Teaming Up for a Concerto - Jayson Martinez

Teaming Up for a Concerto

Jayson Martinez Arts High School - Newark jmarti37[at]webmail.essex.edu

Solo Concerto featuring our NJMEA Honors Guitar Ensemble and the New Jersey Guitar Ensemble

New music video? Check! A trifecta of GuitarFests? Check!

What’s next..? How about performing with a Grammy® Award winning classical guitarist!

The 2021-22 school year was, in my opinion, the apogee of NJMEA Honors Guitar Ensembleperformance and achievement.

First, the talented guitar ensemble collaborated with the NJGO to record another music video: Sailing Home, by Mark Houghton. The composer was so enamored by the wonderful rendition that he is showing his gratitude with a new commission. This new work, specifically dedicated to the NJMEA Honors Guitar Ensemble, is expected to premiere in late 2023-24. Special thanks to the Augustine Foundation and the Virtual Guitar Orchestra (VGO) team for their ongoing support of our projects.

Secondly, our NJMEA Honors Guitar Ensemble made history by performing in a trifecta of GuitarFests, both in and out of NJ.

This past April, the ensemble, along with the NJGO, performed at William Paterson’s annual GuitarFest, hosted by renowned guitarist and educator Seth Himmelhoch. In May, both groups performed at the Long Island Guitar Festival, which highlighted various high school guitar ensembles from across the country. The LIGF also featured international soloists, whom presented workshops and recitals. Additionally, it gave prominence to a new world-premiere commission, Air and Lamentations, performed by the NJGO. Needless to say, our students were fortunate and excited to perform at this historical event and meet their classical guitar heroes.

A few weeks later, the NJMEA had the distinct honor of kicking Kean University’s inaugural GuitarFest. It was very exciting to experience the student performances from various NJ high schools, local music establishments, colleges and universities. These performances led up to a fantastic set by our NJMEA Guitarists.

Finally, we rounded off our season by opening for the United States Guitar Orchestra at the illustrious Merkin Hall at the Kaufman Center in NYC. This event was graciously hosted by the Aaron Shearer Foundation. The concert featured new works by Michael Hedges and Mark Charles Smith. Conductor, Dr. Kami Rowan, led the USGO on a tour through Spain following the successful Merkin Hall premiere. Many of our NJMEA HS Honors Guitar students plan to audition for the USGO next season, in the hopes that they can further their talents and perform internationally.

So what’s next for the guitar students for this new school year? I am honored to announce that the NJMEA Honors Guitar Ensemble and the NJGO will perform a concerto on June 17th, 2023 at Enlow Hall. This monumental event will feature the Grammy Award winning classical guitarist William Kanengiser as the star soloist! So, save the date and we hope to see you there!