2024 May TEMPO

VOLUME 78, No. 4

Volume 78, No. 4 https://www.njmea.org

TEMPO Editor - William McDevitt

300 W. Somerdale Road, STE C Voorhees, NJ 08043

Phone: 856-433-8512

e-mail: wmcdevittnjmea[at]gmail.com

Deadlines

October Issue - August 1

January Issue - November 1

March Issue - January 15

May Issue - March 15

Printed by: Mt. Royal Printing 1-717-569-3200

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 78, No. 4, MAY 2024

TEMPO Editor - William McDevitt C/O NJMEA, 300 W Somerdale Rd, STE C, Voorhees NJ 08043

Periodicals Postage Paid at Lakewood, NJ 08701 and additional entries

FORMS AND APPLICATIONS

Click on the desired activity for downloadable copies of all their forms & applications

Please go to nafme.org

to record email and address changes.

President's Message

David Westawski

West Windsor Plainsboro High School - South westawski.njmea[at]gmail.com

Greetings and Happy Spring!

I opened my March message talking about the advice my father has always given me. Sadly, we lost him on March 3rd just as that issue arrived in mailboxes. I’ll double down on my suggestion that we all savor and enjoy the here and now because the older you get, the quicker time flies. That time is also incredibly finite, so living each day to its fullness is an absolute imperative.

By now, we’ll all in the thick of the spring concert season. I have two concerts left this year, one of which features Duruflé’s stunning Requiem. It will be performed at the Princeton University Chapel utilizing the incredible pipe organ that fills the space. Whether it’s choral Masterworks, orchestral premiers, performances from band method books, or general music classroom showcases, the work we do each day is of profound importance. We have the privilege of creating the next generation of musicians while also ensuring the emotional and social growth of the students entrusted to our care. What we do matters. In the hustle and bustle of the concert season, it’s easy to lose sight of the ultimate goal of our work. Keep your eyes on the prize and I know your performances will be incredible. And if no one has told you lately, know that I’m extremely proud of all that you do for your students and programs every day.

The 2023-2024 school year was another productive year for NJMEA. Our Region and All-State events are flourishing as we begin new initiatives to include even more students and teachers in our offerings. I’m so grateful for our Board of Directors and the not-sosmall army of volunteers who make our events run so smoothly all year. If you run into one of them, please be sure to thank them for their dedication and attention to

detail. Our profession is richer because of the great deal of time and effort they devote to our association.

As we near the end of June, I’d also like to take a moment to thank and congratulate those members who will retire shortly. You are the real champions! Your tireless dedication to our profession has resulted in the creation and development of countless young musicians throughout your careers. Each student became a better musician and person solely because of you. That said, we don’t want to see you go! Please stay involved as a member of the NJ Retired Music Educators. Each year they observe teachers who have been nominated by their peers for the Master Music Teacher Award. They also plan activities and concerts and serve as mentors to new teachers in NJMEA. We need your experience and expertise at the table as we navigate the ever-changing education landscape. Please contact Kathy Spadafino for more information.

Even though summer is always too short, my hope is that you find the time necessary to recharge, refresh, and reinvigorate yourself for another fantastic year. Spend time on the beach, read that book you’ve that’s been sitting on the shelf, and play through your favorite piece during a quiet moment and home. Your students and your communities need you more than they sometimes know.

All the best,

Department of Music

The Department of Music is the center of the musical arts at Kean University. Students seeking to explore the depth and breadth of music practice and culture can pursue professional paths in performance and education.

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, Kean University’s Department of Music has a strong reputation for professional preparation and directing graduates toward successful careers.

DEGREES OFFERED

• Music (B.A.)

• Music Education (B.M.)

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

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

• Concert Choir and Chorale

• Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Chamber Winds

• Kean-NJIO Orchestra

• Guitar Orchestra

• Jazz Ensemble

• Percussion Ensemble

• Flute Ensemble

• Chamber Music

UPCOMING AUDITION DATES

March 20 • April 17 • May 22

All auditions are 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Additional dates are available by appointment. Contact music@kean.edu.

2024 NJMEA CONFERENCE

The 2024 NJMEA Conference was another amazing success. Attendance numbers increased as did the number of exhibitors and performances. Even after the curveballs that were thrown at everyone the week before the conference, the PD Sessions, concerts, All-State performances and countless networking opportunities were rewarding experiences for our teachers and students. There are more pictures on pages 58-59.

There were many excellent responses to our post-conference survey. Below, and on page 7, are some topics that were suggested for future sessions - in case you have thought about presenting or know someone that might be interested:

Writing Music Curriculum

4th Grade Band

World Music

Using Children's Books in Elementary Music

Vocal Health (especially in teaching general music)

Post-covid student difficulties

Beginner Bands that have to perform concerts

2024 NJMEA CONFERENCE

Popular Music/Rap/Hip Hop Pedagogy

Songwriting/Composition

Creating Interdisciplinary Opportunities for Students

Tips for teaching Dance in the General Music Class

Classroom Management

Hands-on (Percussion Tech, Instrument Repair)

Teacher Burn-out

Integrating Self-Contained/Autistic Classes in Ensembles

Practical Tips for LGBTQIA+ Inclusion

Starting a program from scratch

Parent Engagement Techniques

Sexual Misconduct and Abuse in Music Education spaces

Grant Writing

Retention in a post-covid era

Improvisation

Small School ensemble strategies

Using Technology in ensemble rehearsals

Instrumental Reading Sessions

Working effectively with autism spectrum learners

Teaching music in a bilingual setting with ELL students

How to build and maintian a keyboard lab

TRAINING THE CREATIVE LEADERS OF TOMORROW

RESIDENCIES OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY FREE!

CALI IMMERSIVE RESIDENCY PROGRAM

AT MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY

Join us for our third annual re-imagined professional residency program at the John J. Cali School of Music. The week-long residencies include a rotation of seven toprated artists and ensembles. Each residency will contribute to an ongoing exploration of the ever-changing landscape of music today, introducing students to a future that will be, at times, less traditional. Through the multiple opportunities to learn and collaborate with guest artists, Cali students will broaden their understanding of their future musical careers.

An exceptional artistic and academic education

Mentorship by internationally acclaimed artists, educators, and scholars

Inspiration and preparation to serve the community and enrich society using the transformative power of music

Developing musicianship and professional skills in ensembles, masterclasses, clinical experiences, internships, and teaching

Experiencing the cultural riches of New York City nearby

DEGREES

Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Music, Master of Arts, Artist’s Diploma

Music Education, Performance, Jazz Studies, Music Therapy, Theory/Composition

Graduate String Quartet Residency Program

VIJAY GUPTA

ERIC WHITACRE

DAVID KRAKAUER

ARTURO SANDOVAL

PAOLA PRESTINI

LARA DOWNES

MICHAEL FABIANO

JOB HUNTING?

The NAfME Career Center allows you to:

• obtain resume writing services

• post an open position

• post a resume

• receive job alerts and career coaching

• maintain a job profile

• and more

Whether you are seeking a

or want

News From the Board of Directors

Choral Festivals

Donna Marie Berchtold firesongwed[at]gmail.com

NJMEA sponsored two Middle School Choral Festivals. We are extremely happy to once again be able to see our young musicians in person! The first event was held at Rowan University on March 14, 2024. The festival originally scheduled for Rutgers University was changed to a NEW LOCATION: Monroe Township Middle School and will be held on May 23, 2024. 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. The adjudicators for the 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 program for the NJMEA Choral Festival (North Site), formerly at Rutgers, is still being developed for the event to take place on May 23rd. There will be two adjudicators at the Rutgers Festival. We thank Judith Nicosia, Associate Professor of Music at the Mason Gross School of the Arts, and Dr. Brandon Williams, Assistant Professor of choral music, and choral music education at the Mason Gross School of the Arts who have served as Hosts for the prior events each year at Rutgers.

The coordinators for both Festival events are Donna Marie Berchtold, NJMEA Choral Festivals Chairperson, retired from the Hamilton Twp. School District, 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 2025 issue of TEMPO magazine, or online at www.njmea.org. For more information, contact Donna Marie at firesongwed[at]gmail.com or Karen Blumenthal at mitchkaren85[at]gmail.com.

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.

News From the Board of Directors

The Choral Procedures Committee is actively trying to modernize our approach, some of these efforts can be seen over the last few years in including solo audition songs from multiple cultures, seeking out conductors with diverse and exciting repertoire selections, and modifying the ensemble selection calculations to create two equal ensembles. We are currently debating the effectiveness of where auditions land in the calendar and are opening up a survey to accumulate more data on your thoughts. This poll can be found on any of the TEMPO Expresses during May or on the NJMEA.org site. Please take a few moments to complete the survey and give us your thoughts on whether moving the audition dates outside of “musical season” would be beneficial to you and your kids.

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

As the school year nears its end, this is a good time to evaluate how our special learners have fared in our classes. If you feel that you need more resources, summer is a great time to recharge and research. NAfME has many recorded webinars that you can access at your convenience. If you’re a FaceBook member, check out the Special Learners and Music group, where members share resources, news of upcoming conferences, strategies and concerns. As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. Someone on our state Accessible Music Education committee will be able to share their insight and experience. If you’re looking for something to read, see my article in this issue of TEMPO that highlights three books about disability awareness. Have a restful and productive summer!

Collegiate/Higher Ed/Research

Marissa Silverman

silvermanm@montclair.edu

After taking over mid-January, I sent out a Call for Research Papers—the selected of those could be presented during a poster session at the 2024 NJMEA Conference. I am grateful to the fifteen submissions received and am even more grateful to the eleven presenters.

Research posters examined and surveyed topics such as social-emotional learning in music education, joy and public school music teaching and learning, needs and strategies of music teacher professional development, and more. The titles of some of the presentations were: “The Greatest Love of All: Cultivating the Voices of Black Youth in the Music Classroom through Black Feminism”; “Harmonizing Hope: The Transformative Power of Music Therapy for Children with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities”; “Three Black Gospel Music Experts on Preparing, Teaching, and ‘Being’ in the African American Aural-Oral Tradition,” “Perceptions of the Roles of Paraprofessionals in the Inclusive Music Classroom,” and “Sound Healing to Improve Socio-Emotional Educational Experiences in Public Schools.” Again, thank you to all the presenters!

For now, I am inquiring about the research projects of faculty members across NJ higher education institutions. I look forward to reporting on that in the Fall.

News From the Board of Directors

Emerging Ensembles

Zachary Gates

zacharygatesmusic[at]gmail.com

And with that, the very first year of the Honors Modern Band has been completed, and with great success! The students performed a truly fantastic concert with incredible solos and energy. As a classically trained musician, I know the assumptions that Modern Band attracts regarding the significance, value, and credibility of this type of music, both within and outside the context of traditional music education and our organization. The entire time in Atlantic City, starting from the very first minute of rehearsal, it was impossible to ignore that these students were masters of their instruments, and musicians truly worthy of the title “Honors”.

I’m truly thankful for everyone that worked to make this first year happen, those that were on the ground at the conference, those that worked on this ensemble in anticipation of our inaugural performance, and those that have been laying the groundwork for this kind of ensemble for years.

For next year and the continuing future of this ensemble, I’m looking forward to Modern Band improving and growing in student, teacher, and region engagement! Please keep an eye out in late August/early September for audition information on our website and in emails for the next year of Modern Band! I truly can’t wait.

Diversity/Equity/Inclusion/Access

Isaiah C. Mason

deia.njmea[at]gmail.com

As we close out the 2023-2024 school year, the DEIA Committee is excited to push forward! All three of the region DEI Chairs have been working to make music accessible for all students in New Jersey through countless PD offerings for teachers, conference sessions, and performance opportunities for our students. We have garnered feedback from many of you, and we are ready to further serve your needs in the upcoming year.

We would love to hear about your classroom and personal successes regarding DEIA. Your success stories could inform someone else’s teaching and light the fire to motivate another. Scan the QR code below to share with us.

I pray you all have an excellent end to the school year and have an opportunity to recharge this summer!

Feel free to email deia.njmea[at]gmail.com to learn more about our various initiatives or to join our team.

News From the Board of Directors

Orchestra Performance/Festivals

Susan Meuse

susanmeuse[at]gmail.com

The Orchestra Procedures Committee would like to Congratulate all of the students selected to participate in the 2024 All State Orchestra and All State Intermediate Orchestra. We would like to thank Auditions Chair, Sue Mark for all of her hard work. As usual, everything went very smoothly this year. 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 Brian Verdi, Justin Lee and the parents and students of JP Stevens High School in Edison for hosting. 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/excerpt list and scales for the auditions next year. Look for the requirements in this issue of TEMPO! and on the NJMEA website.

Right now, the All State Intermediate Orchestra is working hard to prepare for their concert on Saturday, May 11. Kyle Ritenaur (Montclair State University) will be conducting ASIO. Please consider coming to the concert to hear these talented students.

The All State Orchestra will begin rehearsing in June. The conductor bio and program will be in the next TEMPO! As always, if you are interested in getting involved with the All State Orchestras, please feel free to email me or stop by a rehearsal.

I am pleased to say that we had three successful NJMEA orchestra festivals this year. For more information and photos, see the article in this issue of TEMPO! Look for information about the 2025 festivals in the next issue.

Retired Members/Mentorship

Kathleen Spadafino kspadeb[at]aol.com

As your school year winds down (after all those concerts), we retirees are just changing into our summer clothes and getting ready for more trips! Retirement is the best! We are always looking for more ways for our retirees to spend time together and experience more music. We listened when some members said they wanted some activities in the north part of the state. We are investigating an opportunity to have our meeting, grab some food and listen to a performance. Ron Dolce will send an email out to inform everyone, and the information will also be on the TEMPO Express. We hope you can join us, and participate further with NJRMEA. Please email Ron (rdolce561[at] aol.com) or me (kspadeb[at]aol.com) with any suggestions, comments or complaints! Enjoy your summer!

News From the Board of Directors

PreK-8 General Music

Amy M. Burns aburns[at]fhcds.org

Our conference was a fantastic gathering of Elementary Music Clinicians aimed at revitalizing our teaching practices. The Elementary Academy featured notable figures like David Row, Cristi Cary Miller, John Jacobson, and the NJSMA Elementary Division including Wichman, Andruska, Flynn, Rizzo-Kemp, Piombo, and Wisneski. Following this, we enjoyed two more days filled with insightful presentations by elementary music educators covering a range of crucial topics for both current and future music classes. A week later, we reconvened online to delve deeper into the sessions we attended and exchange fresh ideas being implemented in our classes. This spring, all divisions hosted workshops and sessions tailored to support elementary music educators in all facets of teaching. New Jersey stands out as one of the leading states for elementary music professional development!

Please check out our elementary series of articles about the current curriculum to give more insights into the new or updated curriculums offered for elementary general music classes. The first is the series was written by Jim Frankel, Director and Founder of MusicFirst who was a NJ public music teacher for over 15 years. He gives five reasons to explore MusicFirst Elementary. In the upcoming issues, we will feature other curriculums written by those who have created or used them. Stay tuned!

K-12 Ed Tech/Secondary General Music

Shawna Longo

If you didn’t stop by and check out the 2024 NJMEA Music TechFEST down in AC, I highly encourage you to come by in February 2025! The TechFEST has evolved into an educational event focused on student experience and teacher professional development. This year’s TechFEST featured five 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 TechFEST25 on Thursday, February 20th 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 2024 TechFEST “Best in Show” winners!

• Outstanding Liberal Arts Program

• Accredited by Middle States Association

• Performance Opportunities

– Wind Ensemble

SPRING CONCERTS

JAZZ ENSEMBLE • MAY 2

CHORALE & WIND ENSEMBLE • MAY 6

MARCHING BAND

SPRING PRACTICE • MAY 3 BAND CAMP • AUGUST 20-22

BACHELOR

OF ARTS IN MUSIC

O ering convenient opportunities to

SELINSGROVE, PENNSYLVANIA

Riverwalk Plaza 34 Ridgedale Avenue

East Hanover, NJ 07936

Riverwalk Plaza 34 Ridgedale Avenue East Hanover, NJ 07936

(973)428-0405

(973) 476-4688

(973) 428-0405 276 Morris Avenue

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

The Scholarship Framework

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

• Audition Fee - $25

• Participation Fee - $35

• Housing - $315

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

We Need Your Help

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

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

Giving Opportunities

Large Ensemble Concert Sponsorship - $5,000

•All State Orchestra and Mixed Chorus, Atlantic City

•All State Orchestra and Mixed Chorus, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark

•All State Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Treble Chorus, Atlantic City

•All State Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Treble Chorus, NJPAC, Newark

Concert Sponsorship - $2,500

•All State Jazz, Atlantic City

•All State Jazz, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark

Crescendo Giving Level - $1,000

Sforzando Giving Level - $500

Arts Advocate - $250

Friends of the Arts - $100

Other $_____________

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

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

The Crescendo Foundation

300 W Somerdale Road, Suite C

Voorhees, NJ 08043-2236

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

2024-2025 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 = 120mm

A Melodic minor B Melodic minor C Melodic Minor

The 3 minor scales above must be played in the following manner:

3 octaves separate bows as quarter notes with the quarter note = 120mm

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 = 120mm

D Melodic minor E Melodic minor F Melodic Minor

The 3 minor scales above must be played in the following manner:

3 octaves separate bows as quarter notes with the quarter note = 120mm

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 = 120mm

A Melodic minor C Melodic minor F# Melodic Minor

The 3 minor scales above must be played in the following manner:

2 octaves* separate bows as quarter notes with the quarter note = 120mm

*No octave drop.

REQUIRED EXCERPTS - students should play top line for all divisi and all double stops should be played divisi, top line only

InstrumentComposerTitle Movement(s)

VIOLINMahlerSymphony No. 1 in D MajorMvt. 4 - Reh 16-18 (mm. 175-205)

DvorakSymphony No. 8 in G MajorMvt. 1 - 5 meas after Reh N to end (mm 279-318)

VIOLAMahlerSymphony No. 1 in D MajorMvt. 4 - 1 meas before Reh 3 to 5 meas after Reh 5

DvorakSymphony No. 8 in G MajorMvt. 1 - Reh D - E

CELLOMahlerSymphony No. 1 in D MajorMvt. 4 - 5 meas after Reh 9 to Reh 13 (divisi top line only)

DvorakSymphony No. 8 in G MajorMvt. 1 - Reh F to 4 meas before Reh H

BASSMahlerSymphony No. 1 in D MajorMvt. 3 - meas 3 - 10

DvorakSymphony No. 8 in G MajorMvt. 4 - Reh S to the end

2024 - 2025 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.

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 = 104mm.

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 = 104mm.

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 = 104mm.

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 = 84mm.

Slurred Bows: 4 notes slurred to a bow, as 8th notes, with the quarter note = 84mm.

*No octave drop.

REQUIRED SOLOS

InstrumentComposerTitle

Movement(s) Edition

VIOLINVivaldiConcerto in g Minor, Op 12, No 1 RV3171st Movement International

VIOLAMarcelloSonata in e Minor

CELLOMarcelloSonata in e Minor

BASSSaint-SaensThe Elephant

1st & 2nd MovementsInternational

1st & 2nd MovementsInternational

All Kalmus (available on IMSLP)

2024 - 2025

ALL STATE BAND SOLO LIST

InstrumentSolo ComposerPublisher

Piccolo Concerto in G, RB438 VivaldiInternational 2777

Flute Fantasie (from Flute Music by French Composers) Faure Schirmer HL50331090

Oboe Concerto - mvmts. 1 & 2 HaydnBreitkopf 5349

English Horn*Sonata MarcelloSchirmer HL50333080

Eb Clarinet*Fantasie Concertante Lecail Rubank 4476866

Bb ClarinetSonata, Op. 167 - mvmts. 1, 2, & 4Saint-SaensG. Henle Verlag HN965

Eb Alto Clarinet*Allegro Spiritoso SenailleSouthern SS558

Bb Bass ClarinetSonata in g Minor Eccles B-M/Alfred EL003877

Contra Clarinet*Allegro Spiritoso SenailleSouthern SS558

Bassoon Premier Solo BordeauRubank 884-7

Bb Sop. Sax*Sonata - mvmts. 2, 3, &4 CaravanEthos Publications EP082984

Eb Alto SaxConcerto - beg-19 & 37-end GlazunovAlphonse Leduc AL19256

Bb Tenor SaxSonata in c Minor Telemann/RoselleRubank 4471910

Eb Bari SaxSonata HartleyDorn Publications

Bb TrumpetAndante et Scherzo Barat Alphonse Leduc AL21324

Horn Concerto No. 2 MozartSchirmer 50261880

TromboneConcerto Rimsky-KorsakovInternational 1583

Bass Trombone*Andante (Tuba Version)

TcherepninMP Belaieff Bel223

EuphoniumBeautiful Colorado DeLucaCarl Fischer W2477

Tuba Concertino FrackenpohlR King/Alphonse Leduc AI28577

Harp* First Arabesque (from Solos for the Harp Player) Debussy/SalzedoSchirmer 45852

Piano* Sonata in F, K280 MozartG. Henle Verlag H1

Timpani Solo No. 1 - "The Rite"

RieppiBachovich Music Publications (from 12 Modern Timpani Solos)

Mallets Concertino for Marimba - mvmt. 1 CrestonSchirmer 50337080

Battery Percussion

Snare Etude No.3 from 12 Studies for the DrumDelecluseLeduc AL23410 (Douze Etudes)

KeyboardMinuet - pg. 6 (no Trio)

WhaleyMeredith Music (from Musical Studies for the Int Mallet Player)

*Instruments will be used as needed.

NJ

Elementary General Music Curriculum Series

Amy M. Burns

Far Hills Country School aburns[at]fhcds.org

Over the next few Tempo Editions, elementary general music curriculum will be highlighted to give elementary music educators an insight to new or updated curriculum that they could utilize in their classes. This first article in the series is written by Jim Frankel, Founder and Director of MusicFirst and taught music in the NJ public schools for over 15 years.

Five Reasons to Explore MusicFirst Elementary for General Music Classes (and more)

By Jim Frankel

There are numerous curriculum and approaches for teaching elementary general music classes. They all provide wonderful elements that assist the elementary music educator to successfully teach general music. One of these curriculums is MusicFirst Elementary Powered by Charanga (https://www.musicfirst.com/software/musicfirstelementary).

This curriculum was introduced over 25 years ago in the UK as Charanga. Currently, Charanga is used in over 70% of the schools. When it was brought to the States, many music educators assisted in the process to adapt the product to align with the Core Music Standards. In April of 2023, MusicFirst Elementary Powered by Charanga made its debut.

This past year, I have had the opportunity to speak with hundreds of music teachers, as well as present and attend numerous ses-

sions on the various offerings that we have at MusicFirst (https:// www.musicfirst.com/) for K-20 music educators. I have also had the chance to watch Amy Burns, a Preschool through Grade 4 NJ music

educator, and Elementary Music Consultant for MusicFirst, showcase MusicFirst Elementary in various sessions with examples from her classroom. From these experiences, here are five reasons to explore MusicFirst Elementary.

Reason #1 - A Comprehensive, Complete and Easy to Use

Curriculum written by Music Educators

MusicFirst Elementary is an extremely thorough curriculum. Believe it or not, the complete curriculum is over 10,000 pages long. The curriculum has almost everything, including software, sheet music, high quality audio tracks, animated videos, diverse and original music, and much more. If you find something that it doesn’t have, the team behind the scenes listens to teachers and adds it if possible, so it is constantly growing. And it is intuitive to use. You can navigate anywhere in the site within two clicks, so you’ll never have to wonder how to get where you want to go on the site.

It’s flexible enough to use it either as your everyday lesson plans for all grade levels or as a supplement to a curriculum that you have already designed for your students. You can customize any of the lessons. If the middle and high schools in your district already use solutions from MusicFirst, it is the perfect complement to using the MusicFirst Classroom with your middle school, music, technology class, or band class, or orchestra class or choral class, etc.

Reason #2 - Documentation

If your school administration requires you to hand in lesson plans on a regular basis, MusicFirst Elementary allows you to print out any lesson in a nicely formatted PDF. If your district requires you to submit a Scope & Sequence or a curriculum map for your K-5 music program, MusicFirst Elementary has all this information and allows you to print out all of it as a PDF. It may not sound like a big deal, but this is wonderful for a novice teacher, or a teacher who is using this curriculum for the first time.

Reason #3 - The Supplementary Tab

The Supplementary tab in MusicFirst Elementary features playalong videos for the recorder, ukulele, boomwhackers, and other classroom instruments. Additionally, it has all the Spanish songs that are included in the curriculum in one place for you to easily find. It also has the Kodály Supplementary Songs if you like those as an approach in your classroom. It has quick videos on Musical Elements and Theory - perfect as a mini-lesson or “Do Now” to set the tone for the rest of the class.

The Animated Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra features the entire animated production of "Red & The Kingdom Of Sound", an award-winning animated adaptation of Benjamin Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. The animation imagines Britten’s orchestra as a series of fantastical realms. Red, the animation’s titular character, represents the newcomer to classical music, and the film follows his adventures in the Kingdom Of Sound.

There are 4 full musical productions included with the curriculum. These productions can be used as a performance opportunity with everything you need to teach, rehearse, and perform including scripts, scores, and director guides.

Finally, there is a collection of Musical Games that you can play with your students - either as part of your instruction or just for fun!

Reason #4 – A plethora of

sheet music!

One of the absolute coolest parts of MusicFirst Elementary is that there is so much sheet music included with the curriculum - but not just the melody and lyrics of the songs. Unlike anything that I have ever seen available for elementary music, there are band and orchestra parts for many of the songs in the curriculum so that students who might play in concert band or orchestra can get their instruments out during general music class and play along with the songs being taught. Instrumental parts are available in Grades 3, 4 and 5 for many of the songs. If you are a band or strings teacher who is also teaching elementary general music, this is a wonderful plus for your program.

Reason #5 - YuStudio

Included in MusicFirst Elementary is a suite of six software titles called Creative Tools. This suite of software really has everything you need for elementary music - notation, games, and most importantly, a complete digital audio workstation (DAW) called YuStudio. This intuitive DAW is currently the only product that lets you import a movie so that you can do film scoring with your students. It is also geared for elementary students so the controls are labeled and the audio loops are focused and guided for your students to successfully use to create music in class or at home.

MusicFirst Elementary has what you need to teach general music and gives your students opportunities to explore and create music without them needing email addresses. The curriculum subscription is for grades K-5 (with preschool and grade 6 coming soon) so you can interchange the grade levels easily. It also comes with unlimited seats per school building. Try it for 30 days at https://www.musicfirst. com/software/musicfirst-elementary and explore everything it has to offer.

Summer Reading List: Spotlight on Disablility Awareness

Maureen Butler

As the summer months approach, it’s time to think about a pleasure we too often postpone during the school year - reading! Last May I suggested three books that related to deafness. Here are three that focus on disabilities in general, and will affect how you think and talk about people with disabilities. The first offers ways to be supportive, the second is an anthology of personal stories, and the third is a resource for music teachers. Happy reading!

Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally

by Emily Ladau Ten Speed Press, 2021

become more acutely aware of what we say to and about people with disabilities. As music teachers who work with students, staff members and parents who are part of the disability community, we can gain valuable insight from this book. The author includes a chart of respectful ways to refer to a person with disabilities, and a list of resources for further reading.

Disability Visibility: First-person Stories from the Twenty-first Century

edited by Alice Wong Vintage Books, 2020

This insightful book was written by a woman with disabilities whose purpose, as you can tell from the title, is to teach nondisabled readers how to understand and communicate with people with disabilities. Emily Ladau shares her own experiences and those of others to illustrate her points, while stressing that her opinions and thoughts do not represent everyone’s perspective. For example, there are varying opinions about how to refer to one’s disability - some prefer what is known as “people first language” (a man with autism, e.g.) and some may prefer “identity first language” (an autistic man). She advises us to recognize and respect the individuality of each person in the disability community.

Among the helpful topics that are covered are defining disability, an overview of disability history, accessibility, disability etiquette and ableism. Ableism, according to Ladau, is “attitudes, actions and circumstances that devalue people because they are disabled or perceived as having a disability.” Ladau shares that it is society’s outlook and obstacles (inaccessible entrances or a lack of sign language interpreters, for example) that are disabling factors. Since there are many intrinsic and extrinsic examples of ableism in society, the author encourages readers to examine our own preconceptions and to

This anthology is a deep dive into many issues that confront the disability community and of which non disabled people are mostly unaware. Ableism, racism, audism, sexism, homophobia, disability aesthetics, disability justice are some of the topics that are covered in essays, blogposts, a eulogy, and even congressional testimony. Some of it is difficult to read, with some shocking experiences relayed directly and emotionally. Each chapter shares a different outlook, and so this book would be good to pick up and explore any one chapter at a time. A few examples:

• Author Sandy Ho relates the changes in Chinese characters that have been used to refer to people with disabilities - from canfei, meaning useless, to kanji, meaning sickness or illness,

to cán zhàng, meaning disabled and obstructed. Ho describes the challenges growing up within a family, conflicted by those who felt that she should be abandoned at the hospital, and those who thought she was a “gift from the heavens.”

• Harriet McBryde Johnson, a disabled disability rights activist, describes debating Peter Singer, a philosopher at Princeton University who argues that it is right to euthanize babies who are born with certain disabilities.

• Britney Wilson describes the indignities she and others have suffered as they travel through New York City using paratransit. Some disabled riders have been accused of being “spoiled and entitled”

when they are trying to move about in a world that presents obstacles and challenges to them. She writes “It’s the idea that we are acting as if someone owes us something rather than merely asking to be treated with the respect and human dignity we deserve.”

If you are working with students with disabilities, and want to know more about challenges they face and will continue to face, this may be an enlightening resource for you.

Music in Special Education (3rd edition)

by Mary S. Adamek and Alice-Ann Darrow AMTA, 2018

I’ve had the second edition of this book since it came out in 2010, and it has been my “go-to” when I have questions about specific disabilities and how they relate to the music education of my students. It

is like a treasure chest of everything we need to know! Its third edition includes a review of historical and current issues in music education; an in-depth look at specific disabilities and how they affect how students learn; accommodations and modifications that can be used to ensure that children have optimal musical experiences; and much more. Are you unsure how to accommodate for a student with developmental delays? Do you have students with physical disabilities that want to join band? Do you wish you had a better understanding of behavioral issues that you see? All of these topics and more are covered in this treasure of a resource, one that you will turn to again and again.

• Great Action, Intonation, and Tuning Retention!

• No Sharp frets at sides of neck

• Closed geared tuners to keep out dust

• Factory installed strap buttons on all instruments

• Beautiful sound!

• Includes Enrichment Kit!

• Mahogany wood

• Padded gig bag with zipper pocket to hold accessories

• Strap

• Vibrational digital-chromatic tuner

• Capo

• Extra set of strings

• Polishing cloth

• Finger shaker for strumming hand

The Harmony of Advocacy: Why Every Voice Matters in Music Education

Shawna Longo Supervisor of VPA - Westfield Public Schools

Fresh off my trip to Capitol Hill for "Music In Our Schools Month," I'm buzzing with a renewed sense of purpose. Advocating for the arts, particularly music education, is a constant hum in the back of my mind. But sometimes, the daily grind of our day-to-day lives can make that hum feel a little off-key.

Anyone who saw the recent Oscar-winning short film "The Last Repair Shop" knows the power of music. The story resonated deeply with me. It's a reminder that music is more than entertainment; it's a language, a history, a connection that transcends words.

And that's exactly what I tried to convey on the Hill. Billie Eilish, a young artist whose music defies genres and connects with millions, took the stage to accept her Oscar. And what did she do? She thanked her music teacher. This served as a powerful reminder of the ripple effect a dedicated music educator can have.

That moment, beamed across living rooms worldwide, spoke volumes. It solidified the importance of music education, not just for fostering future superstars, but for enriching the lives of every child who walks through our classroom doors.

Here's the truth: music education is often the first program on the chopping block when budgets tighten. But the short-term gain rarely outweighs the long-term loss. We're not just creating musicians; we're nurturing well-rounded individuals who can contribute to society in countless ways. This is why "Music In Our Schools Month" is so crucial. It's a platform to remind everyone, from parents to policymakers, of the undeniable value of music education.

My trip to Capitol Hill wasn't about a solo performance. It was about joining a chorus of passionate music educators and advocates from NAfME and The CMA Foundation. I was proud to stand united with Scott Sheehan (President, NAfME), Tiffany Kerns (Executive Director, CMA Foundation), Christopher Woodside (Executive Director, NAfME), Jared Cassedy (K-12 Performing Arts Coordinator & LHS Wind Ensemble Director, Lexington, MA), and DaJuana Hammonds (Music & Choral Teacher, Nashville, TN). We shared stories, statistics, and most importantly, the joy that music brings to our lives and the lives of our students. And it resonated.

These moments – the Oscars, the packed school concerts, the shy student who finally masters a tricky passage – are why consistent music education advocacy is crucial. It's all a part of a larger orchestra, a nationwide ensemble of music teachers, parents, and passionate community members who understand the transformative power of music.

We advocate because music education isn't just about learning notes. It's about fostering creativity, teamwork, and discipline – the very skills that prepare students for success in any field.

So, how can you join the harmony?

● Contact your local representatives. Let them know the value you place on music education. Share stories about the impact it's had on you or your students.

● Spread the word! Share articles and social media posts about the importance of music education.

● Consistent Communication. Utilize social media to consistently communicate positive messages about the impact music education is having within your school and community. It’s not just about the “big” performances, every little moment of growth is worth sharing. Together, we can create a symphony of support that ensures every child has the opportunity to discover their musical voice. Because just like Billie Eilish so eloquently stated, music teachers can be the reason someone finds their place on the world's biggest stage. Let's make sure that stage is accessible to all.

15th Annual New Jersey Young Composers Final

Andrew Lesser, Ed.D.

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

The 15th annual New Jersey Young Composers Competition (NJYCC) finals were held on Saturday, February 24th, 2024, 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 2024-25 competition will also be posted on the website in the Fall of 2024. 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:

“Crashing Down” by Ivan Wong West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South

Finalists:

“Break” by Ibrahim Aladdin Pioneer Academy

“The Jester” by Esther Chi Livingston High School

“Serene Chaos” by Timothy Hwang River Dell High School

“The Chained Ship” by Benedict Segrest Cherry Hill High School West

Three Lessons from a Performing Musician on Engaging Music Classroom Students

I was covered in sweat with my heart beating rapidly as I stepped foot into the music classroom. I had recently been hired at a small urban high school in Brooklyn, New York. My students were primarily low-income and had had no prior experience with instrumental music programs. At the time, the school did not have a formalized music curriculum, a classroom for music instruction, or any working musical instruments. What I had available to me was one broken flute and a few percussion instruments to service over a hundred and fifty students who were required to take music class. With this daunting, Mount Everest task ahead of me, all I had to draw from in establishing the music program were two demo lessons from methods classes and the ability to play classical trumpet. I had to activate every creative bone in my body to engage these students in this new setting.

My experience working with these kids in Brooklyn got me asking myself: What inspires performing arts educators to give our best to our students on a daily basis? How do we inspire the next generation of students, who will be future music educators, performers, composers, and concert-goers? My belief is that staying connected to music-making—in my case, trumpeting—is essential to staying inspired in the classroom.

It is all too easy to forget to stay connected to what inspires us as music educators. I believe that what has allowed me to stay motivated is the ability to continue in the act of music making, which breathes life into my classroom. I have had the privilege of performing as a professional musician for over two decades, encompassing performances on multiple continents and in front of vast audiences in orchestras and opera companies. As I made my quantum leap into the realm of K-12 music education, I had to translate my years of experience in performing into making a difference in the lives of the young people in front of me.

After gaining my footing in my teaching practice, there were many parallels between teaching music in the classroom and performing music on the stage. Many times, these two settings are thought of as completely different worlds. However, these two worlds feed each other and can help us create highly engaged classroom environments. Upon further reflection on my transition into the classroom, I thought about the influential instructors who ignited my joy and appreciation for music. What motivated my transition decision was the possibility that I could have a similar impact on my students' lives.

As we engage in joyful activities that foster our passion for making music, the positive effects in our teaching practice become obvious. This gives rise to the ever-important question: How do you keep your passion alive? K-12 music education offers a wide array of options, spanning from general music and guitar to ukulele, orchestra, band,

music theory, musical theater, composition, percussion, and music technology, among others. With this wealth of offerings comes many ways for us music educators to be involved in the creative process. In my first year of teaching, I remember asking myself how I would ever grow as a trumpeter when I was so overwhelmed with all the administrative tasks I had to complete, from grading papers, to producing lesson plans, to fixing instruments.

Over time, I adjusted to the demands of the teaching profession and took advantage of any opportunity to expand my artistic abilities. Through that process, I came to the profound realization that music-making fed my engagement and enthusiasm in the classroom. Music-making is not a forgotten activity that I participated in years ago. Instead, it is, and always will be, an essential tool in serving my students and deepening my love and passion for music education and music-making.

If you find it challenging to engage with your students or integrate your own experiences into the classroom, consider these three lessons to enrich your path as both a music-maker and a music educator.

Lesson 1: Utilizing Performance Experience to Guide the Instructional Process

How can we, as music educators, cultivate a sense of accomplishment in our students akin to the fulfillment we derive from musical experiences? In the Joy of Music, Leonard Bernstein wrote, “The conductor must not only make his orchestra play, he must make them want to play. He must exalt them, lift them, start their adrenaline pouring…however he does it, he must make the orchestra love the music as he loves” (Bernstein, 1959, as cited in Boonshaft, 2007, p. 150). By integrating a performance-oriented perspective, I encourage my students to overcome challenges as they process new repertoire and projects. Just as I do in my creative work, I utilize a backwards design, or begin with the end goal in mind, for classroom planning. Engaging in our own artistic endeavors allows us to draw from firsthand experiences of growth as we accomplish milestones that can help us to maintain fresh perspectives in approaching student engagemen

Considering what we want our students to achieve, utilizing scaffolded strategies that are familiar to our own artist undertakings could serve as a valuable tool as we guide our students through difficult rhythms, time signatures, notes, and phrases. One enigmatic aspect of teaching lies in our ability to communicate our profound musical passion, aiming to inspire our students to revel in and appreciate the joys of musicking. Boonshaft (2007) stated, “We teach because we love sharing our art with young people and helping them

develop in many different ways as there are colors in the rainbow” (p. 159). As we immerse ourselves in the process of making music, we harvest a sense of passion and appreciation for the art, which we can then bestow onto our students in the classroom.

Lesson 2: Using Performing Experience to Help Students Develop a Growth Mindset

Librarian Dorothy Porter said, “Cultivating the arts and sciences has significantly contributed to human happiness and advancement, igniting an indomitable zeal for moral virtue and intellectual excellence through the inspiring examples they set in the hearts and minds of others” (Porter, 1995, as cited in Muhammad, 2020 p. 89).

This quote illuminates in me a yearning for improvement and an appreciation for a growth mindset. To evolve, one must embark on unfamiliar paths. Engaging in the pursuit of mastering a challenging new piece or project is one of the most humbling endeavors for us as musicians. According to Boyett (2019), a growth mindset places tremendous focus on the role that effort plays in developing skills and gaining knowledge. When people endorse growth mindset beliefs, they believe that human traits are malleable and can be changed through effort and flexibly adopting useful strategies (Kroeper et al., 2022). As Adams (2019) mentioned, “If students see we are unwilling to step outside of our comfort zone, that we are afraid of mistakes, or that we are not continually learning and growing, then why would they make the effort to do those things?” (p. 23).

A recent encounter with a challenging piece during a concert where I performed trumpet on Leonard Bernstein's "On the Waterfront" proved to be a transformative experience for me. Numerous technical challenges loomed, and doubts regarding my capacity to deliver the desired performance outcome during the concert weighed heavily on my mind. I shared this experience with my students to empathize with their experiences as they continue to build skills on their instruments not yet ascertained. Openly discussing our life experiences and passions is a potent means to forge deeper connections with our students. Their reaction was one of surprise when they learned their music teacher experienced any struggles in the music-making process. This connection between personal struggles and their musical endeavors created a powerful narrative, fostering a sense of shared growth within the classroom. Through my experience, my students were able to grasp lessons of perseverance, diligence, and hard work.

Lesson 3: Guiding Your Approach to Ensemble Rehearsing

Given that most of my professional music experiences have been with groups of other musicians, I can share how my experiences in these ensembles have impacted my own musicianship and life as an educator. In considering student-centered constructivist classrooms, “schooling must be a time of curiosity, exploration, and inquiry, and memorizing information must be subordinated to learning how to find information to solve real problems” (Brooks & Brooks, 2000, p. 9). Being a part of communities helps us to share real-life experiences in the music-making process with our students. Whether it is performing professionally or in a community orchestra, band, or musical, we learn important skills that we can bring to our students. Whether actively performing or distanced from performance experiences, a majority of individuals in the realm of music education

have engaged in music-making, be it within large orchestras, concert bands, musical productions, or intimate ensemble settings. These experiences played a significant role in cultivating our passion for music and inspired us to pursue careers as music educators. Let us draw upon those transformative moments while also motivating our students, passing on the love of music!

Below are some guiding questions for you to reflect on as you are seeking inspiration for your own music classroom engagement practices:

1. In what ways do I share my enthusiasm and passion for musicmaking in my classroom?

2. What strategies and practices can I implement into my selfgrowth plan to continue cultivating and refining myself as an educator and a performer?

3.How do I regularly gauge my practice as I consider my role in front of students or an audience?

4. How comfortable are we in taking chances and risks in front of our students?

5. Can we model the growth mindset behavior we desire our students to exhibit in the classroom?

References

Adams, K. (2019). Developing growth mindset in the ensemble rehearsal. Music Educators Journal, 105(4), 21–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/0027432119849473

Boyett, C. (2019). It’s all in the mind: Fostering a growth mindset for optimal performance. The American Music Teacher, 68(6), 22–25.

Boonshaft, P. (2007). Teaching music with passion. Meredith Music.

Brooks, J. G., & Brooks, M. G. (2000). In search of understanding: The case for constructivist classrooms. Assoc. for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Kroeper, K. M., Fried, A. C., & Murphy, M. C. (2022). Towards fostering growth mindset classrooms: Identifying teaching behaviors that signal instructors’ fixed and growth mindsets beliefs to students. Social Psychology of Education, 25(2–3), 371–398. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-022-09689-4

Muhammad, G. (2020). Cultivating genius. Scholastic.

Top Takeaways from the NAMM Show

Longo

If you’ve ever heard about The NAMM Show or are curious about what it’s like - don’t wonder, go experience it! With over 61,000 people in attendance, it is a conference like no other. The exhibit floor alone will take you days to walk around and includes everything from new technology-based products to instruments to audio to lighting to “you name it!” If it lives in the music industry space, it’s probably at The NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA during the last week of January.

Music Education

The NAMM Show is not just for the music industry. There is also a vibrant music education segment to the “Show” that features the best of the best from across the country in music educator presenters and music industry professionals. Where else could you go to experience these workshop topics?

• A Guide to Auditorium Management: Taking Care of Your Space and Protecting Your Investment

• Innovate and Elevate: Exploring DJ Technology with DJ Hapa

• Teach Music Tech and Entrepreneurship Through the Lens of The Music Industry

• Unlocking Federal Funding to Support and Expand Your Music Program

• Careers in Music: Tools and Resources to Support Students

And, I can’t forget to mention the “Grand Rally for Music Education”...one word, WOW! The performers, the awards, the speakers, and the free breakfast - all in the name of promoting, uplifting and advocating for quality music education!

Performances:

There are performances happening around every corner for the majority of every day! With two main outdoor stages at each end of the convention center and a stage in each of the lobbies of the Hilton and Marriott Hotels (adjacent to the convention center), there’s always a top-notch performance happening with some of the biggest names out there and across all genres.

Exhibits

There were 1,600+ exhibitors representing 3,500+ brands from around the world. I must admit walking the exhibit floor can be a bit overwhelming at times. But, it’s a great place to explore, learn about new technologies and products, play around, and talk with people! And with its close proximity to Los Angeles, you never know who you might run into while roaming the exhibit floor!

Careers in Music

Recently, The NAMM Foundation in partnership with the National Federation of State High School Associations and other organizations launched “Careers in Music.” The website is an amazing resource available to assist students in finding their music career, research and information on various music careers, industry insights, gear and software available, music schools, and a music school finder tool. I highly recommend sharing this resource with your students - www.careersinmusic.com

Three Things to Check Out

I came home from The NAMM Show exhausted, yet excited! Here are three new things I learned of and encourage you to check out! I promise that it will be worth your time.

Stands - KraftGeek’s products are aimed at content creators, musicians, and artists. They sent me a sample of both products below and I highly recommend them. In addition to these two products, they also sell easels for artwork.

● The KraftGeek Music Stand is durable, sleek, easy to store (collapsible), and includes built-in clips to hold your music. I am truly impressed with it. It is portable, all-in-one with no assembly required, easily stored, durable (unlike wire stands), and they’ve included every option could you need! They sell a phone/tablet mount, LumiLight, and portable tripod bag as additional accessories.

● Their Selfie Stick Phone Tripod is great for recording podcasts and/or videos/vlogs. They sell a light and microphone

that connect to the tripod for ease of recording. It is extremely durable and portable (easily stored in your classroom). It would serve any classroom well for creating audio and video content (audio recording, podcasts, vlogs, etc).

KraftGeek also won “Best in Show” at NAMM 2024. Check them out at: www.kraftgeek.com

Organization - We Make Noise (formerly Girls Make Beats) is a 501c3 organization that started with the mission focusing on gender equity and access for girls in the music industry. They harness the power of music and technology to advance global gender equity, equipping communities with tools that cultivate limitless potential. They blend music creation, technology training, community building, and career development to instill the mindset and abilities needed for success in the music industry and beyond. Consider starting a chapter in your school and check them out at www.girlsmakebeats.org

Music Production - Teenage Engineering is a Swedish company that designs and manufactures high-quality electronic products and are known for their innovative design, portability, and affordability. Their OP-1 portable synthesizer is a powerful and versatile instrument that features a built-in sampler, sequencer, and effects processor - aka, a complete music production workstation in a pocket-sized package. They also make a variety of other products including headphones, speakers, and accessories.

Invest in Yourself, Invest in Your Students

The NAMM Show is more than just a conference; it’s an investment in your professional development and, ultimately, the success of your students. By attending, you gain access to cutting-edge resources, network with industry leaders, and discover innovative teaching methods connected to the music industry. This invaluable experience allows you to bring fresh ideas, enthusiasm, and inspiration back to your classroom. It is an opportunity to reignite your passion and elevate your teaching practice, all while growing your network.

Encouraging Movement in Music Education: Enhancing Ensemble Conducting Through Laban Movement Analysis

Ashlen Udell

Bridgewater Raritan Middle School; Rutgers University audell[at]brrsd.k12.nj.us

Music teachers have been encouraged to incorporate movementbased activities in their classrooms as a means of educational development through multiple movement approaches such as folk dance, Dalcroze eurhythmics, Orff-Schulwerk, and the Kodály method. However, one area of music education where the body is essential in conveying meaning is ensemble conducting. A conductor uses their body to represent the music, conveying meaning to the musicians through gestures.

As a musician and dancer myself, embodying music through fullbody movement from a young age has helped the development of my expression and musicality. I had an understanding of music and phrasing that literally resonated through my body. This awareness was beneficial in teaching general music to young children who had freedom in their movements and enjoyed experimenting with musical elements in the classroom. Yet, as a current middle school band educator, I have wondered how the use of movement could be a tool to strengthen my teaching and how this technique could influence my instrumental students’ musical understanding. In my experience, using movement in the classroom does not come naturally to middle school students and is not a widely used concept in the band ensemble. How could I effectively convey musical concepts through movement? Would my students be receptive to gestures, and were they even attentive to my actions on the podium? Through my training as a dancer and music educator, I began exploring innovative solutions.

Introducing Laban Movement Analysis

Rudolf Laban (1879–1958) was a Hungarian pioneer of modern dance who worked as a choreographer and movement theorist in the early 20th century. Among many interesting elements of his life’s work, he developed Laban Movement Analysis (LMA), a movement vocabulary used to describe the range of expression in movement. This vocabulary, entitled Effort, analyzes motion through the elements of weight, space, flow, and time. Each has its expressive extremes, labeled qualities, listed in Table 1. Weight can be light or strong; space can be indirect or direct, and so on. Let’s put one of these in motion. We will use the effort weight. Think about a feather floating through the air. Now, think about holding a heavy boulder. These opposites inspire different motions and will, in turn, create a distinct sound.

When these elements are used in combination, they develop the eight Effort actions labeled Float, Punch, Glide, Slash, Dab, Wring, Flick, and Press. These gestures are listed in Table 2 with their Effort qualities and a movement description. For example, let’s try the movement Punch together (just be careful not to actually punch anything around you!). Analyze your action through space—it is a direct, strong, and sudden movement. This motion is going to create a specific sound in any performing ensemble.

Table 1: Effort Element Qualities

Table 2: Effort Actions

These eight gestures are important principles in conducting as they bring awareness to one’s movement and provide a plethora of options for creating change on the podium. Significant pioneers in this theory include James Jordan and Lisa Billingham. Jordan (2009) prefaces in his text Evoking Sound, “as conductors we soon find that success in conducting relies on elusive factors that go beyond the scope of beat pattern, beat symmetry, and conducting technique” (p. xxv) and provides exercises to “develop conductors from the inside out rather than from the outside in” (p. 5).

Practical Application in the Classroom

But how can these concepts be translated into actionable strategies for engaging students in ensemble conducting? Here are practical steps to foster student understanding and responsiveness to conducting gestures, whether utilizing Laban Efforts or conventional conducting techniques:

• Practice! Before working with your students, you must become familiar and comfortable with how your body moves. Practice your gestures and movements so you feel confident with the motion. Do this with and without conducting patterns.

• Teach the gesture! Involve your students in the motion. Have them conduct or practice the gesture with you. Be careful of your surroundings, though! For safety, I have students “Punch” toward the ceiling.

• Use music! When working with the Laban Efforts, I play music that would emulate that motion. Some ideas: Flick—Leroy Anderson’s “The Typewriter,” Slash—AC/DC’s “Back in Black.” Students are also able to bring in their own examples. When working on an ensemble piece, ask the students what motion would help them create the correct sound. This activity generates great ideas and conversations about what the students are hearing and visualizing themselves!

• Use imagery! Using descriptive words and motions is especially effective for people who are uncomfortable moving their own bodies. Some ideas: Glide—a leaf floating down a river, Float—a feather in the breeze. Students are great at coming up with their own examples. Ask your ensemble if your gestures look like the imagery being described. This question is an excellent way for students to react and think about your movement.

• Use instruments! To connect all the steps above, create a warm-up focusing on the gestures you intend to use during that rehearsal. For example, I would use the first five notes of the Concert Bb major scale or a short chorale while using different Efforts in my conducting. You could use the same Effort on each note, a different Effort on each note, or a single Effort on one note of the playing exercise. This type of warm-up gets students out of their stands and watching you! Bonus: I found myself becoming a better conductor because I was learning what worked and did not work in my movements!

These steps should be infused into elements of your rehearsal that are already happening (discussions, music-making, etc.)! You should not feel that these strategies take away time from your lessons. In addition, if students are becoming more reactive to your conducting and you are improving in your gestures, you will start saving time in your rehearsals because they are more efficient and productive.

References

Billingham, L. A. (2009). The complete conductor’s guide to Laban movement theory. GIA Publications, Inc.

Jordan, J. M. (2009). Evoking sound: Fundamentals of choral conducting. GIA Publications, Inc.

Udell, A. S. (2024). Effect of Laban movement on gesture recognition and response of seventh- and eighth-grade band students [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Rutgers University.

Three Black Gospel Music Experts on Preparing, Teaching, and "Being" in the African American Aural-Oral Tradition

Whitney Covalle, PhD Montclair University covallew[at]montclair.edu

My journey to studying Gospel music and teaching in the aural-oral tradition came out of my early teaching experiences (cue: “in the year 2000…”) where I found myself as the only White girl teaching all Black students, not knowing how to teach and learn music their way. Sure, I had my Western classical toolbelt from my own music education and preservice music teacher education, but this was all new. So - I spent the next seventeen years trying to figure that out. My teachers became my students, church music directors, church services, and countless colleagues in the schools and community arts organizations where I worked. When I made the decision to leave the classroom for academia in 2018, I wanted to spend concentrated time on studying the teaching of Black gospel music in aural-oral tradition (Covalle, 2022a). Being at Temple University and in the city of brotherly love and sisterly affection allowed me to find even more teachers.

I worked up the courage to meet two Philadelphia icons and ask if I could study their work. First, Dr. J Donald Dumpson, a force in the Philadelphia music community where he serves as both church music director at Arch Street Presbyterian Church and Founder/Artistic Director of The Philadelphia Heritage Chorale. Then, Dr. Cassandra Jones, a pillar of the education community and lead Directress of the legendary music team at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, a Philadelphia institution in the Black community. All of that not to be outdone by the national and international sensation that is Dr. Rollo Dilworth, who I was blessed to continue learning from at Temple after having worked together previously in Chicago.

The result was three months of concentrated learning gospel music in the aural-oral tradition in their ensembles as a singer in rehearsals, for church services, and other performances, in addition to deep conversations in our interviews (Covalle, 2022b). I had three questions that I asked of each expert pedagogue: (a) what is the process you engage in when preparing for and teaching gospel music in the aural-oral tradition; (b) how does race intersect with one’s preparation, teaching, and performance of gospel music; and (c) how do you advocate for incorporating gospel music into public school music programs?

Dr. Dilworth described the aural-oral tradition as “a way of being, it’s not just a thing you do, it’s a way you live and it’s who you are… that’s hard to quantify.’ Experts agreed with the aural-oral tradition as a “state of being” deeply infused with cultural, community, and spiritual values. I both observed and experienced rehearsals to be uninterrupted musical experiences with limited nonverbal instruction made possible from robust aural-oral immersion preparation of each expert. Dr. Dumpson emphasized the importance of vulner-

ability in teaching and singing gospel music, saying: “Expression without vulnerability is not the same thing.” Dr. Jones embodied intense preparation which she identified as memorization of all vocal parts so she could be fully present with her singers. Teaching in the aural-oral tradition is a vulnerability that is new and unpracticed for many, and one that requires the rigorous preparation we give to any score. That score (the recording) becomes a part of us, physicalized in our teaching and singing and written over our entire being (Barnwell, 1998).

Teaching in the aural-or is:

• Continuous music making

• Limited verbal instruction

• The teacher “embodies the score”

• Preparation is with recordings as the primary source (often transcribed by ear)

• vocal parts are memorized (no score in hand)

• Vulnerable

• Includes embodied accompaniment

• Spontaneous arrangements

While participants insisted race was not a prerequisite for engagement in Gospel music, they agreed race plays an active role, citing the prevalence of antiblackness in the academy as foremost among the barriers to rigorous preparation to teach Black Gospel music. Experts acknowledged how race intersects with teaching Gospel music, specifically around ownership or as Dr. Dilworth put it: “who has a right to tell someone else’s story?” Racialized assumptions of who can “do” gospel music exist, but all of them described experiences where they were questioned in their direction of Western classical music. All three of them were very clear: gospel music is open to everyone, but with a serious caveat from Dr. Jones: “Your background does not disqualify you but you have to be willing to put in the work.” Issues of race surface around preparation, when one might give less preparation to Gospel music because it is viewed as less sophisticated or what Dr. Dilworth heard it referred to as “happy clappy music.” Fear is certainly entangled with gospel music as teachers and systems weigh engagement (or avoidance) of gospel music for reasons related to religion, race, inadequacy, fear of Blackness/bold Black expression, unfamiliarity, deficiency, and fragility. Yet why do some teachers not avoid religion when “God” or “Jesus” is placed within the context of Western classical canon? The NAfME position statement around religious music in school is clear (1996) with our goal to teach students history and culture and not indoctrinate them into any religion.

Experts advocated for teaching gospel music in schools to offer students the opportunity to participate in an accessible, inclusive, participatory, and communal experience, among other reasons they cited:

• Fosters self-expression in students

• connects students through vulnerability

• offer an accessible, inclusive, participatory experience in music

• promotes “humanly universal themes” (hope, joy, love, unity, perseverance, unity)

• normalizes open dialogue about race, bias, assigning value, and ownership

Their reasons resonated with me as a former high school choir director who witnessed countless examples of gospel music bringing deep vulnerability and connection among students in a way that I didn’t see in quite the same way as with other music. Gospel anthems were our “go-to” on a choir field trip in the train station, when a choir member lost a loved one, or when we just needed to feel. While the experts acknowledged the culturally specific aspects of gospel music that come first in our thinking/teaching/learning, what Dr. Dilworth calls the “humanly universal themes” of love, joy, hope, community, unity, inspiration, and perseverance welcome everyone in.

References

Barnwell, Y., & Brandon, G. (1998). Singing in the African American tradition: Building a vocal community: Vol. 1. Homespun.

Covalle, W. (2022a). All God’s Children Got a Song: An Exploration of Urban Music Education (Publication No.29161442. [Doctoral dissertation, Temple University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

Covalle, W. (2022b). Three Black Gospel music experts on preparing, teaching, and “being’ in the African American Aural-Oral Tradition. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, Summer 2022 (233), 48-68. https://doi.org/10.5406/21627223.233.03

National Association for Music Education (1996). Music with a Sacred Text. Herndon, Virginia: Author. Retrieved from: https://nafme. org/resource/sacred-music-in-schools/#:~:text=Does%20music%20 with%20a%20sacred,of%20a%20comprehensive%20music%20 education.

Mental Health and Music Education

Kaylee Kelsey Teachers College - Columbia University

The current research initiative I am focused on exploring are the impacts of music education on the mental health of students aged ten to fifteen. This particular age group is more vulnerable to mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression, which can result in severe consequences. This continued research aims to determine practical approaches through which music education can incorporate secure coping mechanisms for students, and how music educators can provide the necessary support to address their mental health struggles. This research intends to provide valuable insights into the role of music education in promoting positive mental health outcomes in young individuals.

The present state of mental health among children and young adults is a matter of concern, with many grappling with a variety of challenges that could lead to catastrophic outcomes. Music education has shown promise in enhancing mental health and is one possible solution. The research currently being conducted aims to delve deeper into how music education and music educators can provide more meaningful and effective support for these vulnerable children. My research covers various topics, including the role of social-emotional learning in schools, the responsibilities of music educators, the intersection of music and individuals, and the limited resources available to students with mental health conditions. Music is a potent mode of expression that allows individuals to express themselves completely, and it is significantly related to the mental health crisis and music education. By examining this topic, we can gain a better understanding of how music education can be utilized as a tool to support children and young adults dealing with mental health challenges. To empower students, teachers must adopt pedagogical strategies anchored in an ethos of care, cultural responsiveness, and critical consciousness.

My current research invites music educators who are active and in-service to participate in a study that seeks to examine the mental health of students from the perspective of music educators. The study defines "active/ in-service" educators as currently employed individuals at a kindergarten through twelfth-grade (K-12) school district located in the United States. Educators from all K-12 school districts in the United States are invited to participate in the study.

The study seeks to gain insight into how music educators identify, resolve, and use preventative measures to address the mental health challenges of their students during this debilitating mental health crisis. By examining the themes that emerge from current and future interviews, my study will identify multiple platforms for teaching students with effective strategies and interventions to improve mental health outcomes among this vulnerable demographic.

To be eligible to participate in this current study, interested individuals are required to provide a copy of their employee badge and the name and phone number of their direct administrator. These details will serve as proof of eligibility to take part in the study.

The study employs a qualitative research design, which is a research method that involves an in-depth exploration of a particular phenomenon, in this case, the mental health culture of students from the perspective of

music educators. This method is known for producing rich, detailed data that can be used to gain a deeper understanding of the research topic.

My study focuses on gathering information about the mental health culture of students from the perspective of music educators. To achieve this, the research team will conduct interviews with the participants, who will be asked a series of open-ended, and semi-structured questions about their experiences and observations regarding the mental health of their students.

It is important to note that the results of my study will not propose a standard hypothesis. Instead, the study aims to provide a depiction of the data collected from the interviews. The data will be analyzed and presented in a way that accurately reflects the experiences and observations of the study participants.

Music is a powerful form of expression that enables individuals to fully express themselves. The study aims to explore the connection between music education and mental health in detail, examining how music education can be leveraged to support children and young adults in need. By doing so, it is hoped to contribute to the development of more effective strategies and interventions aimed at improving mental health outcomes among this vulnerable demographic.

According to the preliminary results of the research study, which were demonstrated on my research poster displayed at this year’s NJMEA conference, a significant number of music educators who participated in the study have reported that their students have been persistently experiencing feelings of sadness and hopelessness. These negative emotions could potentially have a detrimental effect on the students' emotional and mental well-being, and could also impact their academic performance.

My study suggests that further investigation is necessary to determine the root causes of these emotions. Possible factors that could contribute to these feelings may include stress from school, personal relationships, or other external pressures. Additionally, it is possible that the music curriculum or teaching methods may not be effectively addressing the emotional needs of these students.

When the music educators were asked about their relationships with their students, all participants indicated that they believe their students feel comfortable confiding sensitive information related to their emotional health more than 50% of the time. This finding suggests that music teachers may be a valuable resource for students who are struggling with emotional issues and that they may be able to provide support and guidance to those who need it.

In addition, the participants reported that their music lessons have a positive impact on their students' emotional well-being more than 50% of the time. Specifically, they noted that their music lessons foster a sense of empowerment, happiness, and emotional stability among their students. This response suggests that music education may be an effective way to promote emotional health and well-being and that it can help students develop important skills and tools for managing their emotions. If individuals are interested in participating in this study, they may email me.

A Breathing and Rhythm Exercise Scaffolds an Innovative Classroom Management System: Entrainment of the Breath to Induce Concentration and Healing in the Classroom

Cassady Maria Grablauskas Teachers College - Columbia University

cmg2275[at]tc.columbia.edu

A practice used within the art of sound healing is entrainment. In this context, entrainment may be achieved amongst students in the classroom through synchronization of the breath to better the cohesiveness and togetherness of musicians. According to Jiménez, “Entrainment is a phenomenon in which two oscillators interact with each other, typically through physical or chemical means, to synchronize their oscillations.” He also states that biological oscillators can entrain in a variety of ways; respiration, brain activity, and blood flow are some examples of biological oscillators. Through the practice of synchronized breathing, students mindfully deepen understanding and awareness of the natural phenomenon of entrainment (Jimenez, 2022).

The study depicted in this reading sought to improve classroom focus, assist students who may have anxiety, depression, etc., and also fill gaps in socio-emotional learning resulting from the COVID19 pandemic. These breathing exercises were rehearsed with a population size of four hundred and fifty nine students (n = 459) in kindergarten through fifth grade, divided into three groups per grade level, with twenty to thirty students in each group. Students rehearsed these breathing exercises as warm-ups during forty minute music classes from March 2020 until November 2021. The music teacher observed enhanced student concentration, performance, confidence, motivation, and happiness, as well as a more unified school population. This exercise was used by the school population both in and out of the music classroom.

Let students lead these daily breathing warm-ups while you assist individuals or transition:

First: Whole notes. Inhale through the nose, lifting the arms up for four beats. Shaping the lips to release air slowly, exhale while lowering the arms down for four beats. Think “heartbeat.” The speed of breath should match the speed of arm movement. Repeat this process for the duration of half notes (two beats in, two beats out; two inhales and exhales), quarter notes with increased arm speed (one beat in, one beat out; four inhales and exhales), and eighth note (½ beat in, ½ beat out; eight inhales and exhales, with less distance in arm movement).

For general music teachers, this exercise may be used to rehearse breath as it relates to rhythm. String players, this exercise may be innovated for rehearsal of right arm bow movement off of the instrument. Wind players, this exercise may be used for the rehearsal of rhythmic breath control. Vocalists, this exercise may be used for rehearsal of breath management.

Second: The entrainment exercise. Breathe in through the nose, raising the arms. Shape the lips to release air as slowly as possible and exhale, lowering the arms just as slowly. Repeat with students mirroring until the unified breath of the class has slowed significantly and all students are at calm attention.

The succss of the second exercise is reliant upon student and teacher understanding of the brain states. Pierce discusses brain waves as follows:

“Your brain is an electrochemical organ, and its electricity is measured in brain waves. There are four categories of brain waves, ranging from fastest to slowest…Beta (13-40 Hz, or cycles per second)... Alpha (8-13 Hz) …Theta (4-8 Hz) and Delta (½- 4Hz).”

Pierce also mentions research as it relates to the brain states and neurological disorders, such as ADHD associations with theta consciousness and Alzheimer's disease associated with excess beta consciousness and not enough

alpha, theta, and delta (Pierce, 2009). The benefits of slower brain wave frequencies is also mentioned:

“It’s been found that when your brain functions at the slower frequencies of alpha, theta, and delta, it produces more beneficial neuropeptides and hormones, such as endorphins, serotonin, acetylcholine, and vasopressin, which helps relieve stress and pain and increase learning and memory.”

In addition to this, mindfulness of breathing psychologically helps concentrate and calm the mind, focus the breath, and embody expanded awareness (Virtabauer, 2016).

When students are entrained with synchronized breath, music making may exceed expectations as students clear the mind and focus on mindful engagement both physically and morally.

The results of the study were beneficial to student confidence, leadership, and classroom management. Rehearsing these breathing activities with students led to the innovation of a student- run classroom, consisting of the daily practice of breathing exercises, the use of online music curricula, student legible lesson plans, and the creation of rotating classroom jobs with embedded classroom management. The Director entrained the class, the Conductor conducted, the Teacher presented the objective and learning content, the Assistant assisted the teacher, the Critic critiqued the class ensemble after each rehearsal, the Stage Crew managed all materials and lights, and the disc jockey worked the computer and technology. This allowed me, the classroom teacher, to assist individuals. The entire class worked together to read the lesson plan and perform the jobs. The process scaffolded from warm-up exercise, full group teaching, small group rehearsal, full group rehearsal, and reflection.

Students were grateful for the practices and assisted each other in getting all of the jobs followed and the classroom up and running. The breathing and entrainment exercise also served as a tool for many individuals during possible moments of distress during the school day. It also had a significant impact on the ability for rapport to be built between students, their peers, as well as at the intersection of the student-teacher relationship. It served as a means to gather the attention of the school population and served community identity. Continued practice of these breathing techniques will result in a population of leaders with socioemotional awareness, strong endurance, and potential to enter roles of leadership. The most important role educators have is to prepare future educators. Teachers also act as healers in assisting students find themselves. Praising young minds, pushing them into roles of leadership will encourage them to push boundaries and create a better world for themselves and future generations.

References

Jiménez, A., Lu, Y., Jambhekar, A., & Lahav, G. (2022). Principles, mechanisms and functions of entrainment in biological oscillators. Interface focus, 12(3), 20210088. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2021.0088

Pierce, P. (2009). Frequency: The power of personal vibration. Atria.

Virtbauer, G. (2016). Presencing process: Embodiment and healing in the Buddhist practice of mindfulness of breathing. Mental health, religion & culture. 19(1), 68–81. Web.

NJMEA SALUTES NEW JERSEY’S 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 2023-2024 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.

2024 New Jersey All-State Wind Ensemble

PICCOLO

Shune Okada..............................Fair Lawn HS

FLUTE

Sophia Wang..............................Livingston HS

Shining Wang.............................Livingston HS

Mia Zhong.........................John P Stevens HS

Akshay Khatri..................................Edison HS

Huike Zhou....................................Peddie Sch

Joanne Ding...............Wardlaw Hartridge Sch

OBOE

Andrea Chen..........................Bergen Co Acad

Charlie Hu................................... Westfield HS

BASSOON

Hannah Cheung..............................Edison HS

Connor Mark...W Windsor-Plainsboro HS No

Bb CLARINET

Rishi Gurnani.....................John P Stevens HS

Hong Cheng.......................John P Stevens HS

Pablo Ramirez-Garcia...........So Brunswick HS

Jack Crawford.................Washington Twp HS

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

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

Qianqian Qu................................Millburn HS

Haley Deng......................High Technology HS

Matthew Gao......................Lawrenceville Sch

BASS CLARINET

Nathan Goldberg............................ Tenafly HS

Riley Talerico-Dovel.............Freehold Twp HS

CONTRA CLARINET

Brian Castone............Bridgewater-Raritan HS

SOPRANO SAXOPHONE

Philip Om......................................Cresskill HS

ALTO SAXOPHONE

Ivan Plazonic............Hopewell Valley Cent HS

Abner Brijesh........................Montgomery HS

TENOR SAXOPHONE

Simon Jiang...................................Ramsey HS

BARITONE SAXOPHONE

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

TRUMPET

Samarsimha Munagala......John P Stevens HS

Ian Lee................................Lawrenceville Sch

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

Lucas Holbrook...................No Hunterdon HS

Colin Morrissey..........................Absegami HS

Kevin Wang................Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Shrihith Manoj......................So Brunswick HS

F HORN

Nathan Spergel..........................Livingston HS

Riana Sherali......................John P Stevens HS

Alyx Martos..........................West Orange HS

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

Christopher Juan...............John P Stevens HS

TROMBONE

Justin Masi ....................................Roxbury HS

Sumit Kulkarni...................John P Stevens HS

Alex Fullam...................................Roxbury HS

Joshua Yoon..................................Cresskill HS

BASS TROMBONE

Adriana Coccaro..........................Paramus HS

EUPHONIUM

James Krempasky......Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Akshath SarukkaiW Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

TUBA

Derek Wang...............Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Eddie Grcic..........................Pascack Valley HS

Andrew Li...........................John P Stevens HS

BATTERY PERCUSSION

Matteo Johnson ..............Camden Catholic HS

Gavin Oh.....................................Shawnee HS

Luke Tan.....................Wardlaw Hartridge Sch

Siddharth Perikala.............John P Stevens HS

Iswer P Harinarayan...Bridgewater-Raritan HS

MALLETS

Preston Masigla....................Monroe Twp HS

Michael Preuster..................Monroe Twp HS

Eric Crowley..........................Monroe Twp HS

TIMPANI

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

PIANO

Ahan Kaushik.....................East Brunswick HS

STRING BASS

Odunayomi Femi-oke..................Cent Reg HS

HARP

Susie Polito.............................Immaculata HS

2023 New Jersey All-State Orchestra

FIRST VIOLIN

Timothy Shi...................................Millburn HS

Bernard Liang...........................Manalapan HS

Emily Wang..................Watchung Hills Reg HS

Hanna Chee.......................................Ridge HS

Hannah Lee..........No Valley Reg HS-Demarest

Chloe Cho........................Bergen County Acad

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

Sidney Nam.....................................Leonia HS

Anderson Yu......................................Ridge HS

Evelyn Chao .......................East Brunswick HS

Sophia Kim ......................Bergen County Acad

Hannah Lin.........................East Brunswick HS

Emily Jung.................................Ridgewood HS

Sanjay Kaushik....W Windsor-Plainsboro HS-N

Amay Naik..................Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Owen Wei.................................... Westfield HS

Sophia Kim...........W Windsor-Plainsboro HS-S

Evelyn Um........................................Leonia HS

David Kim........................Bergen County Acad

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

Kelli Chang.......................Rutgers Prep School

SECOND VIOLIN

Henry Depew...............................Bernards HS

Ethan Song...........W Windsor-Plainsboro HS-S

Elise Hwang............Stuart County Day School

Cailyn Min........................Bergen County Acad

Lia Choi...........................Paramus Catholic HS

Klaudia Kowalewski...........................Ridge HS

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

Adrian Chirnoaga................John P Stevens HS

Olive Wang.........................John P Stevens HS

Minseo Kim....................................Fort Lee HS

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

Emilian Lipnevich.W Windsor-Plainsboro HS-S

Ryannah Blackman................Camden County

Noah Hyun......................................Lenape HS

Michelle Choi...........................Eastern Reg HS

Hannah Choi................................... Tenafly HS

Michael Kim........................East Brunswick HS

Jeffery Liu ............................Delbarton School

Jason Lee.......................................Fort Lee HS

Olivia Ge.................................Pascack Hills HS

Kaiyan Ling..........................Cherry Hill HS East

VIOLA

Edward Lee......................Bergen County Acad

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

Tanav Gowda......W Windsor-Plainsboro HS-N

Ryan Kwon.........................Bergen Catholic HS

Grant Rupinski......................Southern Reg HS

Keaton Chien......................The Peddie School

Avyn Jeung....................................Fort Lee HS

Jiahn Hong...................................... Tenafly HS

Kevin Zhao.............................Montgomery HS

Aiden Lee...............................Montgomery HS

Sasmit MunagalaW Windsor-Plainsboro HS-N

Winston Wang .............................Millburn HS

Justin Ham .........................East Brunswick HS

Victor Peng..............................Eastern Reg HS

Lunette Shaw Tenafly HS

CELLO

Tehya Lim.................................Immaculata HS

Kevin Wei.........................Bergen County Acad

Jacob Kang.........................................Ridge HS

Katrina Lee..........................The Peddie School

David Yi.......................Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Jessica Hong.......................East Brunswick HS

Jason Liu.............................East Brunswick HS

Darren Lee..........................East Brunswick HS

Christine Xu ................Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Peter Moon........................Cherry Hill HS East

Caleb Suh..................................Morris Hills HS

Ethan Xu .............W Windsor-Plainsboro HS-N

Parker Woo.........W Windsor-Plainsboro HS-N

BASS

Gaurav Kakarla....W Windsor-Plainsboro HS-N

Isabella Francisco...............East Brunswick HS

Avi Patel..............................John P Stevens HS

Kenneth Allaway........W Morris Mendham HS

Irina Cowles..........Hopewell Valley Central HS

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

Michael Forde................................. Tenafly HS

Odunayomi Femi-oke..............Central Reg HS

Arav Choudhary..................East Brunswick HS

Margaret Richards...........Bergen County Acad

PICCOLO

Vishal Kumar..........................So Brunswick HS

FLUTE

Shining Wang..............................Livingston HS

Sophia Wang...............................Livingston HS

Hannah Lee......................Bergen County Acad

Andy Yin......................................Princeton HS

OBOE

Isabell Hu.......................Princeton Day School

Charlie Hu.................................... Westfield HS

Kevin Moon...................................Ramsey HS

Chloe Chung....................Bergen County Acad

ENGLISH HORN

Sumedha Solai..........................Ridgewood HS

BASSOON

Hannah Cheung...............................Edison HS

Connor Mark......W Windsor-Plainsboro HS-N

Jun-ki Kim...........................The Peddie School

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

Bb SOPRANO CLARINET

Yerim Park.................................Indian Hills HS

Hong Cheng........................John P Stevens HS

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

Aaron Wong........................East Brunswick HS

Bb BASS CLARINET

Philip Om.......................................Cresskill HS

FRENCH HORN

Nathan Spergel...........................Livingston HS

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

Alyx Martos................................W Orange HS

Christopher Juan................John P Stevens HS

Yiming Huang........................Montgomery HS

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

Kai Kim.............................Bergen County Acad

Leo Chen......................Watchung Hills Reg HS

TRUMPET

Samar Munagala.................John P Stevens HS

Colin Morrissey...........................Absegami HS

Nolan Daly................................... Westfield HS

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

Paul Wingate.................Camden County Tech

TROMBONE

Jonathan Lee...................................Edison HS

Joshua Yoon...................................Cresskill HS

Sumit Kulkarni....................John P Stevens HS

Jacob Wazeka..................................Howell HS

Rishith Duggimpudi............John P Stevens HS

Hangyeol Cheong.......................Princeton HS

TUBA

Derek Wang................Bridgewater-Raritan HS

BATTERY PERCUSSION

Matteo Johnson ...............Camden Catholic HS

Logan Soltys................................Absegami HS

Jared Griffith ..................Camden County Tech

Luke Tan.................Wardlaw Hartridge School

TIMPANI

Iswer P Harinaryan.....Bridgewater-Raritan HS

PIANO

Ahan Kaushik......................East Brunswick HS

HARP

Daisy Martinez ..........................Ridgewood HS

2024 New Jersey All-State Treble Chorus

SOPRANO I

Varsha Akavoor..................John P Stevens HS

Tanisha Bhatia ...................East Brunswick HS

Eliana Bice............................Hillsborough HS

Faith Brolly......................................Verona HS

Rachel Bustamante... Hawthorne Christian Ac

Lauren Byrne..............................Chatham HS

Kennedy Christensen....Monroe Township HS

Elisa Chung........................East Brunswick HS

Gabriella Cimillo.........................Chatham HS

Hannah Cohen.No Valley Reg HS at Demarest

Mirabella Gibson....................Eastern Reg HS

Mya Glasofer..........................Eastern Reg HS

Maria Guarraggi......No Burlington Co Reg HS

Aahana Gupta.............................Chatham HS

Eliza Halteman.............................. Newton HS

Helen Hao..................................Livingston HS

Disha Hebbar.............Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Riley Holmes...........Washington Township HS

Brianna Iocona.......................Woodstown HS

Fiona James....................................Pitman HS

Erin Lee.........No Valley Reg HS At Old Tappan

Anusha Magdum..Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Katherine Meyer.......................Metuchen HS

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

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

Ashley Noh.....................................Leonia HS

Molly Park..............Burlington Co Inst Of Tech

Danielle Penny.............................. Newton HS

Annabelle Plociniak......................Roxbury HS

Kathryn Radcliffe .................North Jersey HSA

Angelina Riveros...........................Roxbury HS

Henna Sharma..W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Katherine Shi........Montgomery Township SD

Saanvi Shringare...........Monroe Township HS

Aria Spinetti ...................North Hunterdon HS

Tanvi Tewary.............Bergen Co Tech Schools

Sanjana Thayi............Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Emma Timpone............... New Providence HS

Skylar Tomlin................Wallkill Valley Reg HS

Ashlee Yamzon........John F. Kennedy MemHS

SOPRANO II

Madeleine Adinolfi ...W Morris Mendham HS

Advika Anand.....................John P Stevens HS

Samyuktha ArvindWWindsor-Plainsboro HS S

Srinitya Bhattiprolu ............John P Stevens HS

Yulia Bidula..........................Kingsway Reg HS

Guntas Brar................Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Madeline Carvalho...Hunterdon Cent Reg HS

Gianna Cavallero..........Winslow Township HS

Casey Decker.....................John P Stevens HS

Kelsey Dix........................ Westfield Senior HS

Leah Duffill ...............Bergen Co Tech Schools

Jeannille Ettinoffe ....................Rutherford HS

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

Anna Garrison.......West Morris Mendham HS

Danielle Hannah....... Upper Pittsgrove School

Elizabeth Hitchner..................Woodstown HS

Airyana Hoover.............................Roxbury HS

Natalie Horne.................. Westfield Senior HS

AnnaBelle Hu....................................Ridge HS

Juliette Jalbert ...............Vernon Township HS

Sarah Jasmine Kanchi........John P Stevens HS

Lauren Kim.........W Windsor-Plainsboro HS S

Anna Kodak..........................Perth Amboy HS

Heehyun Kwen.................River Dell Senior HS

Aubrie Mangano...................Highland Reg HS

Cassandra Maningo......................Roxbury HS

Megan Mazzola..............................Pitman HS

Stephanie McNamara....Saddle Brook MS/HS

Alivia Nawrocki......Burlington Co Inst Of Tech

Isabella Negron.............................Roxbury HS

Jacqueline Neice..................Red Bank Reg HS

Shivali Pandya.................South Brunswick HS

Ishana Parmar......Montgomery Township SD

Visa RamanathanW Windsor-Plainsboro HS S

Elizabeth Ricucci...........................Roxbury HS

Katherine Ruggiero..................West Essex HS

Mia Saco.......................... Westfield Senior HS

Amina Seth.................................Chatham HS

Shawna Simone......................Eastern Reg HS

Persephone Wetcher..............Morristown HS

ALTO I

Madison Anderson.....Winslow Township HS

Lexi Bishop.................West Morris Central HS

Elinet Brito............................Perth Amboy HS

Ashlyn Choi.........................Pascack Valley HS

Charlotte Cotroneo Westfield Senior HS

Anika Dave.........................John P Stevens HS

Flory Deepak................Monroe Township HS

Madeline Dileo........No Burlington Co Reg HS

Allison Dilling.............West Morris Central HS

Eva Friedman.........................Pascack Hills HS

Kora Garcia.......................... Kittatinny Reg HS

Sofia Ghani ...........Montgomery Township SD

Natalie Gonzalez.............. Westfield Senior HS

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

Pranisha Gorty..............Monroe Township HS

Carmela Guarraggi...No Burlington Co Reg HS

Olivia Hachey................................Roxbury HS

Cindy Kim........................................Leonia HS

Violet Klapal..............West Morris Central HS

Neha Kulkarni....................John P Stevens HS

Adriana LoPiccolo.....Hunterdon Cent Reg HS

Anabelle Ortiz ............West Morris Central HS

Ana Paez.........................................Leonia HS

Gayatri Phatak......Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Cendny Pierre...........East Orange Campus HS

Isabelle Pimentel...........Saddle Brook MS/HS

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

Sylvia Ryan................................Bloomfield HS

Ivanna Samuel..............Monroe Township HS

Diya Sareen...........Montgomery Township SD

Lauren Schaffer .....................Moorestown HS

Claire Swensen.....Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Saanvi Tatti ...................Monroe Township HS

Gabriela Turfan............................Paramus HS

Zari Veres Royal.............No Highlands Reg HS

Jasmine Wang............................Livingston HS

ALTO II

Danielle Adcock........Bergen Co Tech Schools

Stephanie Amador.... Ridgefield Memorial HS

Melissa Barriga................. North Plainfield HS

Kate Buddhani................................Nutley HS

Summer Caffrey .........................Lyndhurst HS

Gianna Cappello.............................Pitman HS

Alexis Ciardella........................West Essex HS

Murchhona Dasgupta........John P Stevens HS

Riley Erwin...........................Audubon JrSr HS

Sadie Frame..........................Highland Reg HS

Olivia Gabbanelli...........Saddle Brook MS/HS

Kinjal Gadgil.......................John P Stevens HS

Ayra Gulati ...............No Burlington Co Reg HS

Maya Janssen............West Morris Central HS

Jamie Kudler.................................Roxbury HS

Marisa Landi........................Kingsway Reg HS

Sarena Lee...................... Eastern Christian HS

Kyra Lentzner................... Westfield Senior HS

Jaymee Lewis.......................Williamstown HS

Elisabeth Grace Manalo...Bergen Co Tech Sch

Kayla Matthews .......................Central Reg HS

Izabella Melendez........Winslow Township HS

Emily Nichols..........................Immaculata HS

Alyssa Pena..................................Paramus HS

Jayla Pierre....................Saddle Brook MS/HS

Vyana Pillai.....................South Brunswick HS

Janelle Pratt ..................................Roxbury HS

Srinidhi Rajaraman............John P Stevens HS

Aanya Rathi...............................Livingston HS

Nadia Rego...................... Westfield Senior HS

Grace Reilly..............................Morris Hills HS

Suvana Samadi..................East Brunswick HS

Elena Sergeeva........................Blair Academy

River Skalski...........Burlington Co Inst Of Tech

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

Amber Swensen....Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Arieanna Tambriz..................... Bergenfield HS

Tessa Thomas............................Livingston HS

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

Maya Wachlaczenko..................Lyndhurst HS

Olivia Zettell .................Freehold Township HS

2024 New Jersey All-State Symphonic Band

PICCOLO

Alexandra Simms...........................Peddie Sch

FLUTE

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

Lina Lin.............W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Aleena Zhang.............................Princeton HS

Hannah Park................................Paramus HS

Oriana Huang............Dwight-Englewood Sch

Daniel Ham........................Cherry Hill HS East

Olivia Kim....................................Holmdel HS

Samantha Luo....................John P Stevens HS

Chloe Lin............................Cherry Hill HS East

Renée Whittemore ......................Holmdel HS

Kevin Cho..........Bergen Co Tech HS Teterboro

Daniel Hong.....No Valley Reg HS at Demarest

OBOE

Kevin Moon..................................Ramsey HS

Isabell Hu...........................Princeton Day Sch

Avery Welcome.......................Ridgewood HS

Elizabeth Kim...........Hopewell Valley Cent HS

ENGLISH HORN

Laetitia Huang .............................Millburn HS

BASSOON

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

Dylan Adamo.........................Hillsborough HS

Jun-ki Kim......................................Peddie Sch

Eleanor Kukes.......................West Orange HS

Eb CLARINET

Evan Park.................................Morris Hills HS

Michael Hanna.................Egg Harbor Twp HS

Bb CLARINET

Victor Chen............ Acad for Information Tech

Aaron Wong.......................East Brunswick HS

Rachel Fu................................Eastern Reg HS

William Huang.............The Lawrenceville Sch

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

Cherie Xu ..............................Montgomery HS

Erin Lee....................Hopewell Valley Cent HS

Alice Xie .......................The Lawrenceville Sch

Leon Guo...................................Livingston HS

Willy Lee.......................................Fort Lee HS

Wei-En Liao...........................Montgomery HS

Yejun Lee........................................ Tenafly HS

Kenny Shao........................East Brunswick HS

Emily Jin............................................Ridge HS

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

Jonathan Miller......................Hillsborough HS

Yejun Park.........Bergen Co Tech HS Teterboro

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

Meenakshi Rao........Hopewell Valley Cent HS

Ankit Sarukkai...W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Aiden Hong............................Bergen Co Acad

SeJin Kim...........................John P Stevens HS

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

Skylar Li...................................Kent Place Sch

ALTO CLARINET

Richard Kuzma...........Sayreville War Mem HS

Betito Maya ................................Fair Lawn HS

BASS CLARINET

Jessie Cho.....No Valley Reg HS at Old Tappan

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

Dev Dalwadi....................................Edison HS

Ella Taylor..........................Millville Senior HS

CONTRA CLARINET

Sarah Lincoln.............................. Westfield HS

SOPRANO SAXOPHONE

Henry Cai.....................................Millburn HS

ALTO SAXOPHONE

Jared Berkoff.........................Moorestown HS

Spoorthy Gundra..................................UCTVS

Eric Sigalov............................Montgomery HS

Jayjune Shin..........................Montgomery HS

TENOR SAXOPHONE

Saraansh Rawat.........Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Christian Klimczak Deptford HS

BARITONE SAXOPHONE

Andrew Cui.......................................Ridge HS

Zachary Rubin.............Watchung Hills Reg HS

TRUMPET

Paul Wingate.................Camden Co Tech Sch

Teresa Wang................................Millburn HS

Nathan Lee.......................Parsippany Hills HS

Rex Jacobs..................................Shawnee HS

Max Brodeur.........West Morris Mendham HS

Evan Boltniew............Rancocas Valley Reg HS

Nolan Daly.................................. Westfield HS

Fisayo Ogunsulire......Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Taran Vakkada....................John P Stevens HS

Daniel Brackman...........................Lenape HS

Krish Khurana...................................Ridge HS

Milo Vercelletto ....................Montgomery HS

Michael DeNicuolo......No Brunswick Twp HS

F HORN

David Cheng................................Millburn HS

Yiming Huang.......................Montgomery HS

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

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

Shayla McPhee.....................West Milford HS

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

Kai Kim...................................Bergen Co Acad

Alpha Zhu...................Watchung Hills Reg HS

TROMBONE

Jonathan Lee..................................Edison HS

David Laird.........................Millville Senior HS

Brian Colquist.......................So Brunswick HS

Jack Van Seggern...............Whippany Park HS

Sean Kruger..................... New Providence HS

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

Anthony Orphanos.....................Shawnee HS

Jamie Cridge..........................Hillsborough HS

Shane Shenk.......................Clearview Reg HS

BASS TROMBONE

Sumerson Kyle......................Moorestown HS

EUPHONIUM

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

Jayvin Rempel....................Millville Senior HS

Max Kenny................Hunterdon Cent Reg HS

Alexander Massuet................Mount Olive HS

TUBA

Isaac Galang.............................No Bergen HS

Jared McLaughlin................................Wall HS

Nathan Towlen....................Jackson Mem HS

Jacob Sullivan................................Raritan HS

Noah Pagdanganan....Governor Livingston HS

Ali Amer.......................................Mahwah HS

BATTERY PERCUSSION

Andy Xu .............................John P Stevens HS

Abhishek Gurubaskaran....John P Stevens HS

Brandon Chang..................John P Stevens HS

Gavin Salgado...................Churchill Junior HS

Benjamin Yao........St Joseph College Prep Sch

MALLETS

Max Della Fera................................Verona HS

Jessica Pappas......West Morris Mendham HS

TIMPANI

Ajay Ostrem..........................Collingswood HS

2023 New Jersey All-State Mixed Chorus

SOPRANO I

Miriam Adams.................. New Providence HS

Surmai Agrawal.W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Allison Alexis-Goulbourne........ Bloomfield HS

Smruthi Arun......................John P Stevens HS

Diya Bajaj........................W Morris Central HS

Caroline Riley Byrne....................Chatham HS

Adriana Marie Ceciliano.......Matawan Reg HS

Sehaj Kaur Chadha.................Monroe Twp HS

Grace Eunhae Chung..............Bergen Co Tech

Annabelle Corigliano.......Washington Twp HS

Isabel Marie Coverdale.....Cherry Hill HS West

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

Sara Sarang Deo.................John P Stevens HS

Alicia Fallon.....................Washington Twp HS

Shilo Garnett.........................Winslow Twp HS

Emma Gonzalez........................Parsippany HS

Julia Elane Gonzalez......................Roxbury HS

Cayleigh Green............................Shawnee HS

Aurelia Harp....................Camden Catholic HS

Simone Kaden.............................Lyndhurst HS

Sanya Kalbag...............Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Grace Suzanne Klikus......... North Plainfield HS

Fionna Lee................................Blair Academy

Abigail R Loszynski................... Bergenfield HS

Ria Mahajan.............................Robbinsville HS

Olivia Rose Marino................. Westfield SR HS

Grace Elizabeth Martin ....Camden Catholic HS

Kim Mason.............................Cinnaminson HS

Amalia Moolamkuzhy...........Williamstown HS

Francesca Navarro.........................Carteret HS

Gina Park.................................Churchill JR HS

Haley Petrushun...............................Ewing HS

Alyssa Lynne Pray............................Howell HS

Giuliana Riccobono...........Bergen Perf Arts HS

Isabella Rocha........Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS

Angelica Sophia Rodriguez.......Rutherford HS

Christina Sabbatini.....................Allentown HS

Charlize Schaffer Kittatinny Reg HS

Devyani Sharma...................Montville Twp HS

Aditi Anand Shenoy ...........................Ridge HS

Cecilia Soheily........ Hawthorne Christian Acad

Sofia Rebecca Utset ...................Allentown HS

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

SOPRANO II

Mehar Aiden..........................Monroe Twp HS

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

Sakhi Balaji....................Montgomery Twp SD

Mina Batra.................................Somerville HS

Angelina Theresa Brennen.....Bergen Co Tech

Elisa Castro.....................W Morris Central HS

Allison Marie Crean.................Morristown HS

Sofia Crespo ..................................Paramus HS

Carly Curtiss ...................................Roxbury HS

Kaitlyn D’Alessandro............... Westfield SR HS

Erin Alexandra Dawson............Morris Co Tech

Aine Quinne Dowling.....Montgomery Twp SD

Kelly Lauren Fitzgerald.......Brick Twp Mem HS

Aishee Goswami....................Monroe Twp HS

Jay Faith Granholm........................ Newton HS

Julia Halldorson................ New Providence HS

Alexis Kylie Hamlin...........................Nutley HS

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

Mikayla Kelly...................W Morris Central HS

Elle Kim.......................Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Linsey Kim...............................Bergen Co Tech

Rachel Klemm......................... Westfield SR HS

Vanessa Kot.............John F Kennedy Mem HS

Prajakta G Kulkarni.............East Brunswick HS

Michela Hope Leiser............. Hackettstown HS

Katherine Lim.........................Bergen Co Tech

Vanya Karina Medina..............Hillsborough HS

Gianna Melhorn..............Washington Twp HS

Arianna R. Nelli................Washington Twp HS

Kiyomi Okazaki..............................Palmyra HS

Sophia Bianca Passaro....W Morris Central HS

Niva Patel......................................Paramus HS

Rhiannon Jean Rankus.......Burlington Co Tech

Priyanjali Roychowdhury...................Ridge HS

Riley M Shivas................................Roxbury HS

Morgan Elizabeth Snyder.........Eastern Reg HS

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

Ava Grace Spinetti ..........North Hunterdon HS

Vedika Srinivasan................John P Stevens HS

PurvikaTalagadadeeviW Windsor-Pboro HS So

Abesera Tessema.............. Ridgefield Mem HS

Madison Elizabeth Weil......No Burl Co Reg HS

Angelina Xu .........................East Brunswick HS

Yaxuan Yang..................................Millburn HS

Anika Elaine Zoeller.................Morris Co Tech

ALTO I

Terissa Alex.............................Hillsborough HS

Joanna Nicole Alexander...Audubon JR/SR HS

Reina Noelle Aliko...................Pascack Hills HS

Natalee Joy Basile...................Woodstown HS

Rebecca Victoria Borda.................Roxbury HS

Avery Brooks........................... Westfield SR HS

Kayla Brown.....................................Howell HS

Nicole Yuri Choi...................Pascack Valley HS

Emma Cochran..................Audubon JR/SR HS

Ava Jayne Cravens.......................Shawnee HS

Riva J. Dave.........................John P Stevens HS

Amber Lee Deegan....W Morris Mendham HS

Fiona Delaney...............Middletown HS North

Aparna Dhara....................................Ridge HS

Kiera Nicole Eisenberg.................Shawnee HS

Anna Rose Farrugia......................Chatham HS

Ava Giaccio....................................Ramsey HS

Ananya Gunda....................John P Stevens HS

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

Anumita Jaisankar..............John P Stevens HS

Laasini Kavuri.........................Monroe Twp HS

Lois Songbee Kwak........................Fort Lee HS

Jinny Lee..........................................Leonia HS

Karinna Loayza.......................... Bloomfield HS

Mary Magliocchetti ..Westwood Reg JR/SR HS

Lilly Mead.................................Millville SR HS

Mia Miller.......................................Pitman HS

Talia Ava Morrison...........Washington Twp HS

Luciana Musano.......................West Essex HS

Mahathi Nutulapati ............John P Stevens HS

Eunice Yesong Park..........................Leonia HS

Raiya Patel.............Wardlaw-Hartridge School

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

Molly Rhoads.....................Audubon JR/SR HS

Aimee Saju..................................Livingston HS

Aanya Sinha..............................Parsippany HS

Peyton Elisabeth Spencer.....Red Bank Reg HS

Jasmyn Srinivasan............. New Providence HS

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

Sylvia Toedtman............Montgomery Twp SD

Angelina Tung................................Summit HS

Sarina Valentine.....................Monroe Twp HS

Chara J Wang.........................NJ Youth Chorus

ALTO II

Zailyn Alcantara................ Ridgefield Mem HS

Camilla Ambrocio...................Pascack Hills HS

Ryleigh Balazs.....................East Brunswick HS

Katherine Becker...........................Roxbury HS

Samantha Iler Bobrin.............Cinnaminson HS

Giada Cammarano.................. Westfield SR HS

Kathleen Sooyun Chung... Ridgefield Mem HS

Alison L Claros...........................Somerville HS

Meghan Grace Coello......................Howell HS

Nadia Cruz.........................Audubon JR/SR HS

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

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

Avery May Frank............................ Newton HS

Stephanie Hannah Guan...........Parsippany HS

Alexandra Leah Haar.............. Westfield SR HS

Hadyn Hopper........................Pascack Hills HS

Julia James.....................Montgomery Twp SD

Cassie Juarez.........................Winslow Twp HS

Gurjap Kaur Kohli...................Monroe Twp HS

Marissa Kursar..............................Paramus HS

Megan Lee..........................Cherry Hill HS East

Lillian Low..........................Audubon JR/SR HS

Rochelle Olavides..................Monroe Twp HS

Olivia Urbina Oliveira..................Lyndhurst HS

Samantha Nayeli Pac......... North Plainfield HS

Haley G Papeo.................................Nutley HS

2023 New Jersey All-State Mixed Chorus (cont.)

Isabella Rose Price.............................Ridge HS

Bitna Ryu......................................Paramus HS

Akshaya Shankar.........................Livingston HS

Jasani Shellman.............................Ramsey HS

Lyla Brooke Sickler........Middletown HS North

Catherine Turro.............................Roxbury HS

Samantha Vasquez..................Vernon Twp HS

Syona Wadhwa..............Montgomery Twp SD

Violetta Agnes Wiggert .................Millburn HS

Joohee F Yoon......................Pascack Valley HS

TENOR I

Joseph Paul Amoroso..........Montville Twp HS

Karthik Angara.....Bridgewater-Raritan Reg HS

Jack Cecilio...........................Williamstown HS

Danny Fencik............................Rutherford HS

Daniel C Hillig..................Washington Twp HS

Matthew James Jones .....................Delran HS

Norbert Julian Martinez ................Roxbury HS

Joshua J Mendez............Wallkill Valley Reg HS

Jonathan Lorenzo Monterosa..........Nutley HS

Ricardo Petroni.............................Mahwah HS

Charles Patrick Riley...................... Newton HS

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

Nathaniel Akhil Williams....John P Stevens HS

Alexander Yang...........................Livingston HS

Joel Insuk Yeo................... Ridgefield Mem HS

TENOR II

Michael Accardi.........................Allentown HS

Vihaan Agarwal........John F Kennedy Mem HS

Billy Buckley..................................Mahwah HS

Elijah Chen..............................Pascack Hills HS

Chase Matthew Coleman .....Matawan Reg HS

Benjamin Derman...............Cherry Hill HS East

Jesse Diribe....................Wallkill Valley Reg HS

Clayton Travis Doyle............. Kittatinny Reg HS

Ronan Flanagan................ New Providence HS

Andrew Fonticoba ...................St. Peter’s Prep

Arjo GuhamazumderW Windsor-Pboro HS So

Kyle Deon Irving................. North Plainfield HS

Zachary Raymond Joyal............Morris Hills HS

Liam Kelter...............................Vernon Twp HS

Bryan Kotlar...............................Somerville HS

Brandon Lattanzi...........................Paramus HS

Louis Lichter..............................Allentown HS

Christian Lindberg ..........Saddle Brook MS/HS

Skyler Reed Lipkind................ Westfield SR HS

Connor McGorty.......................Ridgewood HS

Noah Mendoza........................St. Peter’s Prep

Keshav Nair......................................Howell HS

Rohan Panjwani.................................Ridge HS

Kiran William Patel................. Westfield SR HS

Shivam M Patel........John F Kennedy Mem HS

Marcus E Peña.......................Monroe Twp HS

Gabriel Sebastian Pino.......... Deptford Twp HS

Aahaan Rathi..............................Livingston HS

Bryan Dean Reimertz....Middletown HS North

Samuel Rippon..............................Roxbury HS

Yadiel Rivera Colon................Perth Amboy HS

Jalan Scott Royal ................Parsippany Hills HS

Logan Sellers......................... Kittatinny Reg HS

Nico Sloan.......................W Morris Central HS

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

Mishael Ruben Tineo........ Ridgefield Mem HS

Nikhil Tiwari................................Livingston HS

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

Timothy Wei......................................Ridge HS

Tarun Yanamandra....W Windsor-Pboro HS So

BASS I

Cameron Anderson .........................Nutley HS

Shlok Baijal.................................Livingston HS

Gravit Bali...........................John P Stevens HS

Drew Patrick Bancroft .................Lyndhurst HS

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

Gurneel Batra....W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Matthew Adam Blanchard ...............Nutley HS

Lincoln Boyes...................................Nutley HS

Caleb Chan..............................Bergen Co Tech

Ethan Kyoung Chang.W Windsor-Pboro HS So

Sean J Colarusso.................High Point Reg HS

Tyler Correia.........................Matawan Reg HS

Nehan Degala.....................John P Stevens HS

Anish Dhal.....................Montgomery Twp SD

Nicholas J Ferrante.............Cherry Hill HS East

Michael Fisher........................ Westfield SR HS

Christian Fodor ..........................Somerville HS

Marcelo Garcia........................St. Peter’s Prep

Samuel Leus Guanzon.....................Nutley HS

Justice Hanson ...........W Morris Mendham HS

Sooin Jeong............................River Dell SR HS

Edward Kyungtae Kang...........Bergen Co Tech

Jakob Krombholz.......................Metuchen HS

Luke S Krombholz......................Metuchen HS

Clement C Lacroix..........Montgomery Twp SD

Bryle Steven Guinto Laput.................Ridge HS

Aaron Edward Long.........................Howell HS

Nikul Maloo........................John P Stevens HS

Colin Mossmann...........................Mahwah HS

Ben C Njoku....................... North Plainfield HS

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

Jay Parmar..........................East Brunswick HS

Gamaliel Perde...... Hawthorne Christian Acad

Max Petrik..............................Hillsborough HS

Leo Rael.........................................Cresskill HS

Milton Reyes............John F Kennedy Mem HS

Ronuel Vida Ricafort......................Carteret HS

Angus Peter Schmitt ...........High Point Reg HS

Nathan T Shurts............................Kinnelon HS

Jackson Strong...................Audubon JR/SR HS

Finn Sullivan.........................Collingswood HS

Prashasth Turaga................East Brunswick HS

Shravan Venkat...................John P Stevens HS

Daniel Patrick Wallace.......... Kittatinny Reg HS

Vincent Wilson......................Monroe Twp HS

Rayan Yamout.............................Lyndhurst HS

BASS II

Charles Steven Archbald............Allentown HS

Ronit Chakraborty..............John P Stevens HS

Jachin Choi....................................Mahwah HS

Jared David Colan.................Williamstown HS

Satvik Dhananjay.............South Brunswick HS

David Doherty................................Roxbury HS

Matthew R Douglass .........Cherry Hill HS West

Lucas Andrew Espinoza................Paramus HS

Joseph Galioto...........................Somerville HS

Larson Gevirtz....W Windsor-Plainsboro HS So

Matt Thomas Higgins Newark Academy

Cole Holland............................St. Peter’s Prep

Andrew Kapferer................. Newark Academy

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

Andrew Krautheim......................Chatham HS

Jake Douglas Kuenzle..................Lyndhurst HS

Daniel Lee......No Valley Reg HS At Old Tappan

Jaiden Lenihan...............................Roxbury HS

Justin Masi .....................................Roxbury HS

Ved Pant.............................John P Stevens HS

Seongjun Park................... Ridgefield Mem HS

Anish Patel................................Morris Hills HS

Rishikesh Ravi.............Bridgewater-Raritan HS

Andrew Joseph Rickey.............Eastern Reg HS

Andrew J Rynd........................Bergen Co Tech

Sean Santos.....................................Nutley HS

Thomas Daniel Schoonhen........... Paramus HS

Rishabh Sinha.............................Livingston HS

William Minseok Song............Bergen Co Tech

Aadithya Srinivasan....Wardlaw-Hartridge Sch

A.J. Stanchfield ...............Saddle Brook MS/HS

Shane Sudia.............John F Kennedy Mem HS

Gabriel Keon Talapian....................Fort Lee HS

Harrison Tomasco.....................Morris Hills HS

Michael Vespignani........W Morris Central HS

Jonathan Yoo......... Hawthorne Christian Acad

Jack Thomas Youncofski.......Matawan Reg HS

Ethan Young............................ Westfield SR HS

Dylan Yu...............Northern Highlands Reg HS

David Zhu.....................................Rutgers Prep

2023 New Jersey All-State Intermediate Orchestra

FIRST VIOLIN

Rena Ryu ............................................Cresskill MS

Hannah Moon Charles DeWolf MS

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

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

Lauren Sera Chung Acad of the Holy Angels

Prisha Bagchi Thomas Grover MS

Chloe Kim............................................Tenakill MS

Yeseo Jeon ..........................................Freehold IS

Sebin Jeung........................... Englewood Cliffs US

Sunny-XiaoQing Cui........................Princeton MS

Sunny Liu William Annin MS

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

Simon Zhang Indian Hill School

Mason Chu ...............................Delbarton School

Stacy-Seoyul Kim .............................Chatham MS

Ayden Chung .....................................Cresskill MS

Kelly Nie ...........................................Chatham MS

Esther-Joonhee Myung ........Acad of Holy Angels

Mai Kim................................................... Edison IS

Emma Shim Rosa Int MS

Michael Tan New Providence MS

Angela Kim..................................... East Brook MS

Chloe Ha William Annin MS

Yashwant Balagurusamy ... Woodrow Wilson MS

SECOND VIOLIN

Neha Thota ................................. John Adams MS

Paige Wang Woodrow Wilson MS

Serena Shi Columbia MS

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

Cedric Lai ....................................Lewis F Cole MS

Anna Kang.............................. Thomas Grover MS

Joyce Lee Rosa Int MS

Charlotte Wu ..................................Princeton MS

Hamilton Leshui Ji Dressel Wardlaw-Hartridge

Natalie Chong William Annin MS

Jane Hu ...........................................Princeton MS

Abigail Lee Englewood Cliffs US

Lilia Duval ............................... Westfield Edison IS

Claire Li Rosa International MS

Ian Chang .............................Rutgers Prep School

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

Riya Satwalekar Roosevelt IS

Vaibhav Sitaraman ..................... John Adams MS

Ira Tiwary ..........................................Heritage MS

Angela Xie .....................Hammarskjold Upper ES

Dana Kim ...........................................Haworth PS

Calyne Paek ...................Bridgewater-Raritan MS

Jonathan Vizcarra ............................Heritage MS

Andy Shi Columbia MS

VIOLA

Alan Lei .............................................Churchill JHS

Laurily Merzatta ............................Brooklawn MS

Gwendolyn Teske Thomas E. Harrington MS

Amithi Munagala Community MS

Alina Zhu ........................Bridgewater Raritan MS

Matthew Ham ..................................Churchill JHS

Sua Jeong Tenakill MS

Natalie Tom.......................... New Providence MS

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

Abigail Loeser ..................................Columbia MS

Yuna Jeon.........................Moorestown Upper ES

Aahana Shah Woodrow Wilson MS

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

Achyut Nuli ....................Bridgewater Raritan MS

Remy Choi................................................Beck MS

Guanqi Zhu ....................Bridgewater Raritan MS

CELLO

Luke Liu ..........................Montgomery Upper MS

Charlotte Xing-er Ji Dressel ........ John Adams MS

Allison Chen ......................................Churchill JHS

Hawon Song ......................................Cresskill MS

Justin Ou Edison IS

Ryan Yan Princeton Charter School

Erika Lee.......................................Timberlane MS

Howard Lu ........................................Churchill JHS

Bradley Chen William Annin MS

Maxx Lee............................................ Cresskill MS

Hannah Zou................................. Community MS

Claire Kim.......................Montgomery Upper MS

Benjamin Li ..................Princeton Charter School

Adelyn Hsu William Annin MS

Katherine Gao ................................... Rosa Int MS

Ashley Xu Thomas Grover MS

BASS

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

Arnav Nagireddy............ Montgomery Upper MS

Vivien Zemaitis .............Mendham Township MS

Olivia Swarup Thomas Grover MS

Keshav Suman Community MS

Kaitlynn Garas Woodrow Wilson MS

Sohan Kondru ........................ Thomas Grover MS

Edha Gupta ....................Bridgewater Raritan MS

Uttara Gajula Community MS

Ronin Segrest Cinnaminson MS

2023 New Jersey All-State Jazz Band

Saxophones

Jack Crawford, Alto I........Washington Twp HS

Jared Berkoff, Alto II ..............Moorestown HS

Abhik Mojumdar, Tenor I......So Brunswick HS

Dan Ruzicka, Tenor II....... New Providence HS

Christian Klimczak, Bari Deptford HS

Trumpets

Jacob Tolento....................... Newark Academy

Evan Boltniew............Rancocas Valley Reg HS

Julian Marlin............................Ridgewood HS

Nathanael Gaw.................Egg Harbor Twp HS

Trombones

Alexander Massuet................Mount Olive HS

Shane Shenk........................Clearview Reg HS

Ming-Lang Qin.....................Pascack Valley HS

Vanessa Fang...................... Newark Academy

Rhythm Section

Thomas Dinh, Piano................Robbinsville HS

Jeff Andolaro, Bass ......................Shawnee HS

Sally Shupe, Guitar.....................Columbia HS

Kai Koyama, Drums..................Ridgewood HS

2023 New Jersey All-State Jazz Choir

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

David Audige.....................Abraham Clark HS

Malcolm Bolton.....Cicarell Acad-Elizabeth HS

Connor Bowden...Hopewell Valley Central HS

Charles Japheth Ello.....................Rahway HS

Maanasa Jagan......Montclair Kimberley Acad

Marni E Kramer.......................Churchill JR HS

Gillian Rasp...........................West Milford HS

Om Sharma..........Hopewell Valley Central HS

Arushi Vadlamani.......................Columbia HS

Jenny Zhu...................The Pennington School

Rhythm Section

Gavin Oh, Piano..........................Shawnee HS

Desmond Diehl, Guitar.....................Ridge HS

Eleanor Race, Bass..............Clearview Reg HS

Kabir Srivastav, Drums........ Newark Academy

New Jersey Governor’s Award for the Arts in Education 2023-2024

NJMEA Recipients

New Jersey All-State Orchestra

Sanjay Kaushik

West Windsor-Plainsboro High School

Sponsoring Teacher: Colin Oettle

Hannah Lin

East Brunswick High School

Sponsoring Teacher: Dr. Arvin Gopal

New Jersey All-State Band

Jack Crawford

Washington Township High School

Sponsoring Teacher: Calvin Spencer

Hong Cheng

John P. Stevens High School

Sponsoring Teacher: John Zazzali and Ray Hendricksen

New Jersey All-State Jazz

Jack Crawford

Washington Township High School

Sponsoring Teacher: Calvin Spencer

New Jersey All-State Mixed Chorus

Grace Chung

Bergen County Technical Schools

Sponsoring Teacher: Louis Spinelli

Talia Morrison

Washington Township High School

Sponsoring Teacher: Amy Melson

Joseph Amoroso

Montville Township High School

Sponsoring Teacher: Ted Cherney

Daniel Wallace

Kittatinny Regional High School

Sponsoring Teacher: Patricia Kane

NJMEA Master Music Teacher

Patrick Hachey Roxbury High School

Young Composers

Ivan Wong "Crashing Down"

West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South

Sponsoring Teacher: Robert Peterson

NJMEA AWARDS

Outstanding School Board Award - Lawrence Township Board of Education

The Lawrence Township Board of Education supports a comprehensive music education program grades Pre-K – 12th grade. Starting in 4th grade students can begin a band or orchestra instrument as well as join chorus. Select music ensembles begin in 5th grade which consist of string ensemble, jazz bands, and pitch black (select chorus). These programs continue through middle and high school. The Lawrence Board of Education supports music education by attending student performances. Student performance groups perform at different times of the year. They budget money for new instruments, sheet music and supplies is evenly distributed between the 7 schools. The BOE approves out of district professional development for music teachers and NAFME memberships are paid for educators that sponsor music students for regional and all state ensembles. The BOE supports paid subscriptions to Quaver, Smartmusic and Soundtrap to be infused into the music curriculum.

NJMEA School Administrator - Mrs. Debra Grigoletti - Hacketstown Public Schools

Mrs. Grigoletti's support, leadership and care for the Hacketstown Music Program has been an essential part of its success. She has been an advocate or the programs and integral in maintaining them throughout the COVID pandemic and growing them in the years after. While many other local school districts saw diminished student participation in their music programs or suspended them altogether, the programs under Mrs. Grigoletti’s leadership were able to continue in a safe manner while also maintaining the elite level of performance quality.

NJMEA School Administrator Award - Ms. Amy Amiet - Lawrence Township School District

Amy Amiet ensures that music education is treated with the respect and importance it deserves while making sure teachers have the tools and support needed for the music program. Music is infused into our assemblies, character education programs, and schoolwide events in Lawrence. Additionally, Amy has worked with Young Audiences to bring Artists- In-Residence programs to our school which have included songwriting, dance, and percussion workshops and assemblies. When students present their grade-level concerts, Amy live- streams the events to ensure that the performances are accessible to all. She tirelessly advocates for programs and provides ample opportunities for visibility within the district. Throughout the school year, Amy invites district musical groups to perform at board meetings, township arts festivals, and schoolwide events.

NJMEA AWARDS

NFHS Outstanding Music Educator

The NFHS Outstanding Music Educator Award is presented to a music teacher who has demonstrated significant and/or long-term contributions to interscholastic music. We are pleased to name Cooper Ford as this year's recipient. Cooper teaches Orchestra and Music Production at North Brunswick Twp. HS, where he focuses on providing musical experiences that reflect the diversity of the student population, as well as providing access to all students. Through creating meaningful partnerships, Cooper is able to challenge his students with authentic and fulfilling opportunities that celebrate many of the cultures in the community. He is also a published composer of educational music for string orchestra, with a goal of creating music that is engaging and fosters musical development.

Distinguished Service

Like many organizations, NJMEA relies almost exclusively on the hard work of volunteers. These exceptional volunteers devote countless hours to advancing the mission of NJMEA while also working their full-time teaching jobs. This year, we had the privilege of honoring three members of the Board of Directors for their distinguished service.

Joe Cantaffa has been the All-State Production Manager/COJ Chair for 20 years. During that time, he has consistently assured that our All-State student participants and their conductors have a professional experience. Students each year are beyond grateful to Mr. Cantaffa for making sure each of them receives a world class all state experience.

Susan Meuse has been the Orchestra Performance Chair for 14 years. In that time, she has maintained a high musical standard for the All-State Orchestras by seeking out energetic conductors and cultivating diverse programs. She is also the current Treasurer of CJMEA and teaches in the East Brunswick School District.

Nancy Clasen has been on the Board for 25 years in a variety of different roles. She began service to the Board in 1998 as a collegiate representative. Nancy is tenacious and can always be counted on to get the job done. Nancy teaches in the Lodi School District.

Congratulations and THANK YOU to Joe, Susan, and Nancy!

NJMEA ORCHESTRA and CHORAL FESTIVALS

Once again, there were five successful NJMEA Orchestra and JrHi/MS Choral Festivals this year. The two High School Orchestra Festivals took place on Thursday, February 8. The Middle School Orchestra Festival took place on Tuesday, March 19. One HS Festival took place at Fernwood Middle School in Egg HarborTownship. Jenna Di Salvio hosted and Jiannan Cheng (Rowan University) adjudicated. The other HS Festival took place at Tenafly High School. Jim Millar hosted and Adam Glaser (Hofstra University) adjudicated. The MS Festival took place at Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School). Caty Butler and Emma Piedilato hosted and Michael Berry (retired, East Brunswick) and Sherry Griggs (Bridgewater-Raritan HS) were the adjudicators.

Junior High/Middle School Choral Festivals were held at Rowan University on March 14 and Monroe Township High School on May 23. Schools from throughout the state participated in the festival and were adjudicated by Vanessa Bond (Rowan University), Charles Bass (retired, Oacrest HS), Judith Nicosia (Rutgers University), and Dr. Brandon Williams (Rutgers University).

We would like to thank all of our hosts and volunteers who helped to bring these annual events together and make a rewarding experience for the participating students and directors.

Ralph A. Falciani

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 NewJersey.

Ralph A. Falciani, age 73, of Clayton, NJ, formerly of Williamstown, passed away on February 25, 2024.

Ralph was proud of his career as a music teacher and band director, working for both Williamstown Middle School and Williamstown High School. In his free time, he enjoyed raising award-winning Miniature Pinscher dogs.

Beloved son of the late Frank and the late Mary Falciani. Dear brother of Frank Falciani (Sharon), the late Cynthia Hayden (Walter), Brenda, Judy, Shanon, Danielle, Christina, Alexis, Lisa, and Shannon. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Anne H. Korpita

Anne H. Korpita passed away peacefully with the Lord on Friday, March 15, 2024. She was 93 years of age.

Born in Taylor, PA and graduating from Tobyhanna High School, Anne received her Bachelor's Degree from Marywood University and later obtained her Master's Degree in Education from Seton Hall University. Anne grew up in the Poconos where she met her husband George, and relocated to Wharton, NJ where they were long-time residents for over 50 years and actively involved in Wharton and surrounding communities.

Anne also devoted over 25 years to education as a music teacher for both the Dover Public Schools and St. Mary's School in Dover, NJ teaching choir and piano to many students over the years. She was a long-time parishioner of St. Mary's Church in Dover, NJ as well as a long-time member of Catholic Daughters Court #881. Following in her love for music, Anne not only played the piano in her free time but enjoyed playing the trombone as a member of both the Hackettstown Community Band in Hackettstown, NJ and the New Horizons Band in Denville, NJ. Throughout the years, she enjoyed traveling with her husband around the world

and taking tours of many countries, and also enjoyed trips to Atlantic City.

She is pre-deceased by her Husband, George Korpita, Jr. and her Son, George Raymond Korpita.

She is survived by her Sister, Dorothy Ingetti, of Arcadia, CA (and family); Granddaughter, Gianna Korpita, of Denville, NJ; Grandson, Dario Korpita, of Easton, PA. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Kathryn B. Rankin

Kathryn B. Rankin, 93,of Lititz, PA and formerly of Frederick MD and Pequannock Twp, NJ, passed away on March 6, 2024.

She was the loving wife of Donald A. Rankin, Jr. of Lititz, PA. Born in Rochelle, IL, she was the daughter of the late Floyd and Anastasia Nugent Bienfang and was preceded in death by her brother F. John Bienfang. She and Don celebrated their 70th Anniversary on June 10, 2023.

Kathy received a Bachelor of Arts degree in violin from Illinois Wesleyan University and she received her Masters degree in Elementary Education from William Paterson University.

Kathy was a talented musician, sharing her love of music as an elementary school music teacher in Pequannock Twp., NJ, as well as a violinist. She was one of the founding members of the Frederick Symphony Orchestra with whom she played for over 35 years. Kathy was also advertising/sales director for the orchestra for a number of years.

She enjoyed spending time with her family, reading, gardening, was a great cook and enjoyed entertaining family and friends. She and Don also enjoyed traveling.

In addition to her husband, Don, Kathy is survived by her children: Donald A. III married to Michelle Longeway of Medfield, MA, and Julie R. married to Brad S. Weaver Lititz, PA; her grandchildren Shawn R. Weaver, Michelle E. Weaver, Christina Rankin, and Grace Rankin; and 2 great grandchildren Charlotte and Brielle, daughters of grandson Shawn.

NJSMA

Dear Region I Colleagues:

I hope the end of your school year is going well and your spring performances were a success. As the year comes to a close, I hope you all made positive memories and experiences that you can build upon for the future of your programs. NJSMA had many memorable events and I am pleased to share them with you. Thank you to all our educators who helped in any of our events this year. Special thanks to our site hosts, managers, accompanists and conductors as follows:

BAND band[at]njsma.org - Division Co - Chairs - Lewis Kelly, Michelle Christianson and Chris Zwarych

On Sunday, March 10, 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 - Miss Elizabeth Monkemeier; Audition Host - Wayne Hills High School -Mr. Matthew Paterno & Ms. Annie Pascale; Rehearsal & Concert HostsMount Olive Middle School by Mr. Ken Adessa and Ms. Jaqueline Burkat, and West Orange High School by Mr. Lew Kelly, Mrs. Erin Lagatic, and Mr. Josh Zimmer.

Intermediate Symphonic Winds - Conductor - Ms. Laurie Kunzle - retired; Managers - Mrs. Carolyn Masi - Memorial Junior School, Hanover Park; Mrs. Collette Mather - Brookside School, Allendale

Intermediate Concert Band - Conductor - Mrs. Melany Felsen McQueeny - Department Chair of Music, Mount Olive School District; Managers - Ms. Jacqueline Burkat - Mount Olive MS; Mr. Darrell Hendricks, Mount Olive HS

HS Concert Band Festival - Tuesday, March 19, West Essex High School; Tuesday, March 19, Hanover Park High School; Wednesday, March 20, Parsippany Hills High School; Wednesday,

March 20, Verona High School; Thursday, March 21, Mount Olive Middle School - Adjudicators: Dr. Shelley Axelson and Dr. Dominic Talanca; Clinicians: Dr. Todd Nichols and Mr. Curt Ebersole

MS Concert Band Festival - Festival Chair - Mr. Allan Daleus; Wednesday, April 24, Tenafly Middle School; Adjudicators/Clinicians: Mr. Richard Summers, Ms. Teddi Sotiropoulos

5th & 6th Grade Honor Band Festival - Festival Chairs - Mr. Xavier Bonilla & Ms. Miranda Inglese; Saturday, May 4, Mount Olive High School

The NJSMA Band Division is in search of Audition Chairs for next year. If you are good with email, spreadsheets, and looking to get more involved, contact band[at]njsma.org.

CHORUS chorus@njsma.org - Division Co- Chairs - Deana Larsen and Leo Weismantel

Intermediate Chorus Festival - rescheduled from January 19th - actually occurred on Friday March 15th. I'd like to thank Mr. Brian Lang and Lyndhurst Middle School for hosting and Dr. Dustin Cates and Mr. Daniel Jackson for their adjudication.

Our Intermediate Chorus Concert on Sunday March 24th. 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 teachers. 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)

Treble Choir Conductor - Mrs. Joanna Scarangello - Mount Olive; Manager -Mrs. Christa Rizzo (West Essex Regional Middle School, North Caldwell); Collaborative Pianist -Mrs. Michele Yampolsky

Mixed Choir Conductor- Mr. Tom Voorhis - The Banyan School; Managers - Mrs.Susan Kaczor (Macopin Middle School, West Milford) and Dr. Stacey Sassi (Roy W. Brown Middle School, Bergenfield); Collaborative Pianist - Mr. Eric Van Hoven

Thank you to all of our participating choir directors across the region!!!

We are excited about our upcoming Professional Development Day. Please join us! We are happy to offer three workshops for our chorus directors. Session 1 is shared with the elementary division and will feature Tom Shelton from Ryder University. Christa Rizzo will be presenting our second session, "Bringing it All Together; SEL, SJE, and CRE in the Choral Setting". Our final session is led by your chairs, Deana Larsen and Leo Weismantel. It will give us an opportunity to share tips and 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

Looking ahead to next fall, the NJSMA Elementary Division is thrilled to welcome Missy Strong as our guest presenter at the Monday, October 14, 2024 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 Co-ChairsJustin Louie and Paulina Edel

Elementary Orchestra Festival - We would like to thank our Festival coordinators Kim Nimmo (Paramus), Chryselle Yang (Sparta), and Shang-Ying Lee (Clifton) for working so diligently to

provide another great run for the director nominated elementary festival hosted again at Clifton High School on April 27th. Also, special thanks to this year's conductors Jim Scanlan, Angel Liu, and Jason DePope.

PD Day - We are happy to announce we will be bringing Matilde Heckler (Berklee) to present for this year's PD Day on June 4th. She will be providing training on integrating electronic music to orchestra. We will also be providing a reading session sponsored by JW Pepper. Please bring your instruments!

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 4th 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. Marissa Silverman as our guest 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 Treasurer and Publicity/Corresponding Secretary will also occur. If you are interested in any of these positions, please reach out to president@njsma.com for more information. More details about the schedule of sessions for every division can be found on our website (njsma.com).

To conclude, I would like to thank the entire NJSMA executive board for their work and dedication. 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. I look forward to next year and even more continued success!

Anthony Lanzerotti

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.

Before we talk about next year, I want to remind you that CJMEA is continuing its “Staying in Tune” professional development series on June 8th from 1 - 5pm at Churchill Jr. High School in East Brunswick, NJ. Registration costs $10 and can be accessed by visiting the CJMEA.org website.

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. Some of these projects include reworking our informational paperwork, consolidating all of our forms into a universal template, providing translation services for student/family paperwork, and assisting families in financial trouble with fee waivers.

One of the projects I am most excited about is that we are in the process of developing a new high school group: the CJMEA Emerging Ensemble. This group will be a place for non-traditional ensembles to have a regional experience. Anyone who was at the NJMEA conference that saw the Honors Modern Band will agree that the performance was spectacular, and CJMEA is working hard to offer this new ensemble to region II next year.

As we move into next year, stay up to date with everything CJMEA through our website (CJMEA.org) and our TEMPO Express blasts. I wanted to take a moment to thank each of you, providing meaningful musical experiences is a commitment and at this time of year it is easy to feel burnt out. Thank you 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 46th Annual All South Jersey Junior High School Band Concert. The performances were outstanding. The conductors this year were Christopher Carl (Lumberton MS) and Donna Scharfetter (Ocean City HS, retired). Robin Soden (Pleasantville MS) and Anita Gosevska (Upper Township MS) 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 16th Annual Chamber Ensemble Concert took place at Penns Grove HS. Jon Porco (Deptford Township MS) was our Chamber Ensemble Coordinator and Ken Rafter was our concert host. The ensemble coaches were Brass: Ken Rafter (Penns

Grove HS), Percussion: Garrett Davis (Egg Harbor Township School District), Sax: Andrew Prettelt (Cherry Hill Public Schools), Woodwind Quintet: Sam Brooks (Glen Landing MS), Clarinet: Kelley Madensky (Toms River Regional Schools), Flute: Liva Savaiinaea (Private Instructor), and Tuba/Euphonium: Patrick O’Keefe (Absegami HS).

Our 30th Annual High School Concert Band Festival showcased 12 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 Mike Armstrong (Deptford HS) and the adjudicators were Dr. Scott Watson (Cairn University) and Keith Hodgson (University of the Arts).

The 7th Annual Elementary String Festival took place on Saturday, April 20th at Egg Harbor Township High School. Kate Wyatt was our host and Christine Macaulay (Clara Barton ES) was our coordinator. We returned to two ensembles this year with Samantha Sara (Miller ES) and Jennifer Gaffney (Haddon Township Public Schools) as our conductors. The managers were Kate Wyatt (Egg Harbor Township Public Schools) and Abigail Marmelstein (Haddon Township Public Schools).

The 30th Annual Elementary Honors Band Festival will take place on Saturday, May 11th at Absegami HS with Patrick O’Keefe as our host. LeeAnn Hewitt (Frog Pond ES and Eagleswood ES) will be our coordinator for this event. We expanded the festival this year to four bands which will involve 390 young musicians. Our conductors will be Michael Daly (Roland Rogers ES), Jacob Weber (Cherry Hill Public Schools)), David Dashefsky (Clayton Public Schools), and Carla Graff (West Deptford MS). The managers will be Tim Trout (Berlin Community School), Andy Owens (Ann Mullen MS), Tom Kershaw (West Deptford MS), and Kaitlin Weber (E.R. Johnstone School).

SJBODA is excited to announce that we will be offering our first-ever South Jersey Intermediate Honors Orchestra in 2025. This orchestra will follow the same format as our elementary honors bands and orchestras where students will be recommended by their directors, no auditions. The concert will run in conjunction with the Elementary Honors Orchestra program and concert, and will be a nice addition to the event, allowing elementary students to see where their next musical journey can lead.

The SJBODA Spring Breakfast membership meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 22nd at 9:00 AM at Seven Star Diner in Sewell, NJ. Please contact Sue Mark at 609-457-0590 or sjbodapresident[at]gmail.com if you plan to attend. Please continue to check the website, maintained by Derek Rohaly (Mainland Regional HS), for the latest SJBODA updates.

Sue Mark

SJBODA President

sjbodapresident[at]gmail.com

SJCDA

After a successful year of festivals, South Jersey Choral Directors Association hosted our annual Spring Breakfast and General Membership Meeting on April 26. Members were treated to two workshops, our first on elementary techniques with Amy Shoemaker Paz and our headliner, Dr. Jason Vodicka who spoke about music learning theory. We also heard two selections from our two scholarship winners Marisa Landi from Kingsway Regional High School and Madison Weil from Northern Burlington High School.

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

Looking ahead, we ask SJCDA members to save the date of September 9th 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.

Many thanks to our board, managers, festival coordinators, and our members for a successful year. Our organization cannot exist without all your hard work!

Cristin Introcaso

SJCDA President sjchoraldirectors[at]gmail.com

NJMEA RESOURCE PERSONNEL

Area of Responsibility

Name

Email Address

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

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

Marching Band Festival Chair ............................................ Nancy Clasen................................................ nancyclasen[at]gmail.com

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

Middle/Junior High Band Festival ...................................... Nancy Clasen ................................................nancyclasen[at]gmail.com

Middle/Junior High Choral Festival ............................ Donna Marie Berchtold....................................... firesongwed[at]gmail.com

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

NJMEA State Conference Exhibits Chair............................. 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 ...........................................Nancy Clasen............................................... nancyclasen[at]gmail.com

Opera Festival Chair ................................................... Donna Marie Berchtold....................................... firesongwed[at]gmail.com

Orchestra Performance Chair............................................ Susan Meuse............................................... susanmeuse[at]gmail.com

Orchestra Procedures Chair................................. Craig Stanton & Elisabeth Sato...............................asoprocedures[at]gmail.com

Research.......................................................................... Wayne Mallette mallette.njmea[at]gmail.com

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

2024 NJMEA CONFERENCE

PLATINUM SPONSOR

GIA PUBLICATIONS

GOLD SPONSORS

American Music Abroad

Cunningham Piano

Peak Group Travel

SILVER SPONSORS

The Diller-Quaile School of Music

The Hartt School of Music

JW Pepper & Son

Kean University

QuaverEd

2024 NJMEA CONFERENCE

SPOTLIGHT PERFORMANCES

NJMEA All-State Treble Chorus, Wind Ensemble, and Symphonic Band

NJMEA Honors Modern Band

GALA CONCERT

Ramsey High School RamJams

Atlantic Brass Band

NJMEA 2023-2025 Board of Directors

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Past President

Wayne Mallette

NJSMA, President

Anthony Lanzerotti, Jr Woodrow Wilson MS president[at]njsma.com

President

David Westawski

West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South westawski.njmea[at]gmail.com

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

CJMEA, President

Brian Williams Robbinsville HS president.cjmea[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

NJMEA Board of Directors APPOINTED MEMBERS

Accessible Music Education

Maureen Butler

Retired maureenbutlermusic[at]gmail.com

Administration/Advocacy

Alfred Hadinger North Plainfield alfred_hadinger[at]nplainfield.org

Band Festivals/NJEA Liaison

Nancy Clasen Lodi Public Schools nancyclasen[at]gmail.com

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

Chorus/Orchestra/Jazz

Joseph Cantaffa Howell High School jcantaffahhs[at]hotmail.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 president[at]sjboda.org

K-12 Ed Tech/Secondary General

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

Orchestra Performance/Festivals

Susan Meuse Hammarskjold Middle 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

Note: Additional fees will apply if metal plates are required. Ads which exceed the specified sizes will be charged at next ad size.

All Measurements In Inches

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.

NJMEA Past Presidents

- 2023

ADVERTISERS INDEX