The John P. Stevens High School Choir is a comprehensive Grade 9-12 Music Program at John P. Stevens High School in Edison NJ. Since its founding four decades ago, the JPS Choir has touched thousands of lives by offering its students access to high-caliber performances featuring music from a wide array of backgrounds and cultures. Due to its emphasis on character development and cultural learning, students involved in the JPS Choir program have gone on to become productive members of society. Many of the program’s alumni have also become professional performers and music teachers, further spreading music education to future generations of students.

Central to the JPS Choir’s mission is building a community of students who learn how to work with other people regardless of differences in race, religion, or politics. Students engage in daily team-building activities which aim to promote Social-Emotional Learning. Rigorous music and a problem-solving approach exercised on a daily basis also encourage development in critical thinking skills. The music performed by the choir students features themes of empathy, collaboration, and overcoming challenges. Music performed by the JPS Choir program is also aligned with the National Association for Music Education’s National Standards for performing ensembles.

Besides being a character development program, the JPS Choir program has demonstrated consistent musical excellence throughout the years. The five choral ensembles at JPS have consistently received Gold or Superior ratings at local, state, national, and international choral festivals. In 2017, the JPS A cappella Ensemble was invited to perform at the National Association for Music Educators Eastern Division Convention. That same year, the Chamber Choir competed in the Sing N’ Joy International Choral Festival and was named Grand Prize Winner, earning a monetary prize as well as an autographed manuscript from renowned composer Morten Lauridsen. In 2018, the A cappella Ensemble won the Grand Championship at the Roxbury High School Invitational Festival. In 2019, the choir was invited to perform alongside the New Jersey Youth Orchestra and four other NJ high schools in a performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. In 2021 the JPS Chamber Ensemble was honored to be invited to perform at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Eastern Division Conference, being named as only one of three choirs from the state of NJ to be invited to perform at this prestigious convention. The John P. Stevens High School Chamber Ensemble was also the only choir from the state of New Jersey to be invited to perform at the American Choral Directors Association National Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, slated for February 2023. The JPS Choir has also been invited to sing on the campuses of Westminster Choir College, Rutgers University, Montclair State University, Wagner College, and the University of Maryland. They have traveled and performed throughout the country, including performances in Newark, NJ, Virginia Beach, VA, Washington, D.C., Chicago, IL, Boston, MA, Atlanta, GA, and Orlando, FL.

The organization that is responsible for planning fundraisers and supporting the choir program is the JPS Choir Parents Association, a 501(c) non-profit organization (EIN: 20-0262465) which is made up of parent volunteers. Throughout the year, the CPA runs various fundraisers and events, including our Spaghetti Dinner, the Cafe Night Senior Scholarship Fundraiser, a Pie Sale, a Cheesecake Sale, a SCRIP gift card program, the Shoprite Gift Card program, clothing drives, and more. The CPA’s goals include supporting the choir and its directors Mr. Matthew Lee and Ms. Regina McElroy in its musical and extra-curricular endeavors but most importantly, ensuring every student can generate funds to support the planned musical excursions. The choir program aims to be as inclusive as possible; through the support of generous sponsors, we have been able to provide financial assistance so that all students involved in the choir program are able to participate fully, including travel with the choir to its annual adjudication trips. For more information concerning the Choir Parents Association or how to make a financial contribution, please contact jpschoirparents@gmail.com.

JPS Choir Parents Association is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to supporting the outstanding JPS Choir program at John P. Stevens High School in Edison, NJ.

In order to make a donation / become a sponsor in our program booklets please fill out this form and mail it with payment to

Mr. Matthew Lee
John P Stevens HS Choir
855 Grove Ave.
Edison, NJ 08820

To learn more about our program please visit our website at www.jpschoir.org.

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