On Saturday, April 27, 2024, the North Hunterdon High School Jazz Ensemble performed at the New Jersey Association of Jazz Education’s (NJAJE) Group II State Finals held at Princeton High School. The NHHS Jazz Ensemble finished the evening ranked 8th, moving up from their initial placement entering the finals. It was the first time in school history that the Jazz Ensemble participated in the preliminary round for the NJAJE State Finals so to finish ranking 8th in Group II in the state is one for the school history books.
State finals are composed of the top nine performing bands across the whole state, grouped by school district size, as determined by a five-day long statewide preliminary festival with over 50 participating high schools.
“I could not be more proud of our students,” said Mr. Greg Boccuti, director of the North Hunterdon Jazz Ensemble. “This is one of the hardest working groups of students that I’ve ever had the pleasure of directing, and I’m thrilled that their hard work and dedication is being recognized.”
During their performance at the finals on April 27th, the Jazz Ensemble opened their set with the Latin tune Yo’ Mambo by Charles Argersinger, with solos by seniors Krish Chandel on trumpet, Lily Fasciano on alto saxophone, Charlie Lisa on piano, Lucas Holbrook on trumpet, and Cullen Elliott on tenor saxophone. Their next piece was the famous rock ballad Dream of the Return by Pat Metheny, arranged by Bob Curnow, which featured senior trombonist Joshua Evans, with additional solos by Charlie Lisa on piano and Lucas Holbrook on trumpet. The band’s set finished with the Gordon Goodwin arrangement of On Green Dolphin Street, by Bronislau Kaper, which featured senior piano player Charlie Lisa, with an additional solo by senior Krish Chandel on trumpet.
The band will finish their season with a performance at the Neshaminy High School Jazz Fest in Langhorne, PA on Friday May 3rd, the North Hunterdon High School Spring Concert II on Thursday, May 16, 2024, and the 3rd annual Jazz in the Park picnic at Finn Road Park in Union Township, NJ (Hunterdon County) on Saturday, June 8, 2024.
The Jazz Ensemble is comprised of:
Saxophones: Lily Fasciano, Mackenzie Holk, Kevin Carreira, Cullen Elliott, Jamison Morrow, Ryan Cowell
Trombones: Joshua Evans, Zoe Jenkins-Hiscox, Ryan Smyth, Miles Burns
Trumpets: Lucas Holbrook, Krish Chandel, Kayla Blazovic, Nathan Gallaway
Rhythm Section: Charlie Lisa, Casey Frasca, Amelia Chapman, Matthew Harris, Louis Patrick Palma
Flute/Manager: Stephen Kotran
