CJMEA Student Choir Spotlight

Written by: Dylan Gonzalez Ramirez (‘28)

LHS students after performing at Monroe Township High School!

After undergoing a challenging audition, we are proud to showcase our nine successful students who were selected to participate in the 2026 CJMEA (Central Jersey Music Educators Association) Regional Choir! This year, Zoe Brown (‘29), Ishaan Sahay (‘29), Isaiah Walker-Underwood (‘27), James Moffett (‘29), Karina Godovanyy (‘28), Archana Arulmohan (‘28), Abby Dalal (‘29), Norah Schmidt (‘29), and Brianna Polite (‘27) all qualified for this prestigious honor! This achievement is also a chance to set the foundation and jumpstart each of these student’s musical careers! 

“Regions was such a great way to advance my musicality and make new friends! It has been so beneficial in providing me a phenomenal performance opportunity and opening my horizons to new choral repertoire. I’m absolutely going to be participating again next year.”

- Brianna Polite (‘27)

Much like the NJMEA All-State audition, students are required to complete three parts in order to be accepted into the CJMEA Regional Choir. The first part is scales, which range from different voice parts. Students are required to maintain a good pitch, while factoring different sorts of technique, such as vowels, musicianship, etc. The same amount of technique is also required in the next two parts. After the scales, a quintet of “The Silver Swan” is required. This quintet involves different layering parts that create a beautiful piece. To achieve a beautiful sound, students must listen across sections in order to recognize where each part falls. Lastly, a small solo piece is chosen. Every year, this solo piece changes, however, this year the piece “The Turtle Dove” was selected. This solo piece requires emotion and shaping of the piece. To add to the intensity of the audition, this year’s audition was held in person, meaning all of the above must be completed in one take. Throughout the audition material, CJMEA requires mastery of these techniques, which is why it is an honor that nine of our students were selected!

“Being a part of the CJMEA Mixed Chorus allowed me to strengthen my musical capabilities and form connections with students who love choir as much as I do. It was truly an enriching experience, and I encourage more LHS choir students to audition next year.”

-Karina Godovanyy (‘28)

Despite the amount of control needed, CJMEA is a great place to learn new ways to improve technique, control, musicianship, and much more! On top of that, it’s a great way to prepare students for the upcoming 2026-2027 NJMEA All-State Choir auditions. The similarities in audition material and experience in regionals make you better prepared and more likely to be accepted. Congratulations to the 2026 CJMEA Regional Choir, and I wish the best of luck to everyone for future auditions and performances!

“Regions was a great experience that opened a gateway of possibilities for me in the world of music. I had the opportunity to meet and sing alongside incredible people, and being able to learn new choral repertoire with them was memorable and exciting. My time at regions helped me learn that music is not just about notes and rhythms, but about the process: learning, growing, and developing together as musicians.”

-Ishaan Sahay (‘29)