John P. Stevens Band Programs

ACHIEVEMENTS FOR 2019-2020

** The JPS Marching Hawks took 2nd place at the US Bands National Championships at Metlife Staudium in East Rutherford, NJ.

** 39 band members were accepted through audition to the 2019-2020 Central Jersey Region Band and 26 band members were accepted through audition to the 2020 New Jersey All-State Band. These students represent the highest number selected from any one school for both the Central Jersey Region band and the NJ All-State Band!

**  The JPS Top Jazz Band Won 1st place and the JPS Lab Jazz Band won 3rd place at the Edison HS Jazz Festival and also won Best Trumpets and Best Saxophones.  Suvan Sundaresh and Farah Mbawhe won the best soloist awards on saxophone and Shriyaus Lingam won the best soloist award on trumpet>

ACHIEVEMENTS FOR 2018-2019

 ** The JPS Marching Hawks took 2nd place at BOA Regional Championships at the University of Delaware and 2nd place at US Bands Regional Championships in Danbury, CT.

** The JPS Top Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of of Andrew DeNicola, was awarded State Champions at the NJAJE Jazz Final for the fourth straight year - this is the 11th time overall in JPS jazz history!! Our top jazz ensemble also won awards for best saxophone section and senior baritone saxophone player, Zoe Wang was named the recipient of the Richard A. Graham Scholarship.  The JPS Lab Jazz Band, directed by John Zazzali, placed 4th overall, winning the award for best trumpet section.  Carlos Hernandez, sophmore trumpet player, was a recipient of an Outstanding Soloist Award. Sreekar Vishwanathan, sophmore baritone saxophone player, received an honorable mention soloist award.

** The John P. Stevens Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Andrew DeNicola, was selected through audition to perform at the State Gala at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.

** In the 2018-2019 school year, 40 JPS students were selected through auditions for the Central Jersey Regional Band, while 28 students were selected for the N.J. All-State Band. In addition, 9 students were selected to participate in the 2019 NAFME All-Eastern Honors Band. Once again, these numbers represent the highest number from any one school in the state!

ACHIEVEMENTS FOR 2017-2018 

** The JPS Band Program received the “Support Music Merit Award” (SMMA) from the NAMM Foundation for its commitment to music education for the second straight year.

** The JPS Marching Hawks placed 1st at US Bands New Jersey State Championships at Rutgers University and received the highest score overall and winning caption awards for Best Music and Best Visual. The JPS Marching Hawks also finished 3rd place at the US Bands National Championships winning caption awards for Best Music and Best Color Guard at MetLife Stadium.

** The JPS Jazz Ensemble, directed by Andrew DeNicola, placed 1st overall, winning outstanding trombone section, trumpet section, and “Best Sight-Reading Band” and the JPS Lab Jazz Band, directed by John Zazzali, placed 3rd overall at the NJAJE State Jazz Finals held at J.P. Stevens High School.