John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University

John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University A music education that elevates your future.

The Cali School nurtures creative exploration and the development of nearly 450 students. It presents over 250 performances and masterclasses each year by students, faculty, guest artists, and the eminent Shanghai Quartet, whose members have been artists-in-residence since 2002. The Cali School makes its home in a 1928 building near the entrance of campus that was renovated and expanded in 2009. I

t provides Steinway pianos throughout its classroom and rehearsal spaces and in the 235-seat Jed Leshowitz Recital Hall, where solo and small ensembles perform. Large ensembles and opera productions take place in the Alexander Kasser Theater nearby. Please explore the website, montclair.edu/music, for details about our programs and the admissions process.

Our very first weekly midweek recap of the 26-27 academic school year, welcome back everyone!Opening up our midweek, Joh...
09/04/2026

Our very first weekly midweek recap of the 26-27 academic school year, welcome back everyone!

Opening up our midweek, John J Cali School Of Music Director Shea Scruggs and Music Theory & Aural Skills coordinator Dr Aaron Helgeson have a conversation with this years 26-27 artist in residence, Gabriel Kahane. Our artist in residency discussed creative process work, and his career as a songwriter and composer.

A great start for many midweeks to come! See you all next time.

09/04/2026

A little rain doesn’t stop us from having our annual BBQ…

We want to welcome our students back with our start of semester BBQ. We asked Cali students/faculty what they are most excited about this semester!! ♥️🎶

Let us know what you are excited for in the comments!!✨

Welcome back, Cali School! It’s time for the first Faculty Spotlight Post of the Academic Year! This year, we are kickin...
09/01/2026

Welcome back, Cali School! It’s time for the first Faculty Spotlight Post of the Academic Year! This year, we are kicking things off with one of our adjunct Saxophone professors, Stacy Wilson!

Stacy Wilson, an award-winning saxophonist based in New York, serves as the principal saxophonist with the West Point Concert Band, one of America’s most well-known military bands. She is also the soprano saxophonist for the acclaimed Zzyzx Quartet! Throughout her career, she has performed in many places throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe in several international competitions. These include the Gaudeamus International Interpreters Competition, North American Saxophone Alliance Collegiate Artist Competition, William Byrd International Competition, and MTNA National Competition. Wilson also advanced to the semifinals of the prestigious Londeix International Saxophone Competition.

Professor Wilson adjudicated major competitions and served as a NASA Committee for Gender Equity mentor for the 2024-2025 season. She holds degrees from Indiana University Bloomington and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and has taught at Montclair State University’s John J. Cali School of Music since 2013. Additionally, she is a Yamaha and D’Addario Performing Artist.

We will be covering new faculty members every Tuesday! Stay tuned!

WEDNESDAY PLANS? WE’VE GOT YOU. Cali Midweek is back, and we’re starting the year with Gabriel Kahane. Gabriel Kahane Co...
08/31/2026

WEDNESDAY PLANS? WE’VE GOT YOU.

Cali Midweek is back, and we’re starting the year with Gabriel Kahane. Gabriel Kahane

Come spend an hour with one of today’s most original musical voices for an afternoon that’s part performance, part conversation, part creative spark.

Free. Midweek. Right here at Cali.

Wednesday, September 2
2 PM
Leshowitz Recital Hall
Free, reservations suggested [link in bio]

Bring a friend. Take a break. Be in the room.

See you Wednesday.

Montclair State Jazz Studies College of the Arts at Montclair State University Montclair State University Strings Montclair State University Composition Department MSU MTSO Recording Arts & Production The brass studio at the Cali School of Music Montclair State University Choral Activities Montclair Bands Montclair State University Woodwind Department Cali Flutes

Good Morning Cali School Of Music! ☀️We hope you all had a great first day of classes on friday, this week a full run of...
08/31/2026

Good Morning Cali School Of Music! ☀️

We hope you all had a great first day of classes on friday, this week a full run of the semester begins!

The BFA musical theater program is looking for student participation for our two upcoming musicals, Lysistrata Jones and Kiss Me, Kate!

We are seeking the following players:

strings: violin, viola, cello, bass (upright, electric), guitar
brass: trumpet, french horn, trombone
percussion: drums and auxiliary (separate players)

Any questions can be directed to Alexander Tom at [email protected].

Thanks all! Have a great week!

✨WELCOME BACK! John J Cali School Of Music! 🎶We hope you have all had great and restful summer, and are ready to begin t...
08/28/2026

✨WELCOME BACK! John J Cali School Of Music! 🎶

We hope you have all had great and restful summer, and are ready to begin the semester starting today!

REMINDERS⚠️
~ Classes today August 28th are on a normal Friday Schedule
~ If you would like to register for a large/tall locker, please scan the QR code outside of the main office starting at 8:30AM (Room 144) First come first

The start of a great semester begins now! More news to come within the next few weeks 👀

Welcome back Cali Family, happy first day of school!

08/27/2026

New to Cali? 🎶 Our students have some advice for you.

From getting involved and going to performances to making connections and saying yes to new experiences, here are a few things they wish every first-year music student knew.

Welcome to Cali. ❤️🎵

It’s a big residency year at the Cali School, and we are all about it!MEET OUR GUESTS.Join us for the sixth annual Cali ...
08/26/2026

It’s a big residency year at the Cali School, and we are all about it!

MEET OUR GUESTS.

Join us for the sixth annual Cali Immersive Residency Program, bringing an incredible lineup of world-class artists and ensembles right into the Cali community. Throughout the year, our guests will perform, teach, collaborate, create, and connect with students through master classes, workshops, conversations, performances, and special events.

This is what a Cali residency is all about: getting up close to extraordinary artists, trying something new, making connections, and seeing where a life in music can take you.

Come hear them. Learn from them. Work with them. Be part of it.

Meet the artists, explore the full season, and see what’s coming next at montclair.edu/campus-life/arts-culture/immersive-residency. [link in bio]

Gabriel Kahane PUBLIQuartet Dance Heginbotham Chloe Flower Jake Runestad Larry Brownlee Terence Blanchard Seraph Brass

Meet Gabriel Kahane, Cali’s 2026–27 Artist-in-Residence. Gabriel Kahane Gabriel is a musician and storyteller whose work...
08/20/2026

Meet Gabriel Kahane, Cali’s 2026–27 Artist-in-Residence. Gabriel Kahane

Gabriel is a musician and storyteller whose work has taken him from Broadway and BAM to concert halls across the U.S. and Europe.

He has released five albums as a singer-songwriter, along with orchestral and chamber music recordings, and this year released Elevator Songs with Roomful of Teeth. His collaborators include Phoebe Bridgers, Sufjan Stevens, Caroline Shaw and Attacca Quartet.

He’s also a writer, with work published in The Atlantic, The New Yorker and The New York Times, as well as his newsletter, Words and Music.

Throughout the year, Gabriel will spend time at Cali working with students, sharing his creative process and developing an Artist Vision Project with the Cali community.

Come meet Gabriel at the first Cali Midweek of the year!
Wednesday, September 2 at 2 p.m.
Leshowitz Recital Hall, Cali School of Music

We’re VERY excited to see what takes shape this year.

Welcome to Cali, Gabriel!

Learn more at the link in bio:
https://bit.ly/Cali-AIR-Gabriel-Kahane

College of the Arts at Montclair State University calipathwaysproject The brass studio at the Cali School of Music Montclair State University Opera Montclair State University Choral Activities Montclair State University Strings Montclair State Symphony Orchestra Montclair Bands Montclair State University Composition Department Montclair State University Woodwind Department Montclair State Jazz Studies

We are happy to announce some great news!The Cali Opera (2024-25) productions of “Hansel & Gretel” (Humperdinck) (Karen ...
07/07/2026

We are happy to announce some great news!

The Cali Opera (2024-25) productions of “Hansel & Gretel” (Humperdinck) (Karen Driscoll, director and William Hobbs, conductor) and La Calisto (Cavalli) (REbecca Jo Loeb, director, Kyle Ritenauer, conductor) have just been selected as finalists in the Opera Performance—college/university (smaller program), 2026 division of The American Prize national non-profit competitions in the performing arts. Here's the link: https://theamericanprize.blogspot.com/?m=1

The American Prize will be announcing winners in the division soon.

None of this would be possible without the support of the amazing singers, instrumentalists, teachers and coaches who made these productions such a huge success!

Montclair State University Opera

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1 Normal Avenue
Montclair, NJ
07043

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