On Sunday, November 6th, Arts High hosted the New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA) 6-12 String Academy and NJMEA HS Band Academy. Students from across the state of New Jersey attended this event, where they learned strategies to prepare for successful auditions at region, state, and collegiate levels. Guest clinicians included Dr. Oscar Petty, Jr., an Arts High School graduate, and Martha Mooke, director of the strings program at New Jersey City University. Ms. Brodhead Cullen, Supervisor of NBOE Visual and Performing Arts stated, “The NJMEA String and Band Academies were a wonderful opportunity for our students to further develop skills and collaborate with fellow student musicians, educators, and professionals from across the state. Hosting these experiences at Arts High School opens doors for Newark students to achieve their fullest potential and engage with their community and world.” Ms. Brodhead Cullen serves on the NJMEA Board as the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Committee Chair.
Under the leadership of Principal Devonne DeNose, and Music Directors Lawrence Liggins and Christine Sweet, Arts High School opened doors to nine participating schools from across the state. Participating Schools included Arts High School, Cicely Tyson Performing Arts High School, Melvin H. Kreps Middle School, New Brunswick High School, Passaic Public Schools, Plainfield High School, West Essex High School, Whitney Houston Academy, and Woodrow Wilson Middle School.