BY MCKAILA MACARTHUR
On January 18, Dylan Woyce had the honor to participate in the Central Jersey Music Educators Association’s High School Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band at Nicholas Music Center, Rutgers University.
CJMEA, a non-profit program in central New Jersey, focuses on improving the quality of music and offers performance opportunities for students in grades k-12. “I had a feeling that I could make it, and if I did, it would make four consecutive years,” said Woyce.
CJMEA has a complicated and competitive audition process scored out of 100 points. “He competed against 67 other high school trumpet players and placed 4th!” explained Woyce’s Wind Ensemble Honors teacher, Melissa Thatcher. “This qualified him for the Central New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra and Wind Ensemble.” Students who audition perform three different categories for points, scales for 30 points, a solo piece for 50 points, and an unseen part of a song for 20 points.
Woyce’s skilled performance and highest rank among trumpeters earned him the place of First Chair in the Philharmonic Orchestra and Fourth Chair in the Wind Ensemble. “I was extremely happy when I heard the news,” said Woyce. “I didn’t expect myself to get as high in the placing as I did.”
Normally, Woyce only takes part in one of the CJMEA bands each year. In sixth grade, he took part in the symphonic band. In the last two years, he took part in the wind ensemble. Instead, he has taken on two bands. This year, he led the trumpets in the Philharmonic Orchestra and returned to the Wind Eensemble. “Since I was in two bands this year, it was double the work with harder songs, but I enjoyed this year better than previous years,” said Woyce.
As the only Old Bridge student to take part in CJMEA this year, Woyce now represents the only student in Old Bridge history to play in the CJMEA four consecutive times. “It felt good,” said Woyce. “I got to be the face of Old Bridge in a way for a bit.”
Posted on March 10, 2026
Photos provided by Dylan Woyce and Kaylee Weingarten
Knight Life 