P. Stevens HS

Iswer Prasad Harinarayan ...Bdgwtr-Raritan HS

Jake Janis ............................... West Milford HS

MALLETS

Eric Crowley Monroe Twp HS

Preston Christopher Masigla . Monroe Twp HS

TIMPANI

Julian DiMaggio Bridgewater-Raritan HS

PIANO

Abigail Na ...... No Valley Reg HS at Old Tappan

HARP

Marlee Lu Lenape Reg HS

2024 New Jersey All-State Orchestra

FIRST VIOLIN

Elizabeth Song No Valley Demarest HS

Timothy Shi Millburn HS

Chloe Cho Bergen County Acad

Chang Yoon Kim ............................... Tenafly HS

Emily Wang Watchung Hills Reg HS

Hannah Lee No Valley Reg HS at Demarest

Roger Wang ......................... The Pingry School

Lucille xiao yue Cheng Newark Academy

Klaudia Kowalewski Ridge HS

Prisha Bagchi ...... W Windsor Plainsboro HS So

Lauren Chung Academy of the Holy Angels

Anderson Yu Ridge HS

Derek Hou Lenape HS

Hanna Chee Ridge HS

Andrew Lu .............................. Montgomery HS

Wesley Chen Ridge HS

Tristin Yun Tenafly HS

Kai-An Tsai ................................. West Essex HS

Leah Park Cherry Hill East

Suhyun Park Tenafly HS

Henry Tsai ................. The Lawrenceville School

Lucas Ni Ridge HS

SECOND VIOLIN

Sophia Kim Bergen County Acad

Sophia Kim W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Jun Furukawa No Valley Reg HS of Demarest

Owen Wei Westfield HS

Aanya Kashyap .................................... Ridge HS

Haeun Kim Tenafly HS

Angela Kim Paramus HS

Navin Agarwal....... Bridgewater Raritan Reg HS

Iris Yuan Cherry Hill HS East

Ameya Srinivasan Edison Acad Magnet Sch

Sue Nishida ................................ Ridgewood HS

Jalyn Yang Bergen County Acad

Kelli Chang Rutgers Preparatory School

Jingyi Han The Peddie School

Heidi Tsai Hanover Park HS

Joon Hwang ................. Bergen County Tech HS

Annie Jiang Livingston HS

Ryan Mou The Peddie School

Brooks Wang ................................ Chatham HS

Derek Du Tenafly HS

Evelyn Lee High Technology HS

Daniel Zhang ................ Bridgewater Raritan HS

Jeane Chun Mahwah HS

VIOLA

Sunjoo Park No Valley Reg HS Old Tappan

Jiahn Hong Tenafly HS

Tanav Gowda W Windsor-Plainsboro HS No

Willow Yoo Bergen County Acad

Ashley Gil ........................................ Fort Lee HS

Grant Rupinski Southern Reg HS

Lucas Kim Bergen County Tech HS

Kevin Zhao Montgomery HS

Ryan Kwon Bergen Catholic HS

Keaton Chien The Peddie School

Justin Song No Valley Reg HS Demarest

Ethan Lee ......................................... Tenafly HS

Harrison Choi Glen Rock HS

Matthew Ham East Brunswick HS

Brandon Wu ......... Bridgewater-Raritan Reg HS

CELLO

Charlotte Xing-er Ji Dressel. The Peddie School

Elie Kuan Acad of Health and Medical Sci

Jacob Kang Ridge HS

Jessica Hong East Brunswick HS

David Yi Bridgewater-Raritan Reg HS

Aiden Chun ...................... Bergen County Acad

Mason Moon Millburn HS

Rowan Mendel Sparta HS

Kayla Park ......................................... Leonia HS

Sameer Kuriyan Millburn HS

Zimo Nan Ridge HS

Yuno Lee ........................................ Millburn HS

Parker Woo W Windsor Plainsboro HS No

Ethan Xu W Windsor-Plainsboro HS No

Luke Liu ............................... The Peddie School

BASS

Rishabh Ramaswamy The Pennington School

Wallace Snow W Windsor Plainsboro HS No

Howard Xu .......................... John P. Stevens HS

Kenneth Allaway West Morris Mendham

Matthew Xia Millburn HS

Bradley Kong....... The Hun School of Princeton

Arav Choudhary East Brunswick HS

Arnav Nagireddy Montgomery HS

Luke Piszar ............................. Southern Reg HS

PICCOLO

Matthew Collins Morristown HS

FLUTE

Shining Wang Livingston HS

Huike Zhou Peddie School

Olivia Lee ..................................... Glen Rock HS

Lina Lin W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

OBOE

Avery Welcome Ridgewood HS

Elizabeth Kim Hopewell Valley Central HS

Sophie Wang ............................. Peddie School

Grace Ort Morris Knolls HS

BASSOON

Connor Mark W Windsor-Plainsboro HS No

Andrew Yuan ...... W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Jun-ki Kim Peddie School

Raoul Dosanj-Mikkelsen Millburn HS

Eb CLARINET

Michael Hanna Egg Harbor Twp HS

Bb CLARINET

Justin Ni .............................. John P. Stevens HS

Matthew Gao Lawrenceville School

Rachel Fu Eastern Reg HS

Leah Kang ............. No Valley Reg HS Demarest

TRUMPET

Ananth Raman ............ Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Teresa Wang Millburn HS

Fisayo Ogunsulire Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Michael DeNicuolo North Brunswick Twp HS

Ella Hashimoto Lenape HS

FRENCH HORN

Alyx Martos West Orange HS

Margaret Eidel ...................... Toms River HS No

Christopher Juan John P. Stevens HS

Barbara Ashley Mount Olive HS

Isaiah Mosley-Aviles ....................... Franklin HS

Shayla McPhee West Milford HS

Lucia Sun Livingston HS

TROMBONE

Alex Fullam Roxbury HS

David Laird Millville Senior HS

Sean Kruger New Providence HS

Abigail VanLangen .................. Hillsborough HS

Austin Hart Paramus HS

Shaoqing Ni Blair Academy

BASS TROMBONE

Adriana Coccaro Paramus HS

TUBA

Theodore Medina Fair Lawn HS

BATTERY PERCUSSION

Gavin Salgado ...................... East Brunswick HS

Benjamin Yao Saint Joseph Prep School

Ethan Wynn Montgomery HS

Iswer Prasad Harinarayan .. Brdgwtr-Raritan HS

TIMPANI

Julian DiMaggio .......... Bridgewater-Raritan HS

PIANO

Melody Gomez ............................. Shawnee HS

HARP

Susie Polito Immaculata HS

2025 New Jersey All-State Treble Chorus

SOPRANO I

Abigail Jane Abello Hackettstown HS

Suhani Advani No Valley Reg HS-Demarest

Makayla Albert ......................................... Nutley HS

Allison Alexis Bloomfield HS

Aliya Ali Bloomfield HS

Katie Babula Immaculata HS

Sai Brinda Bhupatiraju ............ Monroe Township HS

Rachel Kiara Bustamante Hawthorne ChriAcad

Caroline Riley Byrne Chatham HS

Emma Rylie Casper West Essex HS

Veronica Madeline Daniels ....................... Nutley HS

Vidda DelOrbe Saddle Brook MS/HS

Aahana Gupta Chatham HS

Helen Hao Livingston HS

MacKenna Healy .................... South Hunterdon RHS

Disha Hebbar Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Ava Lily Hreha Howell HS

Brianna Lynn Iocona Woodstown HS

Abhisri Karthik Iyengar John P. Stevens HS

Brianna Jimenez Sterling HS

Helena LeCompte Red Bank RHS

Olivia Lee Dwight Morrow HS

Suri Lee Mahwah HS

Yenna Lee Eastern RHS

Anusha Magdum Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Olivia Rose Marino ........................... Westfield Sr HS

Kelea Marsters Ridge HS

Kim Mason Cinnaminson HS

Kayla McNair Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Salma Mitwalli ........................... Cherry Hill HS West

Olivia Montenegro Williamstown HS

Nikol Nikolova Rutherford HS

Ashley Noh Leonia HS

Alexa Ovalle ............................................ Fort Lee HS

Juhi Pandit Fair Lawn HS

Gina Park East Brunswick HS

Haley Petrushun Ewing HS

Nithya Rangaswamy ............... Montgomery Twp SD

Karlymar Rivera-Colon Perth Amboy HS

Isabella Rocha Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Bexx Sapinski Saddle Brook MS/HS

Aditi Anand Shenoy Ridge HS

Saanvi Shringare Monroe Township HS

Morgan Elizabeth Snyder Eastern RHS

Aria H Spinetti North Hunterdon HS

Jaralin Truselo Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Olivia Vona Ramsey HS

Manali Weller Metuchen HS

Jillian Whitehead Kittatinny RHS

Cierra Wolckenhauer Villa Walsh Academy

Georgia Worley Parsippany Hills HS

Gabriella Wyers Hammonton HS

Julia Zuklie ........................................ Immaculata HS

SOPRANO II

Sakhi Balaji Montgomery Twp SD

Subiksha Baskaran ....................... John P. Stevens HS

Ari Begliomini West Morris Mendham HS

Srinitya Bhattiprolu John P. Stevens HS

Margaret Brackmann West Morris Central HS

Angelina Brennen ................................ Lyndhurst HS

Madeline Anne Carvalho Hunterdon Cent RHSD

Ella Chai Livingston HS

Reagan Daddis Cherry Hill HS East

Erin Alexandra Dawson Morris Co School Of Tech

Adrianna Elliott Washington Township HS

Rhea Fernando Livingston HS

Sophia Fiorentino ............................. High Point RHS

Hana Forbes Westfield Sr HS

Eva Friedman Pascack Hills HS

Isabella Garritano Cresskill HS

Surabhi Guha .............. W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Julia Halldorson New Providence HS

Alexis Kylie Hamlin Nutley HS

Julianne Handzus Sparta HS

Kirtana Hariharan ....................................... Ridge HS

Elizabeth Ann Hitchner Woodstown HS

Ruby Holmes West Morris Mendham HS

Fiona James Pitman HS

Saanvi Karthik ......................................Metuchen HS

Avantika Lakshman Parsippany Hills HS

Annie Lockman W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Cassandra Maningo Roxbury HS

Ellie-May Martinez Ridgefield Memorial HS

Megan Susann Mazzola Pitman HS

Noel McNeil Cranford HS

Briana Millar Washington Township HS

Luella Mockbee Westfield Sr HS

Carly Perrine Hunterdon Central RHSD

Hannah Rahman Montgomery Twp SD

Visa Ramanathan ........ W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Molly Rhoads Audubon JR/SRHS

Shawna Lee Simone Eastern RHS

Gabrielle Siochi Monroe Township HS

Sarah Sovak ............................................. Ramsey HS

Giuliana Stout Clearview RHS

Purvika Ayushi Talagadadeevi W Wind-Pboro So

Breena VanHook Roxbury HS

Mikaelyn Walsh ................................ High Point RHS

Chara J Wang Marlboro HS

Evelyn M Webber Immaculata HS

Persephone Wetcher Morristown HS

ALTO I

Reina Noelle Aliko Pascack Hills HS

Madison Ryley Anderson Winslow Township HS

Jennely Aquino Millville HS

Emma Beckwith Somerville HS

Kayla Brown Howell HS

Ashlyn Janne Choi Pascack Valley HS

Elizabeth Clare Ramsey HS

Marcy Dangervil John P. Stevens HS

Riva J. Dave John P. Stevens HS

Aparna Dhara Ridge HS

Aarna Dharia John P. Stevens HS

Jeshna Dharmarajan W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Anna Rose Farrugia Chatham HS

Jasper Jason Fernandes .......................... Roxbury HS

Gabby Forino Pennsville Memorial HS

Sofia Zahra Ghani Montgomery Twp SD

Ava Giaccio Ramsey HS

Kaia M Gordon............ W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Sharvi Gosavi Hillsborough HS

Jessie Amelia Grimes Wardlaw-Hartridge School

Maria Rosa Guarraggi No Burlington County RHS

Grace Hill ................................................ Roxbury HS

Grace Horvath South Hunterdon RHS

Teresa Jackson Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Juilee Joshi Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Kai Kamasamudram Millburn HS

Mehroop Kaur John P. Stevens HS

Je’Nae Lawson Millville HS

Hannah Locke ................... New Jersey Youth Chorus

Medha Mahamkali Randolph HS

Luciana Musano West Essex HS

Sujin Park Cresskill HS

Susan Josephine Polito ..................... Immaculata HS

Arianna Press Pennsville Memorial HS

Ivanna Samuel Monroe Township HS

Sarah Sankel New Jersey Youth Chorus

Sravya Tanguturi ......... W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Nina Tavani Rutherford HS

Jasmine Wang Livingston HS

Mia Wenglicki Gateway RHS

Juliet Wilson ......................................... Fair Lawn HS

ALTO II

Danna Alvarez Cresskill HS

Camilla Ambrocio Pascack Hills HS

Alexandra Amiths Nutley HS

Alanis Avila Ridgefield Memorial HS

Summer Caffrey Lyndhurst HS

Alexis Ciardella West Essex HS

Breelagh Colarusso High Point RHS

Talia Crossan Clearview RHS

Brielle Epstein ......................... Montgomery Twp SD

Riley Erwin Audubon JR/SRHS

Pamela Flores Audubon JR/SRHS

Sadie Marie Frame Highland RHS

Izabel Gomez ...................................... Somerville HS

Stephanie Hannah Guan Parsippany HS

Analyse Guerrero Hunterdon Central RHSD

Sydney Hain Piscataway HS

Aeron Hollenbeck ................................. Shawnee HS

Maya A Janssen West Morris Central HS

Emma K Krijger Morris Hills HS

Kyra Lentzner Westfield Sr HS

Lilly Low ........................................... Audubon J/S HS

Emma March Somerville HS

Izabella Amada Melendez Winslow Township HS

Amina Miranda Fair Lawn HS

Emerson Morales Nutley HS

Emily Katherine Nichols Immaculata HS

Anabelle Ortiz West Morris Central HS

Samantha Nayeli Pac North Plainfield HS

Sophia Padilla Pascack Hills HS

Alyssa Peña Paramus HS

Jayla Elizabeth Pierre Saddle Brook MS/HS

Delaney Ramsden Somerville HS

Aanya Rathi Livingston HS

Lyla Brooke Sickler Middletown HS North

Amelia Sokol Saddle Brook MS/HS

Jordyn Storck ......................... Winslow Township HS

Haylie Strafella Washington Township HS

Aashna Tiwary Ridge HS

Catherine Turro Roxbury HS

Mia Vazquez ................................. Pascack Valley HS

Hannah Verbrugge Bergen Co Technical Sch

Téa Vukosavljevic Blair Academy

Emma Wang Millburn HS

Chloe Yi .................................................... Ramsey HS

Joohee F Yoon Pascack Valley HS

Olivia Zettell Freehold Township HS

2025 New Jersey All-State Symphonic Band

PICCOLO

Matthew Collins Morristown HS

FLUTE

Huike Zhou ......................... The Peddie School

Trista Chao ......... W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Allison Park No Valley Reg HS at Demarest

Claire Park No Valley Reg HS at Demarest

Catherine Wang Ridge HS

Jianing Liu .................................... Princeton HS

Angela Chen ................................ Princeton HS

Alice Su Ridge HS

Shining Wang Livingston HS

Devansh Shah John P. Stevens HS

Daniel Sgro ............................ Montgomery HS

Alivia Chen Cherry Hill HS East

OBOE

Priscilla Chang Piscataway HS

Grace Ort Morris Knolls HS

Grace Noh Bergen Co Acad

Eric Liu ............................................. Tenafly HS

ENGLISH HORN

Raewon Kim Paramus HS

BASSOON

Andrew Yuan W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Thomas German Mount Olive HS

Rhea Gupta South Brunswick HS

Raoul Dosanj-Mikkelsen ................Millburn HS

Bb CLARINET

Justin Ni John P. Stevens HS

Derek Zheng Moorestown HS

Liv Perry Wall HS

Audrey Hahn Tenafly HS

Yuven Amala ....................... John P. Stevens HS

Luke Zang Millburn HS

Alexander Qi Watchung Hills Reg HS

Nina Gustavsen Morristown HS

Claire Cheng Livingston HS

Matthew Gao........... The Lawrenceville School

Cherie Xu Montgomery HS

Brianna Gibson Hillsborough HS

Alice Xie The Lawrenceville School

Yeseo Choi ............................ River Dell Reg HS

Martin Kim..................................... Cresskill HS

Emily Jin Ridge HS

Theo Jeon Bergen Co Technical HS Teterboro

Soren Decker Franklin HS

Maria Mueller..................... East Brunswick HS

Seojin Kim ................................. Ridgewood HS

David Ochoa Elizabeth HS

Olivia Kim Dwight Morrow HS

Ankit Sarukkai W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Natalie Bellush .................................. Sparta HS

ALTO CLARINET

Dev Zaveri ........................... John P. Stevens HS

BASS CLARINET

Riley Talerico-Dovel Freehold Twp HS

Taseen Afroz ....................... John P. Stevens HS

Daniel Afkhami Metuchen HS

Charlotte Wells East Brunswick HS

CONTRABASS CLARINET

Cy Cooper Princeton Day School

SOPRANO SAXOPHONE

Stephen Dellagicoma West Milford HS

ALTO SAXOPHONE

Spoorthy Gundra Union Co VoTech Sch

Eric Sigalov Montgomery HS

Jayjune Shin Montgomery HS

Vincent Park ..... No Valley Reg HS at Demarest

TENOR SAXOPHONE

Derek Wagener ........................... Livingston HS

Theodore Rowe Mainland Reg HS

BARITONE SAXOPHONE

Dylan Dell Beni ......................... Hightstown HS

Eli Wunder Ridgewood HS

TRUMPET

Teresa Wang Millburn HS

Annika DeBear Moorestown HS

Pranav Bhalerao John P. Stevens HS

Ella Hashimoto ................................ Lenape HS

Taran Vakkada John P. Stevens HS

Arthur Rachofsky Morristown HS

Justin Lambert ............................... Millburn HS

Justin Lee Wall HS

Michael Flannery Morris Hills HS

Nathan DeBole Westfield HS

Caden Scire .................................... Roxbury HS

Amelia Schaller Villa Victoria Academy

Christopher Kim No Valley Reg HS-Old Tappan

FRENCH HORN

Kyle Verrone Cherokee HS

Shayla McPhee West Milford HS

Vanessa Cabrera ....................... Morris Hills HS

Isaiah Mosley-Aviles Franklin HS

Landon Whitney Roxbury HS

Lucia Sun .................................... Livingston HS

Molly Van Wyk South Plainfield HS

Neel Kamanth W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

TROMBONE

Cameron Van Wyk South Plainfield HS

Chris McMenamy Southern Reg HS

Rishith Duggimpudi John P. Stevens HS

Siddhant Naik ............................. Metuchen HS

Edward Tsistinas Monroe Twp HS

Wesley Yang Livingston HS

Abigail VanLangen Hillsborough HS

Avinash Rajakkal John P. Stevens HS

Aidan Joyal............................. Morris Knolls HS

BASS TROMBONE

Logan Carlsen Hillsborough HS

EUPHONIUM

Stephen Franzese Old Bridge HS

Agastya Shahane Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Max Kenny Hunterdon Central Reg HS

Hayden Moon ................................ Millburn HS

TUBA

Jackson Skanes Williamstown HS

Maanav Chittireddy John P. Stevens HS

Shrey Sawal ........................ John P. Stevens HS

Michael Nieves ............................... Rahway HS

Alex Giangone The Peddie School

Daniel Gonzalez Kittatinny Reg HS

BATTERY PERCUSSION

Benjamin Milas Clearview Reg HS

Joshua Oh Ridgewood HS

Juan Mora Herrera Edison HS

Nickolas Alcaide John P. Stevens HS

Aidan Lin ................................. Monroe Twp HS

Craig CJ Guarente West Morris Mendham HS

MALLETS

Michael Tomassi Roxbury HS

Albert Battagliotti ............................. Edison HS

TIMPANI

Will Stewart River Dell Reg HS

PIANO

Siddhant Sharma Tenafly HS

SOPRANO SOLOIST

Rachel Bustamante ......... Hawthorne Christian

2024 New Jersey All-State Mixed Chorus

SOPRANO I

Smruthi Arun John P. Stevens HS

Caitlin Buckley Pascack Hills HS

Ryleigh Burchell ......................... Indian Hills HS

Lauren Byrne Chatham HS

Sofia Cesario Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Sehaj Chadha Monroe Township HS

Hannah Cohen No Valley Reg HS-Demarest

Annabella Cox ............. Pennsville Memorial HS

Emily Cugini Monroe Township HS

Sara Deo John P. Stevens HS

Lilith Dowd Parsippany Hills HS

Alicia Fallon ............. Washington Township HS

Emily Ferry ................................. Kingsway RHS

Elizabeth Fleming Pennsville Memorial HS

Emily Franek Vernon Township HS

Olivia Gallagher Palmyra HS

Shilo Garnett................. Winslow Township HS

Mya Glasofer ................................ Eastern RHS

Emma Gonzalez Parsippany HS

Cayleigh Green Shawnee HS

Carmela Guarraggi No Burlington Co RHS

Sophia Hahn .................................... Tenafly HS

Riley Holmes Washington Township HS

Aryah Jenne Hawthorne Christian Acad

Simone Kaden Lyndhurst HS

Sanya Kalbag Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Sachie Kelkar ............................. Parsippany HS

Erin Lee No Valley Reg HS-Old Tappan

Makayla Lenhardt Egg Harbor Township HS

Ria Mahajan Robbinsville HS

Aishani Mandalia Ridge HS

Mia Montenegro .................. Williamstown HS

Ellery Nowak Montclair Kimberley Acad

Tayah Owens Saddle Brook MS/HS

Molly Park Burlington Co Inst Of Tech

Alyssa Pray Howell HS

Eva Qin.................................... Hillsborough HS

Aleena Rahman Randolph HS

Angelica Rodriguez Rutherford HS

Lilly Rykaczewski Shawnee HS

Anika Sandilya .............................. Eastern RHS

Alexandra Scherban ................... Rutherford HS

Arlyn Valdez Perth Amboy HS

Lillia Vega Roxbury HS

Elaina Voto Parsippany HS

Sofia Wilkins ................................. Paramus HS

II

Advika Anand John P. Stevens HS

Laila Arnauer .................... Cherry Hill HS West

Yulia Bidula Kingsway RHS

Kaleigh Bodtmann Roxbury HS

Guntas Brar Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Elisa Castro West Morris Central HS

Emma Cieslik ......................... Morris Knolls HS

Valentina Ciucci Westfield Sr HS

Allison Crean Morristown HS

Kaitlyn D'Alessandro Westfield Sr HS

Amelia D'Ostilio Washington Township HS

Colleen Feeney .............................. Roxbury HS

Ella Gabbay Eastern RHS

Addison Geisler Cherry Hill HS East

Riley Green South Brunswick HS

Danielle Hannah Woodstown HS

Angelina Huang ................................. Ridge HS

Juliette Jalbert Vernon Township HS

Sienna Jorge Ridgefield Memorial HS

Sarah Kanchi John P. Stevens HS

Seher Kaur ........................ South Brunswick HS

Rachel Kim ................... Bergen CoTech Schools

Nikita Kumar Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Jianna Marina North Hunterdon HS

Shivali Pandya South Brunswick HS

Ishana Parmar ....... Montgomery Township SD

Kerry Prunk ................................... Mahwah HS

Rhiannon Rankus Burlington Co Inst Of Tech

Elizabeth Ricucci Roxbury HS

Katherine Ruggiero West Essex HS

Mia Saco .................................. Westfield Sr HS

Ava Spinetti North Hunterdon HS

Vedika Srinivasan John P. Stevens HS

Cameron Tatam Woodstown HS

Maya Teckwani Pascack Valley HS

Meghan Wagner ...... Manchester Township HS

Yaxuan Wang Livingston HS

Rachel Zack New Providence HS

Anika Zoeller Morris Co School Of Tech

ALTO I

Joanna Alexander Audubon J/S HS

Raaginisree Anandkumar Montgomery SD

Isabella Bartlett Lyndhurst HS

Anna Bennington .............North Hunterdon HS

Avery Brooks Westfield Sr HS

Emma Canavan Morristown HS

Chloe Chang Eastern RHS

Saanvi Choukekar ............... John P. Stevens HS

Emma Cochran ....................... Audubon J/S HS

Charlotte Cotroneo Westfield Sr HS

Marley Dennis Bloomfield HS

Madeline Dileo No Burlington Co RHS

Bethany Duffy ................................... Nutley HS

Marisiya Goins ......... Manchester Township HS

Zara Gorelczenko Howell HS

Leah Griffin Rutherford HS

Lauren Kim W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Lola Klemash ..................... Haddon Heights HS

Lois Kwak Fort Lee HS

Ava Lebb Audubon J/S HS

Adriana LoPiccolo Hunterdon Central RHSD

Lily Mead Millville HS

Grace Methe.............................. Rutherford HS

Mia Nuzzo Westfield Sr HS

Olivia Pampliega Pascack Valley HS

Reva Patel Nutley HS

Gayatri Phatak Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Anushka Pophali ................................ Ridge HS

Taryn Ribaudo Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Farrah Roberson Delaware Valley RHS

Sofia Rohanna Washington Township HS

Rachel Rosales Saddle Brook MS/HS

Layla Santos .................................Lyndhurst HS

Sanvi Shah John P. Stevens HS

Aanya Sinha Parsippany HS

Madeleine Smith Westfield Sr HS

Peyton Spencer ......................... Red Bank RHS

Hallie Stringham ................ Parsippany Hills HS

Saanvi Tatti Monroe Township HS

Brielle Tavares Allentown HS

Sonya Tereshko Washington Township HS

Emily Tessitore ......................... Westfield Sr HS

Sarina Valentine............. Monroe Township HS

Clay Valleau Kittatinny RHS

Anagha Vineeth John F Kennedy Mem HS

ALTO II

Olivia Acosta West Morris Central HS

Carla Al-Ola Ramsey HS

Zailyn Alcantara Ridgefield Memorial HS

Anamika Bachoo .................... Perth Amboy HS

Vincent Barlettano Bloomfield HS

Reese Berg Kittatinny RHS

Mickenna Biggins No Valley Reg HS-Demarest

Samantha Bobrin Cinnaminson HS

Jennifer Buczynski ......................... Roxbury HS

Natalie Cook Hackettstown HS

Caterina Dorsey Vernon Township HS

Abigail Elphick Nutley HS

Eve Escribano Westfield Sr HS

Abigail Fauci........................ East Brunswick HS

Olivia Gabbanelli Saddle Brook MS/HS

Alexis Guevara Nutley HS

Maya Haig North Hunterdon HS

Julia James ............. Montgomery Township SD

Cassie Juarez................. Winslow Township HS

Adhirai Karthik Ridge HS

Beatriz Labing-isa Morris Knolls HS

Megan Lee Cherry Hill HS East

Nayeli Lemus ..................................... Ewing HS

Virginia Messick ....................... Woodstown HS

Sophia Morrone Haddon Township HS

Melody Parisi West Deptford HS

Nadia Rego Westfield Sr HS

Alexa Sawh ........................... Hackettstown HS

Kara Schofield Audubon J/S HS

Jasani Shellman Ramsey HS

Avani Singh Mahwah HS

Megha Srinivas Morris Hills HS

Lily Tamagno .................. No Burlington Co RHS

SOPRANO

2024 New Jersey All-State Mixed Chorus (cont.)

Shania Tiwari Monroe Township HS

Sasha Torres.................................... Millville HS

Emma Tritthart .....................Pascack Valley HS

Hrithika Vedula John P. Stevens HS

Violetta Wiggert Millburn HS

Savannah Wrigley North Hunterdon HS

TENOR I

Joseph Brennen Lyndhurst HS

Caia Cano Brick Township Mem HS

Jackson Canto ............................... Chatham HS

Sean Coakley North Plainfield HS

Edward Derderian Cedar Grove HS

Jesse Diribe Wallkill Valley RHS

Andrew Gathercole Cranford HS

Sharanya Jha ...................... Parsippany Hills HS

Jay Lazen Red Bank RHS

Jonathan Monterosa Nutley HS

Lily Pavlenko Fair Lawn HS

Nived Ranjan Pascack Valley HS

Joshua Rivera ................................... Howell HS

Joseph Romeo Lyndhurst HS

Caden Scire Roxbury HS

Dylan Selick Tenafly HS

Alex Tanaka ..................... Saddle Brook MS/HS

Asher Walker ..................Haddon Township HS

Alexander Wang Millburn HS

Alexander Yang Livingston HS

TENOR II

Jack DeAngelo New Jersey Youth Chorus

Ripley Ballou Nutley HS

Gurneel Batra W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Param Bhatt ........................ John P. Stevens HS

Isaac Chang No Valley Reg HS-Old Tappan

Noah Chazotte Pompton Lakes HS

Elijah Chen Pascack Hills HS

Ben Cole Allentown HS

Chase Coleman .......................... Matawan RHS

Samuel Damonvil North Plainfield HS

Garrett Gao Westfield Sr HS

Gavin Gardner Roxbury HS

Derek Gatto Roxbury HS

Samuel Geller ........ West Morris Mendham HS

Rico Gonzalez Middletown HS North

Jiuk Hong No Valley Reg HS-Old Tappan

Darsh Jaiswal Robbinsville HS

Zachary Joyal Morris Hills HS

Liam Kelter....................... Vernon Township HS

Brandon Lattanzi Paramus HS

Noah Mendoza St Peter's Prep School

Dhruv Mirchanadani John P. Stevens HS

Carter Morales............ Ridgefield Memorial HS

Ian Mottershead ...................Pascack Valley HS

Donny Nguyen Audubon J/S HS

David Oliveira Morris Knolls HS

Knevin Pilley Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Chase Prowisor ............................. Eastern RHS

Charlie Riley ................................... Newton HS

Samuel Rippon Roxbury HS

Diego Rodriguez Roxbury HS

Isaac Smith Haddon Township HS

Nicholas Spivak .............................. Roxbury HS

Alex Tarnok Montville Township HS

Presley Terch Washington Township HS

Nikhil Tiwari Livingston HS

Christopher Uglialoro Cranford HS

Nathanael Varghese ................ Morristown HS

Arav Wadhwani N Valley Reg HS-Old Tappan

Timothy Wei Ridge HS

Rayan Yamout Lyndhurst HS

BASS I

Cameron Anderson Nutley HS

Alejandro Bailey Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Marvin Balzer Cherry Hill HS East

Colin Barry .............................. Pascack Hills HS

Matthew Blanchard Nutley HS

Nick Bordoni Mountain Lakes HS

Lincoln Boyes Nutley HS

Sean Busk .................................. Red Bank RHS

Justin Casler ................................ Allentown HS

Jed Cha Hawthorne Christian Acad

Caleb Chan Bergen County Tech Schools

Ethan Chang W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Anish Dhal ............. Montgomery Township SD

Felipe Espinosa .......................... Bloomfield HS

Samuel Guanzon Nutley HS

Melvin Guevara-Mercado Mahwah HS

Jacob Jarusiewicz Monroe Township HS

Edward Kang ............... Bergen Co Tech Schools

Taejun Kang Fort Lee HS

Matthew Kearstan West Morris Central HS

Nathaniel Kern Kittatinny RHS

Luke Krombholz Metuchen HS

Ryan Landrieu ............................ Somerville HS

Bodhi Lieu Red Bank RHS

Nikul Maloo John P. Stevens HS

Michael Mathew Montgomery Twp SD

John McGuire Nutley HS

Dominick McNew ...........Haddon Township HS

Aditya Mirchandani Livingston HS

Anderson Moss Pascack Hills HS

Colin Mossmann Mahwah HS

Ben Njoku North Plainfield HS

Matthew Palmieri ......................... Chatham HS

Max Petrik Hillsborough HS

Aahaan Rathi Livingston HS

Milton Reyes John F Kennedy Mem HS

Andrew Rickey .............................. Eastern RHS

Jackson Saltzman ................ Wallkill Valley RHS

Miles Schmidt West Essex HS

Angus Schmitt High Point RHS

Shray Sharma W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Jake Six .............................. North Plainfield HS

Jackson Strong ........................ Audubon J/S HS

Daniel Viola West Essex HS

Vincent Wilson Monroe Township HS

Conner Wood New Providence HS

BASS II

Elias Atekpe Hawthorne Christian Acad

Garv Banerji South Brunswick HS

Onur Baran .............. New Jersey Youth Chorus

Joydeep Basu W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Benjamin Best Livingston HS

Noah Blasiak Nutley HS

Jesse Carmody Livingston HS

Aaron Choi ............................... River Dell Sr HS

Jachin Choi Mahwah HS

Marcus DeBarbieri Vernon Township HS

Ivan Denissov Moorestown HS

Satvik Dhananjay South Brunswick HS

Luke Dodge ........................... Hackettstown HS

David Doherty Roxbury HS

Lucas Espinoza Paramus HS

Etienne Gallacher North Hunterdon HS

Sean Gavin .................................. Allentown HS

Michael Geller ....... West Morris Mendham HS

Shaine Gibson Ewing HS

Logan Griffiths Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Z Hess Hammonton HS

Kshitij Jain ........................... John P. Stevens HS

Sarvajit Karanth ......................... Parsippany HS

Daniel Lee No Valley Reg HS-Old Tappan

Jaiden Lenihan Roxbury HS

Chenhao Luo Livingston HS

Anthony Manna ............................ Kinnelon HS

Tyler Mark Moorestown HS

Matthew Martinez Lawrence HS

Peter Min Livingston HS

Tanish Mittal John P. Stevens HS

Dante Moody..................Haddon Township HS

Daniel Mun Bergen Co Tech Schools

Tommy Oberle Leonia HS

Roey Paglingayen Morris Hills HS

Alexander Park Rutherford HS

Aaron Pinsky .......... Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Alekaii Rosado Nutley HS

Andrew Rynd Bergen Co Tech Schools

Yoav Sered Hawthorne Christian Acad

Liam Strauser Bergen Co Tech Schools

Ayan Swain ............................. Pascack Hills HS

Luke Tursi Haddon Heights HS

Michael Vespignani West Morris Central HS

2024 New Jersey All-State Intermediate Orchestra

FIRST VIOLIN

Leilani Gopal ........................... Woodrow Wilson MS

Paige Wang Woodrow Wilson MS

Stephen Shen ....................................... Churchill JHS

Eric Bae Norwood Public Sch

Advithi Sriram .....................Montgomery Upper MS

Ayden Chung Cresskill MS

Simon Zhang .................................. William R. Satz IS

Julia Qu Thomas Grover MS

Riya Satwalekar ......................................Roosevelt IS

Jonina Hou Princeton Charter Sch

Lilia Duval .............................................. Westfield EIS

Chloe Ha William Annin MS

Naomi Wu............................ Allen W Roberts ES Sch

Charles Wu Lewis F Cole IS

Alyssa Lee .............................. Princeton Charter Sch

Suri Zhou Englewood Cliffs Upper Sch

Allen Yu ......................................... William Annin MS

Vaibhav Sitaraman John Adams MS

Geoffrey Chen ...................................... Chatham MS

Meghna Kundu Community MS

Natalie Chong ............................... William Annin MS

Jacqueline Bi Woodrow Wilson MS

Tonia Wu ........................... Far Hills Country Day Sch

Jessica Hao Heritage MS

SECOND VIOLIN

Ira Tiwary Heritage MS

Yashwant Balagurusam.......... Woodrow Wilson MS

Zhiwei Ma Churchill JHS

Angela Xie ............................................. Churchill JHS

Sophia Akel Thomas Grover MS

Allen Wu ...................................... Mountainview MS

Daria Kuang The Potter's School

Johnny Ren Thomas Jefferson MS

Claire Hodgson Princeton MS

Hanna Gao ...................................... Hillsborough MS

Irene Yoo Montgomery Lower MS

Yochin Chang ....................................... Princeton MS

Shreya Visvanathan Thomas R. Grover MS

Ashley Chen .................................. William Annin MS

Grace Lee West Brook MS

Hamilton Ji Dressel .............. Wardlaw Hartridge Sch

Olivia Hoang New Providence MS

Aaron Shen .........................................East Brook MS

Colin Ding Tenakill MS

Paul Turchetta...............................Princeton Day Sch

Amy Chu

Thomas Grover MS

Emma Wang ..................................Thomas Edison IS

Gemma Lee Henry C. Beck MS

Moksh Rajpal ....................................... Princeton MS

VIOLA

Alan Lei .................................................. Churchill MS

Yuna Jeon William Allen MS

Aahana Shah........................... Woodrow Wilson MS

Ryan Ryu Cresskill MS

Emily Engber................................ Orchard Valley MS

Arshi Goel Wardlaw Hartridge Sch

Cailynn Kim ............................................. Cresskill MS

Kathy Zhao Montgomery Upper MS

Audrey Han.............................................. Tenakill MS

Katie Zhao Montgomery Upper MS

Arnav Nair .................................. Thomas Grover MS

Jonas Lee Haworth School

Madeline Thompson-Ruiz .............. Maplewood MS

Emily Wei Bridgewater Raritan MS

Justin Wang .......................................... Churchill JHS

Kaushal Chikka Thomas Grover MS

CELLO

Aarav Gupta Community MS

Catherine You Princeton Charter Sch

Hayun Son William Annin MS

Joshua Kang Hammarskjold Upper ES

Dylan Jiang William Annin MS

Ryan Yan Princeton Charter Sch

Kristian Kowalewski William Annin MS

Austin Wu Churchill JHS

Chloe Wang Columbia MS

Arnav Shah Brooklawn MS

Jeffrey Li Brooklawn MS

Adelyn Hsu

William Annin MS

Lindsey Wei Henry C. Beck MS

Nathan Chang Henry C. Beck MS

David Link Southern Regional MS

Yoonseong Lee Cresskill MS

SeoEun Kim................................... William Annin MS

Jayden Chung Tenakill MS

BASS

Alexander Gigliotti New Providence MS

Melissa Engber ............................ Orchard Valley MS

Kan Ota West Brook MS

Bryan Lu ......................................... William Allen MS

Uttara Gajula Community MS

Rylee Verzella ..................... Solid Rock Christian Sch

Sohan Kondru Thomas R. Grover MS

Rachel Jeon............................................. Cresskill MS

Aarna Sharma Thomas Grover MS

Mina Alborzi ........................... Woodrow Wilson MS

2024 New Jersey All-State Jazz Band

SAXOPHONES

Anish Alur, Alto I Ridge HS

Noah Tamiso, Alto II Newark Academy

Joanna Hyland, Tenor I Audubon HS

Jackson Pellegrino, Tenor II Columbia HS

Henry Yip, Bari .............................. Morristown HS

TRUMPETS

Rex Jacobs, Lead Shawnee HS

Lucas Comesana Princeton HS

Armando Martell Robbinsville HS

Matthew Chen Princeton HS

TROMBONES

Alexander Marichal Mount Olive HS

Cameron Van Wyk ................. South Plainfield HS

Anthony Orphanos Shawnee HS

Xander Baltuano, Bass Passaic County Tech Vo

RHYTHM SECTION

Thomas Dinh, Piano Robbinsville HS

Ryen Anders, Bass Ridgewood HS

Jackson Provan, Guitar James Caldwell HS

Christopher DeLaRosa, Drums ....... Egg Harbor HS

Emmet Simon, Vibes ....................... Columbia HS

2024 New Jersey All-State Jazz Choir

Niko Alexis Abraham Clark HS

Thomas Anzuini ..................... Burlington City HS

Angelyna Bonilla ................................ Rahway HS

Leah Brown Abraham Clark HS

Luca Como East Brunswick HS

Charles Japheth Ello Rahway HS

Ethan Fastag-Rosenfield Hopewell Valley CHS

Elise Granzow Hopewell Valley CHS

Giana Griffiths Villa Victory Academy

Julianne Handzus ................................. Sparta HS

Vidhya Karuppiah ................... East Brunswick HS

Marni E Kramer East Brunswick HS

Jeffrey Lopez Rahway HS

Dimarie Morales Perth Amboy HS

Mia Romero Perth Amboy HS

Amelia Schaller Villa Victoria Academy

Alina Valdez Perth Amboy HS

Christopher Vasquez Perth Amboy HS

Nicole Weathers ................................ Rahway HS

RHYTHM SECTION

George Shekiladze, Piano Lyndhurst HS

Luke Blatt, Guitar Kingsway HS

Ted Crall, Bass Newark Academy Vir Mehrotra, Drums W Windsor-Plainsboro S

16th Annual New Jersey Young Composers Final

Andrew Lesser, Ed.D.

NJMEA Young Composers Competition Chair andrew.lesser[at]yahoo.com

The 16th annual New Jersey Young Composers Competition (NJ-YCC) finals were held on Saturday, February 22th, 2025, at the annual New Jersey Music Educators Conference in Atlantic City. Students from all over the New Jersey area submitted original compositions in both instrumental and vocal divisions. Finalists were interviewed by a panel of judges representing the NJ-YCC committee; special thanks to Committee Member Raif Hyseni for providing an excellent critique session. Recordings of each finalists' compositions are now posted on the NJMEA website under the Young Composers Competition link. Applications for the 2025-26 competition will also be posted on the website in the Fall of 2025. Congratulations to all who participated, and we look forward to receiving more exemplary submissions for our next competition.

Congratulations to the following finalists:

Grand Prize Winner: “Winter Lake Lullaby” by Jeffrey Li Brooklawn Middle School

Finalists:

“Caribbean Caprice” by Sterling H. Kimble Clifton High School

“The Test” by Isabella Hsu Montgomery High School

High school musicians, learn from the best this summer.

Immerse yourself in music-making during an intensive week-long, residential program. Improve your technique and performance skills under the guidance of professional musicians — Susquehanna’s expert faculty.

Apply to the program that matches your talent and your passion.

JUNE 22-28, 2025

Wind Ensemble Institute

Director: Dr. Eric Hinton (hinton@susqu.edu)

JULY 6–12, 2025

Choral Institute

Director: Dr. Amy Voorhees (voorhees@susqu.edu)

Music Production Institute

Director: Dr. Pat Long (longp@susqu.edu)

Who May Register

High school students entering grades 9–12 in the fall of 2025 are invited to register. Selection is based on either recommendation or essay submission, depending on the program.

comprehensive fee includes room, meals and all program materials for the week.

Institute Highlights

► Be free from distractions as you totally immerse yourself in music and your instrument.

► Polish your technique in private lessons and master classes with expert faculty.

► Build relationships and valuable connections with peers and professional musicians.

► Develop audition repertoire and techniques for future musical endeavors.

► Gain access to stellar facilities, including SU’s state-of-the-art recording studio.

► Acquire transferable skills: independence, creativity, problem-solving and teamwork in a musical setting.

► Gain insight into college music opportunities for majors and non-majors alike.

NJMEA RESOURCE PERSONNEL

Area of Responsibility

Administrative Matters

Name

Email Address

David Westawski westawski.njmea[at]gmail.com

All-State Coordinator Joseph Cantaffa jcantaffa[at]rocknrollchorus.com

Association Business ....................................................... William McDevitt ...................................... wmcdevittnjmea[at]gmail.com

Band Performance Chair

Patrick O'Keefe patrickaokeefe[at]gmail.com

Band Procedures Chair ..................................................... Tyler Wiernusz ................................. twiernusz[at]clearviewregional.edu

Choral Performance Chair

Brian Williams williams.brian[at]robbinsville.k12.nj.us

Choral Procedures Chair Ken Bryson kennethbryson[at]gmail.com

Composition Contest ........................................................ Andrew Lesser .......................................... andrew.lesser[at]yahoo.com

Diversity/Equity/Inclusion/Access

Guitar Education ..............................................................

Isaiah C. Mason deia.njmea[at]gmail.com

Jayson Martinez ............................................... jmartinez[at]nps.k12.nj.us

Jazz Procedures Chair ..................................................... Darrell Hendricks ...................................... dhendricks.njaje[at]gmail.com

Marching Band Festival Chair

Membership ...................................................................

Middle/Junior High Band Festival

Middle/Junior High Choral Festival ............................

Nancy Clasen nancyclasen[at]gmail.com

William McDevitt ...................................... wmcdevittnjmea[at]gmail.com

Nancy Clasen nancyclasen[at]gmail.com

Donna Marie Berchtold ....................................... firesongwed[at]gmail.com

Modern Band .......................................................................

MusicTECH Fest

NJMEA Historian .............................................................

NJMEA State Conference Exhibits Chair

Zach Gates ........................................ zacharygatesmusic[at]gmail.com

Shawna Longo shawnalongo[at]gmail.com

Nicholas Santoro ................................................... n31b13[at]gmail.com

Nancy Clasen nancyclasen[at]gmail.com

NJMEA State Conference Manager Marie Malara malara97[at]aol.com

NJMEA/ACDA Honors Choir ............................................... Kaitlyn Reiser ......................................................... kreiser[at]spfk12.org

November Convention – NJEA

Opera Festival Chair ...................................................

Orchestra Performance Chair

Nancy Clasen nancyclasen[at]gmail.com

Donna Marie Berchtold ....................................... firesongwed[at]gmail.com

Susan Meuse susanmeuse[at]gmail.com

Orchestra Procedures Chair Liam Keller & Elisabeth Sato orchestra.njmea[at]gmail.com

Research ........................................................................ Marissa Silverman ........................................ silvermanm[at]montclair.edu

Students with Special Needs

Maureen Butler maureenbutlermusic[at]gmail.com Supervisor of Performing Groups .................................... Wayne Mallette .......................................... mallette.njmea[at]gmail.com Tri-M Yale Snyder snyder.njmea[at]gmail.com

REPRESENTATIVES/LIAISONS TO AFFILIATED, ASSOCIATED AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS

NJ American Choral Directors Association .......................... John Wilson ................................................... jwilson[at]brrsd.k12.nj.us Governor’s Award for Arts Education Wayne Mallette mallette.njmea[at]gmail.com

NJ Association for Jazz Education ................................... Darrell Hendricks ....................................... dhendricks.njaje[at]gmail.com NAfME William McDevitt wmcdevittnjmea[at]gmail.com

NJ Music Administrators Association Alfred Hadinger alfred_hadinger[at]nplainfield.org

NJ Retired Music Educators Association ............................ Ronald Dolce ....................................................... rdolce561[at]aol.com

Percussive Arts Society Joe Bergen joe[at]mantrapercussion.org

COMMUNICATION SERVICES/PUBLIC RELATIONS

Executive Director/TEMPO Editor/ TEMPO Express/NJMEA Website .................................... William McDevitt ..................................... wmcdevittnjmea[at]gmail.com

Joan Ringle Policastro

This column salutes the lives and careers of recently departed colleagues. It is the way NJMEA and NJRMEA can express appreciation for the work that they have done and the lives that they have touched. We mourn their passing and salute their contributions, which are the basis for music education in the state of New Jersey.

Joan Ringle Policastro passed away peacefully on January 23, 2025. Joan earned a BS degree in music from Lebanon Valley College and a MA in Music from Rutgers University, as well as her supervisory certification. She was the Music and Arts Chairperson in Middlesex Borough NJ for many years where she primarily taught general music classes and choir to junior and senior high students.

Joan was a Past President of the New Jersey Music Educators Association. As a member of its’ Board of Directors, she served as State Chairperson for “Music In Our Schools Week” and the Convention Manager for State music conventions in New Jersey. She also served as a Clinician at the Eastern Music Education National Conference and was President of the Central Jersey Music Education Association. In addition, Joan was very active in the life of her church where she directed several vocal and bell choirs. She was an accomplished pianist and organist and taught privately for multiple years.

Joan is predeceased by her loving husband, Steven Gerald Policastro and survived by her children; Dr. Victoria Policastro Vega, Gregory Policastro, grandchildren; Dr. Connor Policastro, Christian Vega, Lauren Joan Vega Duhe’, Alexandra Vega Boudreau, and great grandchildren; Nora Joan Policastro, Erin Victoria Policastro and Sean Allen Policastro.

Werner Lutz, 94, of Bristol Glen in Newton, NJ passed away on February 28.

Werner was born in Bay Shore, Long Island, NY to the late Hugo and Margarete (Schroeder) Lutz on February 18, 1931. He attended Potsdam State Teachers College (now SUNY Potsdam) to become a music teacher. While there, he met Brenda Ward, and they were married right after graduation in 1953. As was expected in those days, Werner enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Fort Dix, NJ where he played in the band. He often downplayed his military duty by claiming he fought the battle of the NJ Turnpike.

Upon his discharge, he and Brenda moved to Long Island where he played his trumpet professionally and taught music in public school. In 1966, a brand-new high school opened in Sussex County, NJ and Werner moved his family to Branchville. He was an original faculty member of High Point Regional High School as the supervisor of music and the instrumental teacher, as well as the musical director of the plays. He composed the school’s alma mater, “Praising High Point” and co-wrote the fight song, “Wildcat Roar” with Ed Molina. While at High Point, he was a respected leader and served as the president of the Education Association. He remained there until his retirement from education in 1986.

Werner was a world-class trumpet player. He often reflected that he considered himself a musician who taught school to pay the bills. A member of the NYC Local 802 Musicians Union, he played

Werner Lutz

most weekend nights in the greater metropolitan area. When he came to NJ, he served as the conductor of the Sussex County Symphony. After leaving his teaching position, he played the trumpet for Bob Crosby and the Bobcats and later, became a member of the Dixieland band “Swing ‘N Dixie.” During this part of his career, he recorded a number of albums, played one of Ronald Reagan’s Inaugural Balls, and performed around the world, including behind the Iron Curtain.

Along with his parents and his wife, Brenda, Werner was predeceased by his sister Peggy Cronin. He is survived by his children Deborah Anderson (James), Jeffrey Lutz (Jenny), and Michael Lutz (Laurie); his grandchildren, Derek Anderson (Melissa Kibbe), Julie Clawson (Ben), Annie Lutz (Austin Begley), Matthew Lutz (Taddy), David Lutz (Stephanie), and Rebecca Williams (Christopher); and his great-grandchildren.

Leonard R. Rykaczewski

Leonard R. Rykaczewski, 89, of Vero Beach, Florida, formerly of Cherry Hill, passed away peacefully on January 29, 2025, at Samaritan Hospice in Voorhees, NJ. Len was born on February 17, 1935, in Philadelphia, PA, to the late Joseph and Laura Rykaczewski. Leonard's life was marked by his dedication to his family, his passion for music, and his commitment to enriching the lives of his students. Leonard received his undergraduate degree at Transylvania College in Lexington, KY and his master's degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Go Blue! Leonard served as a music teacher at Woodrow Wilson and Haddonfield High Schools, as well as several elementary and middle schools. In addition, he taught private piano lessons to students throughout South Jersey.

Outside the classroom, Leonard was deeply involved in his community as the church organist and choir director for Our Lady Queen of Peace, St. Vincent Pallotti and St. Joseph's Pro-Cathedral churches. Len's enthusiasm extended beyond his

professional life; he was an avid pianist, enjoyed dancing, and playing tennis.

Leonard found as much joy in the simple pleasures of life as he did in his professional accomplishments. He loved going to the beach. Ocean City, NJ, held a special place in his heart.

Family was the cornerstone of Len's life. He is survived by his loving children, Marita Knight (Ron), Len Rykaczewski Jr, Paul Rykaczewski (Stephanie), Susan Faucett (Garrett), and Brian Rykaczewski (Leah).

Richard Diego Torrisi

Richard Diego Torrisi, (Dick) was born in New Brunswick NJ on July 15, 1933 to Angelo and Jennie Torrisi. He was 91 years old when he died peacefully at a South Carolina hospital on March 4, 2025.

Dick was predeceased by his sisters Patricia Hill and Mary Cole. He is survived by Madeleine, his loving wife of 64 years, his son Daniel and wife Maria of East Amwell, New Jersey, a daughter Carol and husband Steve of Dahlonega, Georgia, and son Robert and wife Lora of Summerville, South Carolina.

Dick joined the Army during the Korean War after graduating from St. Peter’s High School. Throughout his service, he was fortunate enough to be assigned to the First Army band where he was able to play music, his lifelong passion. After attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant and completion of his army duty, he graduated from New York University, married, and started a family. Dick taught music and became Band Director at Carteret High school, devoting his working life to teaching music while also being a working musician.

His life was loving his family, teaching, playing and listening to music. He shared his talents with all, being part of university and community bands. His smile was wonderful and he was loved by all. After living in Middlesex County, New Jersey most of their life, Dick and his wife had relocated to South Carolina.

NJSMA

North Jersey School Music Association www.njsma.com

Dear Region I Colleagues:

I hope your school year is wrapping up smoothly and that your spring performances were a great success. As the year comes to an end, I hope you've all created meaningful memories and experiences that will help shape the future of your programs. NJSMA had many unforgettable events this year, and I’m excited to share them with you. A heartfelt thank you to all the educators who contributed to our events, with special appreciation for our site hosts, managers, accompanists, and conductors:

BAND band[at]njsma.org

Division Co - Chairs - Michelle Christianson, Amy Wilcox and Chris Zwarych

On Sunday, March 9, we had our North Jersey Intermediate Region Band Concert. The concert was a huge success. Thank you to all involved!

Intermediate Region Band - Audition Chair - Mrs. Ester Musilli, Audition Host - Wayne Hills High School - Mr. Matthew Paterno & Ms. Annie Pascale, Rehearsal & Concert Hosts - Sparta High School by Mr. Andrew Lopez, Joseph Lombardo and Dr. Debra Gianuzzi; Ramapo Ridge Middle School by Mr. Giuseppe Fusco and Ms. Josie VanPuttenVink; Randolph Middle School and Randolph High School by Mr. Anthony Eskin, Mr. Nick Fantazzi, Mr. Michael Lichtenfeld, Mr. Peter Norell and Mr. Tom Davidson

Intermediate Symphonic Winds - Conductor - Mr. Andrew Lopez, Sparta HS, Managers - Mr. Joe Lombardo, Sparta MS and Dr. Debra Gianuzzi, Sparta HS

Intermediate Concert Band - Conductor - Dr. Tyler Adel, Paramus HS, Managers - Ms. Chrysten Angderson, West Brook MS and Steven Peralta, Lyndhurst

HS Concert Band Festival - Tuesday, March 18, West Essex Regional High School; Wednesday, March 19, Parsippany Hills High School; Wednesday, March 19, Hanover Park Regional High School; Thursday, March 20, Mount Olive Middle School - Adjudicators: Dr. Adam Gumble and Dr. Daniel Neuenschwander; Clinicians: Dr. Dominic Ferrara and Dr. Eric LaPrade

MS Concert Band Festival - Festival Chair - Mr. Xavier Bonilla - Wednesday, April 8, West Essex Regional High School - Crystal Yoon; Adjudicators/Clinicians: Mr. Cliff Bialkin, Ms. Laurie Kunzle

5th & 6th Grade Honor Band Festival - Festival Chair - Ms. Miranda Inglese on Saturday, May 3, Mount Olive Middle School

CHORUS chorus[at]njsma.org

Division Co- Chairs - Deana Larsen and Leo Weismantel

We would like to wish everyone a great end to the school year. We are grateful to work with such amazing colleagues and very proud of the events that we have been able to provide this year. We couldn’t do it without your support! Thank you all! We've had a great year so far and have many people that deserve acknowledgement.

High School Chorus Festivals: We would like to thank Montclair State University, Lyndhurst MS, and Mt. Olive MS, for hosting. Thanks to our adjudicators, Dr. Dr. Dutin Cates, Heather BuchananDr. Rachel Carlson, and Debbie Mello.

High School Region Chorus Concert: Saturday, February 1st. We are extremely proud of our singers, directors, conductors, managers, etc. High School Audition Chair: Matt Swiss (Randolph HS); Audition Host: Clifton High School, Bryan Stepneski; Rehearsal and Concert Hosts: Morris Knolls HS (Kristen Markowski) Mount Olive HS (Matt Vanzini, and Clifton HS (Leo Wesimantel)

High School Treble Guest Choir Conductor: Dr. Dustin Cates; Manager: (Paramus HS) Rebecca Polynice; Collaborative Pianist: Andrew Rosenkilde

High School Mixed Choir Conductor: Malcolm Couden (Saddle Brook HS/MS); Managers: Elaine Thoman (Bergenfield HS) Stephanie Quirk (Bergenfield HS); Collaborative Pianist: Barbara Novack (Retired)

Intermediate Chorus Festival - Friday, March 7th. We’d like to thank Mr. Brian Lang and Lyndhurst Middle School for hosting and Dr. Heather Mitchell and Dr. Jason Vodika for their adjudication.

Intermediate Chorus concert - Sunday March 23rd. It takes a village and we have many people to thank. It was a huge success thanks to our fabulous conductors, managers, collaborative pianists, host and sectional coaches Intermediate Audition Chair - Mrs. Ann Kelly (Randolph); Audition Host - Wayne Hills High School -Mr. Matthew Paterno & Ms. Annie Pascale; Rehearsal & Concert Hosts - Mr. George Glock (Memorial Middle School, Fairlawn) and Mr. Leo Weismantel (Clifton HS, Clifton)

Intermediate Treble Choir - Guest Conductor - Dr, Rachel Carlson; Manager - Mrs. Christa Rizzo (West Essex Regional Middle

School, North Caldwell); Collaborative Pianist -Eric Van Hoven

Intermediate Mixed Choir - Conductor - Brian Lang (Lyndhurst Middle School); Managers - Mrs. Susan Kaczor (Macopin Middle School, West Milford) and Dr. Stacey Sassi (Roy W. Brown Middle School, Bergenfield); Collaborative Pianist - Argine Safari (Pascack Valley HS)

Thank you to all of our participating choir directors across the region! We appreciate you giving your tine and talent.

We are excited about our upcoming Professional Development Day on Tuesday, June 3rd. Please join us! Our keynote speaker, Dr. Diane Falk (WPU), will present the 1st session to all who attend. Session 2 is shared with the elementary division and will feature R. Nick McBride presenting “Learning to be Human: The Art of Empathy, Care, and Compassion in Music Education”. Meghan Wald will be presenting our third session, “Music for All: Routines, Practices, and Strategies for Directing an Inclusive Choir” Our final session is led by your chairs, Deana Larsen and Leo Weismantel. It will give us an opportunity to share tips, tricks,and repertoire that we know will help our choirs!

Elementary Music Division elementary[at]njsma.org

Division Co-Chairs - Lisa Wichman and Karen Andruska

Thank you to the schools and directors participating in the NJSMA Elementary Choral Celebration on Wednesday, May 28. We also extend our gratitude to our esteemed guest clinicians, Dr. John Wilson and Tom Shelton, for sharing their expertise and passion.

We are excited for our NJSMA PD Day, featuring an outstanding lineup of elementary focused guest clinicians: Dr. Nick McBride (TCNJ), Emma Brondolo (Artistic Director of the Young People's Chorus @ Thurnauer), and Kelly Wisneski (Elementary General Music Specialist, Butler School District). We look forward to a day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration!

Looking ahead to next fall, the NJSMA Elementary Division is thrilled to welcome Rob Amchin as our guest presenter at the Monday, October 13, 2025 Annual Fall Workshop. Details and registration can be found on the Elementary Division homepage of the njsma.org website. NJSMA workshops and events are open to all NJMEA members.

ORCHESTRA orchestra[at]njsma.org

Division Chair - Jason DePope

Many thanks go out to the educators, conductors, managers and host who helped make the following concerts possible.

High School and Intermediate Region Orchestra Concert: February 16, 2025 - Audition Host: Clifton High School, Ms. Paulina Edel; Audition Chairs: Ms. Cathay Clark (Eastern Christian), Ms. Laura Abbey (Tenakill Middle School); Rehearsal and Concert Host: Randolph High School, Ms. Aoma Caldwell High School; Symphonic Orchestra Conductor: Mr. Michael Montero (Moravian University); Intermediate Orchestra Conductor: Mr. Jim Millar (Tenafly, ret.); Managers: Mr. Adam Austerlitz (Brooklawn Middle School), Mr. Justin Louie (Woodrow Wilson Middle School), Ms. Darby MacAdams (Central Middle School) and Ms.

Crystal Yoon (West Essex Middle School)

Middle School & High School Honors Orchestra Festival: March 1st, 2025 - Concert Host: Parsippany High School; Festival Chairs: Ms. Kim Nimmo (Paramus) and Ms. Annamaria Alcaro (Mahawah); Conductors: Ms. Aimee Nishimura (Sparta) and Mr. Robert Anderson (Livingston)

Elementary Orchestra Festival: April 5th, 2025 - Concert Host: Sparta High School; Festival Chairs: Ms. Kim Nimmo (Paramus), Ms. Chryselle Yang (Sparta), and Ms. Shang-Ying Lee (Clifton); Conductors: Ms. Kristine Hart (Memorial Elementary School), Ms. Darby MacAdams (Central Middle School), Mr. Francesco Osto (West Orange)

Orchestra Adjudication Festival: April 8th and 9th, 2025 - Festival Host: Mahwah High School, Ms. Wendy Campbell; Festival Organizer: Mr. Justin Louie (Woodrow Wilson Middle School); Festival Adjudicators: Judy Wilkes (Paramus High School, ret.), Kyle Ritenaur (John J. Cali)

NJSMA News - Thank you to all our Region I educators that helped with auditions, rehearsals and concerts. NJSMA would not be able to provide these wonderful opportunities for students without the support and encouragement from their sponsoring teachers.

The NJSMA Membership PD Day will be held on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at the Mansion in Mountain Lakes. This valuable PD day for NJSMA members will include fabulous sessions for elementary music educators as well as workshops for band, orchestra and chorus teachers. We are also pleased to welcome Dr. Diane Falk from William Paterson University as our keynote speaker for everyone in attendance. At this meeting, we will also have the chance to recognize our student scholarship award winners and hear them perform. Voting for the positions of President Elect and Recording Secretary will also occur. If you are interested in any of these positions, please reach out to president[at] njsma.org for more information. More details about the schedule of sessions for every division can be found on our website (njsma.org).

To conclude, I would like to thank the entire NJSMA executive board for their work and dedication to our organization. Having such a fine group of colleagues to work with makes my job very enjoyable. It has been a pleasure working with them and the NJMEA executive board along with the entire membership of both organizations.

As my term as president comes to an end I would like to thank all the music educators in Northern NJ for their unwavering support of our programs and events. Your great work allows your students the opportunity to participate in our events. Thank you to our outgoing Past President Christopher DeWilde for all his support and guidance these past 2 years. Looking ahead, I know our incoming President, Lyn Lowndes, will continue to grow our organization and promote music throughout our region.

Wishing you all a relaxing summer!

Anthony Lanzerotti, Jr. NJSMA President president[at]njsma.org

CJMEA

Central Jersey Music Educators Association

www.cjmea.org

I hope everyone’s May is going well, I know with standardized testing, concerts, and the year coming to an end it is easy to be overwhelmed in the chaos. CJMEA has had a fulfilling year of music making and professional development and we are excited to begin working on our offerings for next year.

As I only have a few months left in my role as president, I’d like to take a few moments to thank all of the wonderful music educators that have made my time in this position so meaningful. To all of the CJMEA Board, thank you for going above and beyond in so many circumstances to provide impactful experiences to our members and their students. I know just how much time gets spent outside of actually running the event and I cannot thank you enough for all you give. To our CJMEA members, thank you for believing in bettering our field through personal development and providing experiences for our students. Thank you as well for being so flexible this year! Finally for some personal shout outs - Thank you to Bill McDevitt, David Westawski, Yale Snyder, Rebekah Sterlacci, Susan Meuse, and Misha Williams for helping keep me sane while managing this organization.

CJMEA has had some amazing concerts this year, the quality of music has been phenomenal and the experiences had by students will be something for them to remember for years to come. Additionally, this year the CJMEA board has streamlined our own processes while adding in all of the insurance procedures. The same background check process will still need to be completed next year, but with all of your emails in hand we hope that it will be a faster process - be on the lookout for information during the summer / beginning of the school year. The CJMEA board has also gone entirely online this year with Jotform being the universal registration software. This feature allows us to have students pay online rather than forcing teachers to collect money, we hope this change has helped to ease your burden a little bit.

Looking ahead to next year, the board will continue its work on making the process of providing musical experiences to your students as simple and available to as many families as possible. I am so excited for what CJMEA will do in the next few years with Rebekah Sterlacci at the helm. She is a very capable leader, a wise mentor, and an all around amazing human being.

As we move into next year, stay up to date with everything CJMEA through our website (CJMEA.org) and our TEMPO Express blasts. Thank you all for sharing your love

of music with your students and continuing to help develop wonderful musicians and human beings. Enjoy the rest of your school year!

Brian Williams CJMEA President president.cjmea[at]gmail.com

SJBODA

South Jersey Band and Orchestra Directors Association

www.sjboda.org

Congratulations to all who were involved with the 47th Annual All South Jersey Junior High School Band Concert. The performances were outstanding. The conductors this year were Jim Mark (Cherry Hill HS West, retired) and Andy Owens (Ann A. Mullen MS). Jon Ratcliffe (Albert Bean ES) and Kevin Flaherty (Pleasantville HS) provided excellent assistance as managers for these ensembles.

This concert would not be possible without the commitment and dedication of our colleagues. Nancy Robinson (Linwood Public Schools, retired), our Junior High Band Coordinator, was responsible for organizing a wonderful event that our students will cherish for many years. Special thanks to Derek Rohaly (Mainland Regional HS), Marc Spatz (Fernwood Avenue MS), and Dawn Donchey (Alder Avenue MS) who offered their facilities and percussion equipment for the rehearsals and the performance.

Our 31st Annual High School Concert Band Festival showcased 16 ensembles this year. This two-day event took place at Rowan University with Megan Cooney as our host. The performances by these groups are evidence of the many excellent instrumental music programs in South Jersey. Our festival coordinator was Jim Mark (Cherry Hill HS West, retired) and the adjudicators were John Lindner (Montclair State University) and Laurie Kunzle (Lakeland Regional HS, retired).

The 31st annual Elementary Honors Band Festival will take place on Saturday, May 3rd at Absegami HS. Patrick O’Keefe will be our host. LeeAnn Hewitt (Frog Pond ES and Eagleswood ES) will be our coordinator for this event. Our conductors will be Amanda Lawless (Delsea Regional MS), Rich Beckman (Cherry Hill Public Schools), Kevin Flaherty (Pleasantville HS), and Anthony Orecchio (Robert L Horbelt Intermediate School). The managers are Curt Mount (Alice Costello ES), Jake Weber (Cherry Hill School District), Scott McCarron (Delsea Regional HS), Vincent Du Beau (Delsea Regional MS), and Sierra Keys (Mansion Avenue ES).

The 8th annual Elementary String Festival and our In-

augural Intermediate String Festival will take place on Saturday, May 10th at Egg Harbor Township HS. Kate Wyatt and Samantha Sara will be our hosts and Christine Macaulay (Clara Barton ES) will be our coordinator. Joe Brennan (Rowan University) will conduct the Intermediate String Ensemble and Hester Hasheian (Glassboro Public Schools) and Dawn Donchey (Alder Avenue MS) will be the managers. The conductors for the Elementary String Ensembles are Rebecca Peterson (Pilgram Academy) and Carrington Thompson (Eastern Regional HS). Kelley Madensky (Hooper Avenue ES), Maya Norton (Haddonfield School District), and Robin Soden (Pleasantville MS) will be our managers.

The SJBODA Spring Breakfast membership meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28th at 9:00 AM at Seven Star Diner in Sewell, NJ. Election of officers will take place at this meeting. Please contact Sue Mark at 609-457-0590 or sjbodapresident[at]gmail.com if you plan to attend. Please continue to check the Web site, maintained by Derek Rohaly (Mainland Regional HS), for the latest SJBODA updates.

Sue Mark SJBODA President sjbodapresident[at]gmail.com

SJCDA

South Jersey Choral Directors Association www.sjcda.com

After a successful year of festivals, South Jersey Choral Directors Association hosted our annual Spring Breakfast and General Membership Meeting on May 2nd. Members were treated to two workshops, an elementary session led by Kevin Gehringer (Evesham Township) and a session on sight reading led by Nicole Snodgrass (Ursinus College). The attendees were treated to two performances from our scholarship winners. Molly Park of Burlington County Technical Schools was the winner of the Founders Scholarship and Finn Sullian of Collingswood High School was the winner of the Richard M. Smith Scholarship for Music Education.

SJCDA would like to welcome President-Elect Elisa Contrevo (Glassboro High School) to the board! We look forward to working with her.

We are now about to dive into the conductor section process with a committee made up of past conductors from the membership. Those selected will be notified in June.

Looking ahead, we ask SJCDA members to save the date of September 8th for our Fall Membership Meeting and to look for registration information for both the Junior/Senior High Festival and the Elementary Festival to be sent out in September as well.

As this is my last TEMPO publication as President of SJCDA, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people who make this organization the success that it is. First and foremost thank you to our outgoing Past- President David Taylor (retired). David has had many different titles in SJCDA for the past 16 years and we will miss his calm wisdom. Thank you to the incoming President Brendan Moore (Lenape High School) who I have no doubt will do a wonderful job. To our Festival Coordinator and the person who is really in charge of the organization, Amy Flynn (nee. Melson, Washington Twp High School) for being the most organized human I have ever met. To our Secretary Nancy Dickinson (Bunker Hill Middle School and soon to be retired) for her perspective and wizarding skills with google drive. To our Treasurer Sarah Mickle (Pitman High School) for always keeping us in the red, both financially and with her sense of humor. And to our defaco board who make it all happen: our Audition Chairs Cheryl Breitzman (retired) and Jessica Thomas (CCTS), our Rehearsal Managers Jen Weir (Clayton High School) and Lauren Allen (Northern Burlington Middle School), and to our Elementary Festival Managers MattGuerrasio (Fernwood Elementary) Theresa Hengeli (Central Park Elementary). Especially thank you to all the teachers throughout South Jersey who sponsor students every year. We would not have events without you. It has been an honor to lead this group.

Cristin Introcaso SJCDA President sjchoraldirectors[at]gmail.com

New Jersey Governor’s Award for the Arts in Education

2024-2025

NJMEA Recipients

New Jersey All-State Orchestra

Timothy Shi

Millburn High School

Sponsoring Teachers: Flora Yousefi & Matthew Spatz

Jacob Kang Ridge High School

Sponsoring Teacher: Jennifer Curran

New Jersey All-State Band

Michael Hanna

Egg Harbor Township High School

Sponsoring Teacher: Matthew Wyckoff

Christopher Juan

John P. Stevens High School

Sponsoring Teacher: John Zazzali

New Jersey All-State Jazz

Thomas Anzuini

Burlington City High School

Sponsoring Teacher: Steve Bishop

Leadership in Music Education

Wayne Mallette

NJMEA Past President

New Jersey All-State Mixed Chorus

Rachel Bustamante

Hawthorne Christian Academy

Sponsoring Teacher: Anne Paynter

Alexis Hamlin

Nutley High School

Sponsoring Teacher: Stephone A. Gaines

Jay Lazen

Red Bank Regional High School

Sponsoring Teacher: Brian Krajcik

Susan Polito

Immaculata High School

Sponsoring Teacher: Michael Gasko IV

NJMEA Master Music Teacher

Nina Schmetterer

Monroe Township Middle School

Young Composers

Jeffrey Li "Winter Lake Lullaby"

Brooklawn Middle School

Sponsoring Teacher: Adam Austerlitz

NJMEA AWARD RECIPIENTS

Outstanding School Administrator Awards

Nicholas Steffner – Principal Ridgedale Middle School - Florham Park Public Schools

Nicholas Steffner, Principal of Ridgedale Middle School, has been a driving force behind the school’s thriving music program for the past five years. His unwavering commitment to music education ensures that every student has the opportunity to participate and excel. From securing proper funding to being a constant presence at all student performances, his support is unmatched. Not only does he cheer from the sidelines, but he also takes the stage—jumping in on percussion to perform alongside students. His dedication and hands-on approach have earned him this award for his exceptional advocacy of music education.

Georgia Zaiser – Head of School Far Hills Country Day School

For the past five years, Georgia Zaiser has led Far Hills Country Day School with a deep commitment to fostering the arts. She was nominated for this award for her unwavering support of music education. Her passion for the arts began in her own student days, performing in many NYSSMA Festivals as a violinist. Now, as Head of School, she has championed collaboration among teachers, ensured her presence at every performance, and secured a $100,000 endowment for the performing arts—established in memory of a beloved alumnus. Her dedication continues to inspire the next generation of musicians and educators alike.

Andrea Evans - Superintendent

The East Greenwich Township School District

Andrea Evans was nominated for this award for her outstanding passion and dedication to Music and Arts programs. With a decade of dedicated service in the district, including five years as superintendent, Ms. Evans has transformed the music program into a thriving, inclusive experience for all students. Under her leadership, musical opportunities have flourished with the addition of clubs like jazz band and ukulele club. Her commitment to funding the arts has enabled students to work with guest artists and ensembles to achieve superior ratings at festivals. Ms. Evans' support for arts education continues to inspire students and educators alike.

Andrew Jaegar - Principal Woodrow Wilson Middle School – Clifton School District

Andrew Jaegar, Principal of Woodrow Wilson Middle School in the Clifton School District, is a tremendous supporter of music education. In his four years as principal, he has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the arts, ensuring that music educators and students have the resources they need to thrive. Under his leadership, the school has invested over $250,000 in performance space renovations and secured top-tier instruments, elevating the music program to new heights. A familiar face at every concert and event, Mr. Jaegar not only attends but actively supports performances, always ready to lend a helping hand. Known for his great sense of humor and genuine dedication, he is a beloved leader who champions the arts at every turn, celebrating the achievements of students and staff alike.

NJMEA AWARD RECIPIENTS

Distinguished Service Award

Nancy Dickinson Bunker Hill Middle School - Washington Township

Like many organizations, NJMEA relies almost exclusively on the hard work of volunteers. These exceptional music educators devote countless hours to advancing the mission of NJMEA while also working their full time teaching jobs. This year, we honored Nancy Dickinson for her distinguished service.

Nancy has served as our All-State Housing Director for the past four years. Before that, she served as our All-State Food and Beverage Manager, All-State chaperone, and president of SJCDA. In her current role, she works tirelessly to ensure that our All-State students are safely and efficiently assigned to rooms for their stays in Atlantic City. We are incredibly grateful for Nancy’s attention to detail, eternally positive attitude, and willingness to go above and beyond for the association and our students. Thank you, Nancy!

NJMEA MASTER MUSIC TEACHER

Nina Schmetterer

Monroe Township Middle School

NFHS Outstanding Educator Award

Amy Melson

Washington Township High School

The Department of Music at Kean University provides personalized instruction, world-class faculty mentorship and master classes with top performers. Students excel in performance and music education, preparing for careers or advanced studies in music.

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, Kean’s music programs are known for their professional preparation and guiding graduates toward successful careers.

DEGREES OFFERED

• Music (B.A.)

• Music Education (B.M.)

• Music Performance with an Emphasis in Pedagogy (B.M.)

Kean University

Department of Music

ENSEMBLES

• Chamber Music

• Concert Choir

• Treble Choir

• Community Chorale

• Flute Ensemble

• Guitar Orchestra

• Jazz Band

• Orchestra

• Percussion Ensemble

• Wind Ensemble

MORE INFO kean.edu/music music@kean.edu

NJMEA 2023-2025 Board of Directors

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Past President

Wayne Mallette

Scotch Plains-Fanwood District mallette.njmea[at]gmail.com

NJSMA, President

Anthony Lanzerotti, Jr

Woodrow Wilson MS president[at]njsma.org

CJMEA, President

Brian Williams

Robbinsville HS president.cjmea[at]gmail.com

Accessible Music Education

Maureen Butler Retired maureenbutlermusic[at]gmail.com

Administration/K-12 Ed Tech

Shawna Longo Westfield Public Schools shawnalongo[at]gmail.com

Advocacy

Arwen Kapusta

John Adams Elementary School arwenkapusta[at]gmail.com

All-State Production Manager

Joseph Cantaffa

Howell High School jcantaffahhs[at]hotmail.com

Band Festivals/NJEA Liaison

Nancy Clasen

Lodi Public Schools nancyclasen[at]gmail.com

President David Westawski

High School Choir Director westawski.njmea[at]gmail.com

Executive Director

William McDevitt Retired wmcdevittnjmea[at]gmail.com

President-Elect

Yale Snyder

Monroe Township District snyder.njmea[at]gmail.com

SJCDA, President Cristin Introcaso Collingswood HS cintrocaso[at]collsk12.org

APPOINTED MEMBERS

Band Performance

Patrick O'Keefe Absegami High School patrickaokeefe[at]gmail.com

Choral Festivals

Donna Marie Berchtold Retired firesongwed[at]gmail.com

Choral Performance

Brian Williams

Robbinsville High School NJAllStateChoir[at]gmail.com

Conferences

Marie Malara Retired malara97[at]aol.com

D.E.I.A

Isaiah C. Mason

Linwood School deia.njmea[at]gmail.com

Emerging Ensembles

Zach Gates

East Brunswick High School zacharygatesmusic[at]gmail.com

SJBODA, President

Sue Mark

Rosa International MS sjbodapresident[at]gmail.com

Jazz Education

Darrell Hendricks

Mt. Olive High School dhendricks.njaje[at]gmail.com

Orchestra Performance/Festivals

Susan Meuse

Churchill Junior High School susanmeuse[at]gmail.com

PreK-8 General Music

Amy Burns Far Hills Country Day School aburns[at]fhcds.org

Research/Collegiate/HigherEd

Marissa Silverman

Montclair State University silvermanm[at]montclair.edu

Retired Members/Mentorship

Kathy Spadafino Retired kspadeb[at]aol.com

GENERAL ADVERTISING RATES

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EDITORIAL POLICY

Articles may be submitted to the editor of this magazine by anyone who wishes to write about topics related to music or music education. All articles which are selected for publication will be proof read for content, spelling and grammatical errors.

Authors who submit an article to TEMPO Magazine for publication agree to all of the following

1. the editor may edit all articles for content, spelling and grammar.

2. the printing of the article in TEMPO Magazine, the printing date, and placement are at the discretion of the editor.

3. permission is granted to reprint the same article in any National or State Music Education Association magazine on the condition that the author’s name and TEMPO Magazine are to be mentioned in all reprinted articles.

4. no exceptions will be made regarding items 1 through 3 above.

5. the author of the article may submit his/her article to additional magazines for publication.

1924 - 1926 Josephine Duke

1926 - 1930 R.W. Laslett Smith

1930 - Jay W. Fay

1930 - 1931 Wilbert B. Hitchner

1931 - 1933 Thomas Wilson

1933 - 1935 John H. Jaquish

1935 - 1936 Clifford Demarest

1936 - 1938 Mable E. Bray

1938 - 1939 Paul H. Oliver

1939 - 1941 K. Elizabeth Ingles

1941 - 1942 Arthur E. Ward

1942 - 1944 John T. Nicholson

1944 - 1945 Frances Allan-Allen

1945 - 1947 Philip Gordon

1947 - 1949 Violet Johnson

1949 - 1951 Samuel W. Peck

1951 - 1953 Janet G. Gleason

1953 - 1955 Henry Zimmerman

NJMEA Past Presidents

1955 - 1957 Agnes B. Gordown

1957 - 1959 Leroy B. Lenox

1959 - 1961 Elizabeth R. Wood

1961 - 1963 Harold A. Brown

1963 - 1965 E. Brock Griffith

1965 - 1967 Robert C. Heath

1967 - 1969 Edward Brown

1969 - 1971 Rudolph Kreutzer

1971 - 1973 Charles Wertman

1973 - 1975 Stephen M. Clarke

1975 - 1977 Herman L. Dash

1977 - 1979 Buddy S. Ajalat

1979 - 1981 Alyn J. Heim

1981 - 1983 Robert Marince

1983 - 1985 Anthony Guerere

1985 - 1987 Joan Policastro

1987 - 1989 Joseph Mello

1989 - 1991 Dorian Parreott

1991 - 1993

David S. Jones

1993 - 1995 Anthony Guerere

1995 - 1997

1997 - 1999

Sharon Strack

Chic Hansen

1999 - 2001 Joseph Mello

2001 - 2003 Nicholas Santoro

2003 - 2005 Frank Phillips

2005 - 2007 Joseph Akinskas

2007 - 2009 Robert Frampton

2009 - 2011 William McDevitt

2011 - 2013 Keith Hodgson

2013 - 2015

Joseph Jacobs

2015 - 2017 William McDevitt

2017 - 2019 Jeffrey Santoro

2019 - 2021

Patrick O'Keefe

2021 - 2023 Wayne Mallette