Linden Public Schools is once again making beautiful music—nationally. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 11𝒕𝒉 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓, the district has earned the prestigious 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐌 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, a national recognition reserved for school districts that demonstrate an unwavering commitment to providing access to high-quality music education.
Like a perfectly orchestrated symphony, Linden’s music program blends passion, equity, and opportunity—giving every student a chance to find their rhythm, lift their voice, and thrive through the power of the arts.
"𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭’𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭—𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥,” 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫. 𝐀𝐭𝐢𝐲𝐚 𝐘. 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐬. “In Linden, we don’t just teach music—we cultivate expression, identity, discipline, and joy. I applaud our incredible educators, our talented students, and the community that surrounds them. Together, we are composing a future where every child can find their voice and be heard.”
𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧
Now in its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education award is given to only about 6% of school districts nationwide. To earn the designation, Linden completed a comprehensive application detailing music program funding, graduation requirements, participation rates, instructional time, facilities, and community support. The data was reviewed by school officials and independently verified by Wolf Brown, a leading arts education research firm.
With a district-wide 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝟓𝟎 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 —from jazz ensembles to choral concerts, marching band showcases to elementary recitals—music is woven into the heartbeat of Linden’s academic and cultural life.
“𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠,” 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝐆. 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢, Supervisor of Fine & Performing Arts and Gifted & Talented Programs.
“It provides a safe space for creativity, expression, and resilience. When our community stands behind music programs, we’re not just supporting the arts—we’re uplifting our youth, strengthening school culture, and building a more vibrant Linden.”
𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲
Lorenzetti credits the district’s long-running success to a shared vision and collaborative support system.
“I’m deeply grateful to our Board of Education, central office, principals, teachers, and community leaders for recognizing the value of music education,” he added. “Your support affirms the dedication of our students and educators and reinforces the vital role the arts play in shaping well-rounded, inspired learners. Together, we’re creating opportunities that resonate far beyond the stage or classroom.”
The NAMM Foundation emphasizes that thriving music education communities reflect broad participation, structured access, and a deep sense of belonging—hallmarks that Linden has embodied for over a decade.
𝐀𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
As one of the few urban, diverse school districts to maintain this level of recognition for over a decade, Linden stands as a beacon for equity in arts education. Its approach ensures that music is not a privilege, but a promise—accessible to all students, from the first note in elementary school to the final performance before graduation.
Whether preparing for Carnegie Hall or the school auditorium, students in Linden are given the tools to grow not just as musicians, but as confident, expressive, and connected individuals.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝟏𝟏-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬.
𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲, 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲.