April 2002
  Artist of the Month:

Andy DeNicola
Andrew S. DeNicola is currently Director of Bands at John P. Stevens H.S., Edison, and has been doing so for the past 25 years of a 29 year teaching career.  Mr. DeNicola is a 1969 graduate of Edison High School, a1973 graduate of Montclair State University with a B.A. degree and a 1978 graduate of The College of New Jersey with a M.A. degree in Conducting.

He has been designated a Distinguished Teacher by the White House Commision of Presidential Scholars (1991) and traveled to Washington, D.C. to be recognized as such.  Andy was also honored as the John P. Stevens PTSA Outstanding Educator of the Year in 1984. He was selected by the New Jersey Music Educators Association as the Master Music Teacher of the year and by the New Jersey International Association of Jazz Educators as the Outstanding Educator of the Year for the year 2000.

The instrumental music program at J.P. Stevens High School boasts a Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Freshman Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Lab Jazz Band, Pit Band, Marching Band and numerous performing small ensembles.  For the past four years, the Wind Ensemble has been selected as one of twelve bands in the State to perform in the Gala State finals at The College of New Jersey.  This event was sponsored by N.J.M.E.A. and the N.B.A.

The Jazz Ensemble placed first in the I.A.J.E. State Jazz Band finals in 1998 and 2000, and the Marching Band won the C.M.B.C. Group IV-A championship held at Giants Stadium in 1997.  In addition, 24 students were accepted to the Central Jersey Region II Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band in 2001-2002.  Nine of those students made All-State Band.

Many students from J.P. Stevens have furthered their interest in music by attending some of the finest schools in the country and have secured positions with major groups such as the keyboardist for Billy Joel; the trumpet player for Paul Schaffer of the David Letterman’s Show; and Bon Jovi’s keyboardist to name a few.  Others have worked on Broadway shows such as “Cats” and Radio City Music Hall.  Still others are teaching music and continue to make a difference in the lives of their students.

Professionally, Andy has been a long time Executive Board member of Local 204-373, The American Federation of Musicians, and has worked with major acts including The Temptations, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the Manhattan Transfer and Bobby Vinton.  Playing the trumpet with the pit orchestra of Middlesex County’s “Plays in the Park”, The New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra, the Garden State Symphonic Band and the Edison Arts Society Symphonic Orchestra are also to his credit.

Andy resides in Metuchen with Katherine, his wife of 29 years and their 2 children, Albert 21 and Katie 18.