Gerald J. Luongo: 1979-1981, 1983-1985

The fourth New Jersey ACDA President was Dr. Gerald J. Luongo, Principal and Choral Director at Vineland High School.

Gerald J. Luongo has been a choral director for over 40 years, having taught at Mahwah High School, Pascack Valley High School and Vineland High School, Rowan University, the College of New Jersey, Community and Church Choirs and as a Guest conductor and clinician in Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, the Carolinas, Delaware with his Choral Groups performing at State, Divisional and National Music Conventions. He has been an active member and President of the Bergen County Music Educators, the South Jersey Choral Directors Association, the NJMEA, the MENC, a life-member of the ACDA, Eastern Division Board member of the ACDA and the NJ ACDA as its President for many years. He has been involved with the New Jersey All State Chorus as Manager, State Coordinator and Chorus Director. His studies in Voice and Choral music have been at the Curtis Institute, the Julliard School and he holds degrees in Music from The College of NJ (BA,MA) and other degrees from Rowan University (MBA) and South Eastern University (PhD in Administration).

In the early 1970’s, Dr. Eugene Simpson and I were asked by the Eastern Division to build a stronger State ACDA Chapter. With the help of many dedicated teachers, the State Chapter immediately began to grow, providing State activities such as reading sessions, newsletters and the ACDA Adjudicated Choral Festival that grew from a few groups into a three-day program. The number of schools and the cooperation of the respective Choral Directors brought much attention to the quality of choral music in the State. The cooperation of both Rowan University and The College of New Jersey in providing performance venues provided exceptional opportunities for New Jersey students.

As President for several years, I was fortunate to work with so many outstanding Choral Directors whose commitment to their students and the quality of Choral Music in the State was impressive and rewarding. The cooperation of the schools and the assistance provided by my colleagues was exceptional. And every Board of Directors that served with me made a commitment to excellence. Many of these colleagues and friends have passed on but their contributions will long be remembered as they charted the course for the NJ ACDA and the importance of Choral Music in our schools. Although I retired from music and continued my career as a High School Principal, NJ State Monitor, politician and now as a businessman operating a private school, my fondest memories are the years in “making music”.