Ian Hurrel

New Jersey Music Educators Association — All-State Jazz Ensemble

Ian Hurrel is a senior in the Livingston High School class of 2020. He started taking guitar lessons in 6th grade at the local music shop, and progressed fairly quickly. In 9th grade he auditioned for and made the high school’s Lancer Jazz Band, where he discovered jazz for the first time. By the end of the year, he had made the New Jersey All State Jazz ensemble, and in the next three years, would make the New Jersey Regional and All State ensembles each year, and All Eastern his junior year, the only year he was eligible. Being able to work with the high-profile jazz musicians who were directors and guest artists expanded his exposure to the art. In school, Ian joined the marching band, playing tenor sax, trombone, and drum kit from sophomore to senior year. Ian also played guitar in the pit orchestra for Livingston High School’s yearly musicals. Ian will be studying Electrical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology in the fall of 2020, and plans to continue independently studying and performing music.