The 11th Annual NJMEA Student Technology Expo - Andrew Lesser

The 11th Annual NJMEA

Student Technology Expo

Andrew Lesser, Ed.D. Chairman, NJ Young Composers Competition andrew.lesser[at]yahoo.com www.andrewlessermusic.com

The 11th Annual NJMEA Student Technology Expo was held virtually for the first time on Friday, May 21st. Students representing grades 6–12 submitted their musical pieces using programs designed to create music in non-traditional formats. The first-ever Student Music Tech Expo was held on March 15, 2011. The goal was to provide a venue to showcase students’ creativity and accomplishments, starting with the premise of a “music tech science fair.” Due to the onset of COVID-19, the event was held virtually to continue the tradition and opportunities for students to present their works. Students presented their works in the following categories: Original Composition, Covers/Loops/Remixes, and Production/Engineering. Projects were judged by Ethan Heim (New York University), Barbara Adams (Rowan University), and Bryan Powell (Montclair State University). Submissions of files were held courtesy of MusicFirst.

Special thanks to the following individuals who volunteered their time to serve on the NJMEA Student Expo Committee: Marjorie LoPresti, Bill Grillo, Scott McCarron, and Vincent Du Beau. Also, thanks to our judges and presenters, Ethan Heim, Barbara Adams, and Bryan Powell, and to MusicFirst for hosting the submissions.

Information for the 2022 NJMEA Student Tech Expo will be posted on the NJMEA website under the “Festivals” link. If you would like additional information or are interested in being a part of the committee, please email us at njmeatechexpo[at]gmail.com.

The following students were selected as winners of each category:

Original Composition Winner (Middle School Division) Nick Murillo, Franklin Middle School

Original Composition Winner High School Division) David Sigman, Hopewell Valley Central High School

Original Composition Winner (High School Division) Julian Ossa, Metuchen High School

Covers/Loops/Remixes Winner (Middle School Division) Vicente Meza-Jimenez, Franklin Middle School

Covers/Loops/Remixes Winner (High School Division) David Sigman, Hopewell Valley High School

Production/Engineering (High School) Zach Pyle, Delsea Regional High School

Student’s Choice Award Luke Kiernan, West Windsor-Plainsboro High School