BRHS Musician 'Makes History,' Earns NJ Governor's Award

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Alexander Lu, a senior, became the first student from Bridgewater-Raritan High School to receive the prestigious New Jersey Governor’s Award in Arts Education.

"Alexander made history," said Hsiao-Yu Lin, the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Orchestra Director. "We have never had a Governor’s Award winner. Never in my 25 years."

The purpose of the Governor’s Awards in Arts Education program is to promote awareness and appreciation for the arts by honoring individual students in grades 9 through 12 and to honor adult leaders who have demonstrated excellence in and dedication to arts education.

The Governor’s Award for Arts Education is awarded to New Jersey scholastic students in various categories. Alexander received the award under the title of Music. Other categories include Theater, Debate,Poetry, Visual Art, Painting, Film, Dance and Speech.

Alexander, who shared that he was "ecstatic" over his selection, has been cited previously for his gift of playing the double bass.

In fact, Alexander will perform from April 13 through 16 in Rochester, N.Y., at the All-Eastern Ensemble. He was selected in November to the 2023 All-Eastern Symphony Orchestra for double bass along with other fine musicians from 11 states in the Northeast section of the country.

And a month earlier in October of this school year, Alexander was nominated by the New Jersey Music Educators Association Orchestra Division as the representative for the outstanding Bass Performance and achievements during his high school career at Bridgewater-Raritan.

Alexander will attend the New Jersey Governor’s Award for Arts Education ceremony on Friday, June 2, at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. The ceremony had been held previously at the War Memorial in Trenton.

Alexander will also put on a solo performance on this day on his double bass and will play "Double Bass Concerto" which is composed by the legendary conductor, Serge Koussevitzky. He will be accompanied during this performance by classmate and friend, Chris Zou, who will play the piano.

"The double bass pushes you physically," Alexander said about his instrument.

Alexande's career will include music when he does enroll at Cornell University in the fall. He plans
to major in Nutrition and play in the Ivy League school’s orchestra.

His talents will never be forgotten by his high school orchestra director.

"He is so accomplished," Griggs said. "Alex makes everyone understand what he plays."

— Submitted by Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District