Ridgewood Teen Wins National Music Award, And Band Claims Distinction

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — A teen clarinetist has won a national competition, and nine members of the local high school band have earned distinctions as well.

Tiffany Chang, a senior at Ridgewood High School, was a winner in the 2024 National YoungArts Competition in the area of solo classical music, said a school district spokesperson.

Every year, thousands of performing, visual, and literary artists aged 15-18 apply to YoungArts through a national competition.

Award winners attend National YoungArts Week to collaborate with peers and develop their crafts with internationally recognized leaders in their fields.

Award winners with distinction in their senior year are further eligible for nomination as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts—one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.

Meanwhile, she's not the only teen musician winning honors.

County Band

Nine Ridgewood High School Band members were recently named to the All-Bergen County Band, the most of any school in Bergen County, said the district spokesperson.

They are: Avery Welcome, principal oboe; Lee Fox, clarinet; Seojin Kevin Kim, clarinet; Edward Liu, clarinet; Elliott Yi, clarinet; Kai Koyama, trumpet; Bryan Park, trumpet; Danielle Haas principal French horn; and Kira Fox, trombone.

Sponsored by MEBCI (Music Educators of Bergen County, Inc.), the Bergen County Band recognizes the top student band musicians in the county.

Students performed a live audition, consisting of scales and an excerpt from standard band literature.

Bergen County students in grades 9-12 who participate in their high school instrumental music department and are certified as individuals of above average musical ability by their high school instrumental instructor are eligible to audition.

Students selected by MEBCI attend three required rehearsals in the week leading up to a final all-county concert on Sunday, Jan. 14, 3 p.m. at Bergenfield High School.

For more information on Ridgewood Public Schools Special Programs, visit the district website.