By Sid Tumu ’18, Middle School Editor

Newark Academy is a school known not only for its great academics but also for its many clubs and extracurricular opportunities that cater to students of all interests. One such area is the thriving music program, specifically the Chameleon Big Band. Chameleon is the top jazz band at Newark Academy and has been recognized as one of the top high school jazz bands in New Jersey and across the nation. This year, Chameleon won first place at the Mingus Jazz Festival and first in the NJAJE state competition. The group also qualified as one of fifteen bands in the Essentially Ellington Competition, which is considered to be the Super Bowl of high school jazz competitions. Chameleon owes its prolonged success to two things: the dedication of the musicians and the expertise of its director, Mr. Tolentino.

This is Mr. T’s eighth year as the Jazz Director at Newark Academy. During his first year directing Chameleon, the band was half the size of a standard big band, and the Upper School Jazz Band was only a little closer to having a full instrumentation. Currently, Newark Academy has two auditioned big bands, as the dedication to jazz music at Newark Academy is growing. “With every group I’m involved in, the goal is to play our best and try and believe in something bigger than ourselves,” commented Mr. T. “The process of studying the masters of this great art form, playing at the highest level and then trying to swing as a group in high pressure situations is what makes our groups successful. Sometimes accolades will come when we take care of the music, sometimes they don’t, but that’s never the goal.  It’s all in the process. This year’s band is having a great year so far and I’m happy that we can push ourselves to another level by playing at Essentially Ellington.” He attributes Chameleon’s success to fun, dedication, and mentorship. While rehearsals are very focused and intense, Mr. T is always having a good time with the students. During trips and free time, the band has developed a strong bond that spills over into the music. The dedication of the students that put in the hard work and the mentorship of more experienced students translate into stronger group playing.

Part of what makes Chameleon so special is the experience of the musicians playing in it. Patrick Peters ’15, lead trumpet, joined four years ago as a freshman. “I don’t know if there had been a better experience at NA than Chameleon. Being able to watch the band transition and tackle new obstacles every year is unbelievable,” said Patrick. He believes that the band is tighter, more focused, and more spirited this year than in any other year of its existence. Patrick attributes Chameleon’s success to the brilliant directorship of Mr. T. As Patrick compared, “Chameleon is like a well-oiled sports team. Each member has a specific duty to the team as instructed by Mr. T and yet we all work for one common purpose. Our success comes from our love for each other, for our instructor, our school, and most importantly, our music.” Kevin Jiang ’15, lead trombone, echoes Patrick’s sentiment. Joining Chameleon in ninth grade, Kevin found the experience inspiring and eye-opening. He believes that this year has been challenging in many ways. As he described, “With many of the top soloists gone, I’ve had to step up as one of the bands main soloists. I think that despite losing many amazing seniors, the band as a whole has improved in terms of the teamwork, communication, and stylistic aspects of playing jazz music.”

Within a decade, Chameleon has risen from an incomplete instrumentation to national prominence, owing to Mr. T’s excellent teaching and the students’ continued passion and dedication. Chameleon has developed a dynasty over the past several years, and one can only imagine the success that this powerhouse will have in the future.