The New Jersey Jazz Education Achievement Award
On an annual basis, the NJAJE Board of Directors is proud to nominate a New Jersey jazz educator who has demonstrated the highest standards of teaching excellence and dedication to the jazz education community. The award is presented annually in November at the State Jazz Conference and again at the final concert of the NJ All State Jazz Ensemble and NJ Honors Jazz Choir at NJPAC. A commemorative plaque is presented to each recipient.
2018 Awardee: Mr. Julius Tolentino
Saxophonist and educator Julius Tolentino has been in the New York jazz scene for over 20 years. He has played with numerous small groups and big bands including Louis Haye’s Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band and Quartet, Eric Reed’s Sextet, Jeremy Pelt’s Quintet, Natalie Cole, Wycliffe Gordon, Connie Francis, Gloria Gaynor, the Illinois Jacquet Big Band, Christian McBride Big Band, Cecile Mclorin, Michael Feinstein, Dianne Reeves, Jimmy Heath, the Count Basie Orchestra and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Mr. Tolentino has played in the top jazz venues and festivals in the US, which includes Avery Fisher Hall, the Newport Jazz Festival, Tanglewood, the Village Vanguard, Birdland, Blue Note, the Jazz Standard and Dizzy’s Coca Cola. As a leader his debut cd “Just the Beginning” on the Sharp Nine label peaked at #8 on the jazz charts in 2006.
As an educator Julius has worked with hundreds of students all across the country. He is the jazz director at Newark Academy where he started in 2006 and currently conducts five jazz ensembles. He also holds positions at the New Jersey Youth Symphony as the Director of the NJYS Jazz Orchestra, and Jazz at Lincoln Center as a Middle School Jazz Academy Director and as a travelling clinician. He has served as NJAJE Region I President from 2009-2011 and was the Director of Large Ensembles at Jazz House Kids from 2010-2017. His groups have won and have been finalists in several national festivals and competitions. Essentially Ellington (2012-2018), the Charles Mingus Competition (2011-2018) and the Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival. At the state level, Newark Academy has received First Place at the NJAJE State Finals nine years running 2010-2018. Mr. Tolentino has been awarded the Illinois Jacquet Jazz Educator of the Year award courtesy of the Illinois Jacquet Foundation in 2013. He has presented clinics at the NJMEA in 2010 and MMEA in 2014 and is currently on the board of the Jazz Education Network, JEN.
As an educator Julius has worked with hundreds of students all across the country. He is the jazz director at Newark Academy where he started in 2006 and currently conducts five jazz ensembles. He also holds positions at the New Jersey Youth Symphony as the Director of the NJYS Jazz Orchestra, and Jazz at Lincoln Center as a Middle School Jazz Academy Director and as a travelling clinician. He has served as NJAJE Region I President from 2009-2011 and was the Director of Large Ensembles at Jazz House Kids from 2010-2017. His groups have won and have been finalists in several national festivals and competitions. Essentially Ellington (2012-2018), the Charles Mingus Competition (2011-2018) and the Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival. At the state level, Newark Academy has received First Place at the NJAJE State Finals nine years running 2010-2018. Mr. Tolentino has been awarded the Illinois Jacquet Jazz Educator of the Year award courtesy of the Illinois Jacquet Foundation in 2013. He has presented clinics at the NJMEA in 2010 and MMEA in 2014 and is currently on the board of the Jazz Education Network, JEN.
Past Awardees
Don Braden
Anthony Branker
Clem De Rosa
David Demsey
Andrew DeNicola
Denis Di Blasio
Dr. Diana Dohrmann
Richard Graham
Dr. Jeffrey Kunkel
Jeffrey Haas
Brian Height
Jeffrey Lesser
David Thomas May
Joel Perry
Rufus Reid
Ray Wiggins
Wilbur Witteman
Anthony Branker
Clem De Rosa
David Demsey
Andrew DeNicola
Denis Di Blasio
Dr. Diana Dohrmann
Richard Graham
Dr. Jeffrey Kunkel
Jeffrey Haas
Brian Height
Jeffrey Lesser
David Thomas May
Joel Perry
Rufus Reid
Ray Wiggins
Wilbur Witteman