Music Education Changes Lives
Join CHSMPA in supporting excellent music education in South Orange and Maplewood NJ.
Upcoming Events
-
2026 MARCHING BAND OPEN HOUSE
April 7th, 6:00-8:00pm
CHS CafeteriaThe incredible directors and staff of The Pride of Columbia Marching Band is already planning a tremendous program for the Fall Season.
Interested in joining the band or color guard? Join Director Peter Bauer and current detail members at the Marching Band Open House. Also featured will be the much-anticipated reveal of the 2026 field show.
This event is open to CHS Students, SOMS and MMS 8th Graders and their Families.
-
CHS JAZZ ENSEMBLE AT AL FARAH CHS BOOSTER CLASSIC
Monday, April 27, 5:00 PM
Maplewood Country ClubThe Columbia Jazz Ensemble will be performing at the cocktail party for the 27th Annual Al Farah CHS Booster Classic Golf Tournament.
Cougar Boosters is a huge supporter of music and the arts at CHS, and this amazing event is one of their biggest fundraisers of the year. You can support CHS by sponsoring, golfing, or just coming out to the Cocktail Party to hear your Jazz Ensemble bring down the house at this marquis event.
-
SAVE THE DATE: BEATFEST 2026
Thursday, May 28
Ritzer FieldBeatFest, the student-run, freeform student music showcase, will return to Ritzer Field this Spring on Thursday, May 28.
Mark the date and watch this space for ticket sales, so you can experience this unique festival in our school’s own backyard and support SOMA’s talented student musicians. Here’s more information.
Registration for auditions is now open! (Students Only!)
Columbia High School Choir Brings Music to the Community!
On Sunday, February 9th, talented students from Columbia High School’s Tenor Bass Choir and Excelsior Choir, led by Nicholas Diaz, shared the gift of music at a special private performance for senior residents at the Newstead Apartment complex in South Orange. Their heartfelt voices and harmonies created a beautiful moment of connection and joy for the community.
Click to watch the video!
SOMA Rocks 5 Sells Out!
SOMA Rocks 5 was a rousing success! We raised more than $26,000 to support music programs at CHS.
A huge shout out to The Local Heroes, who make the music happen year after year! To our Broadway performers: you brought the house down! Thank you as well to all of our sponsors, volunteers, donors, and ticket-buyers! Thank you to CHSMPA members and the greater South Orange Maplewood community for all of your continued support!
And finally.... let's give it up for the amazing CHS acapella groups -- Noteworthy and Unaccompanied Minors. They showcased the talent, pride and passion of the performing arts at CHS. They are a reminder of why we all came together on this magical night!