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 All State Jazz Choir at NJPAC. A commemorative plaque is presented to each recipient.

2024 Awardee: Mr. Pete McGuinness

Pete McGuinness has been a presence on the New York and New Jersey jazz scenes since 1987. He is a three-time GRAMMY nominee for jazz arranging, an award-winning jazz vocalist (semi-finals: 1994 Thelonious Monk Jazz Vocal Competition, first prize: 2010 Jazzmobile Vocal Contest, several appearances in the Downbeat magazine readers’ and critics’ poll in both male jazz vocal and arranging categories), and for over 30 years was an in-demand freelance jazz trombonist, having performed with many well-known jazz big bands (Maria Schneider and Woody Herman orchestras among others),  25 Broadway shows, and appearing on over 50 CDs. Since 2006, he has headed his own big band, the highly acclaimed Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra, which has released three CDs to date on the Summit Records label. From 2016 – 2023, Pete was also a co-leader of and contributing arranger for the jazz vocal group The Royal Bopsters, which in 2021 was voted #1 Jazz Vocal Group in the nation in the Jazz Times magazine critics’ poll. Beginning in 2011, Pete has been a Full/Tenured Professor of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ, where he teaches a variety of subjects including jazz arranging, improvisation and leads the WPU jazz choir. Before that, Pete spent 17 years as an adjunct jazz instructor at New Jersey City University. Pete has numerous arrangements published by such companies as Kendor Music, Smart Chart Music and Anchor Music publishers. He is a frequent adjudicator for the NJMEA/NJAJE high school jazz festivals and has worked as a guest clinician with high school jazz programs throughout the state for many years. Pete was the guest conductor the New Jersey All-State Jazz Band in 2018.

Past Awardees

Don Braden
Anthony Branker
David Demsey​
Andrew DeNicola
​Denis Di Blasio
Clem DeRosa
Wayne Dillon
​Dr. Diana Dohrmann
​Bill Garton
Richard Graham
Dr. Jeffrey Kunkel
Jeffrey Haas
Brian Height
Doug Heyburn​
​Jeffrey Lesser
John Lindner
​David Thomas May
​Joel Perry
Earl Phillips​
​Rufus Reid
​Michael Russo
Julius Tolentino
​Randy White
​Ray Wiggins
Wilbur Witteman