PARSIPPANY — On Sunday, May 5, the Parsippany Hills High School Wind Ensemble performed at the 2019 NJ State Band Gala, held at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
Only twelve high school bands from the state (the top four groups from each region, North, Central, and South) are invited to participate in the NJ Band Gala each year. It is a highly selective and prestigious event reserved for the absolute best bands in the state. This year marks the fourth consecutive gala appearance for the Parsippany Hills Wind Ensemble. Only four other high school bands in New Jersey have performed at the last four galas and just one other band from the North Jersey Region.
“On behalf of the executive board of the New Jersey Band Association (NJBA), it is my pleasure to congratulate the band directors and their student musicians for their dedication to excellence, which has lead to their participation in this year’s annual New Jersey State Band Gala. Their outstanding achievements serve as a model and inspiration to all of us who find great satisfaction in the fact that quality music education does reside in New Jersey. Congratulations!”Thomas N. Connors, Executive Board Chair, NJ Band Association
Parsippany Hills High School Band Directors Mike Iapicca and Michelle Christianson, along with the students, parents and community friends, wish to thank the Parsippany District administrators, Board of Education members and school staff members who actively champion music education in the school district. They also express a very special thank you to Dr. Barbara Sargent, Superintendent of Schools, and Dr. Tali Axelrod, Asst. Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for joining them during this milestone Gala event.