Toms River South Senior Captures Spot In All-Eastern Honors Band

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River South senior has been accepted into the 2023 Music Educators Eastern Division Honors Band, just the third Toms River Schools student to earn a spot in the band, the highest band honor available in high school.

Jack Harjes, a clarinet player, earned one of 21 spots in the honors band, beating out hundreds of clarinetists from across 12 northeast states and the District of Columbia, according to Christopher Test, the band director at Toms River South.

"He is a phenomenal, phenomenal musician," Test said at the December Toms River Regional Board of Education meeting.

Test said Harjes is an amazing musician, "incredibly talented. But talent only gets you so far."

While many of his peers spend their lunch period hanging out and relaxing, Harjes can be found in the band practice rooms at Toms River South, "continuing to get better, continuing to improve," he said.

One other instrumentalist from the Toms River Schools has earned a spot in the all-Eastern band. A Toms River Schools student who was a vocalist also earned a spot, Test said.

Harjes, who also serves as student council president, will perform at the Music Educators Eastern Division Conference in April.