James Hegedus, Director of Jazz at Livingston High School; Erik Donough and Brendan Hughes, Instrumental Music Teachers at Heritage Middle School, proudly announced that thirteen outstanding students from their schools successfully auditioned for the New Jersey Association for Jazz Education Region I Jazz Ensembles. Keeping it close to home, this year's NJAJE Region Jazz Concert is being hosted by Livingston High School.
“Every year, talented youth from Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren Counties prepare music to perform for judges,” says Mr. Hegedus. Having sent students for the auditions for almost two decades, Hegedus adds, “Many students audition, but not every student scores highly enough to be selected for the Region jazz ensembles but this year we had ten LHS Students selected. This is the most students we have ever had make Region Jazz Ensembles.”
Mr. Donough says, “I was excited to send many students from Heritage to audition for Region Jazz this year. I was beyond thrilled that three of our students were selected for the Junior Region jazz ensemble.”
The Livingston public schools students who auditioned successfully this year are:
Livingston High School
Jacob Julius - Drums
Corey Sklar - Bass
Esther Chi - Piano
Ethan Julius - Alto Saxophone
Brandon Shyu - Trombone
Ian Koff - Trombone
Connor Li - Trumpet
Jacob Woodlee - Trumpet
Charles Budzinski - Guitar
Ryan Chen - Tenor Saxophone
Heritage Middle School
Davin Murkis - Drums
Raj Dholakia - Trumpet
Leon Sun - Trombone
These students practiced a jazz etude and numerous scales to perform for judges made up of local band directors. The students must sight-read an excerpt of music, and high school students must perform an improvised solo.
“These are very hard-working students. The auditions are intense and can be nerve wracking,” says Hegedus. “We’re always proud of all of the students who take on the audition, regardless of their individual outcome.”
The 2025 NJAJE Region 1 Senior Jazz Band will be directed by Mr. Lew Kelly, Band Director at West Orange High School, and the Junior High School (7-9) Jazz Band will be directed by Mr. Jeffrey Bittner, Band Director at Mahwah High School. The Senior Jazz Combo will be directed by Mr. Robert Middleton, Band Director at Caldwell University. The 2025 Region 1 Jazz Band concert will take place on Sunday, April 6, 3pm at Livingston High School.
