Mr. Justin Surdyn has been a member of the Orange Public Schools music team since October 2010 and served his first year as High School Band Director. Mr. Surdyn is now the music teacher at Forest Street School, where he teaches Chorus, Band, and General Music. He continues to work with the OHS Marching Band in the capcity of Assistant Band Director. Mr. Surdyn has been a music educator and performer since graduating college in 2003 and is proud to work with the talented students and staff in Orange. 

Mr. Surdyn graduated Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Trumpet Performance. Shortly after graduating Mr. Surdyn became active in the music scene, recording and touring with such artist as The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Sheena Easton, Gerald Wilson, Roger Humphries, Phil Woods, Wynton Marsalis, and The Blues Brothers Band.

After spending some time cutting his teeth in traveling bands Mr. Surdyn decided to go back to school to obtain his Masters degree from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. He became very active in the Chicago music and education scene performing in many Broadway productions and being a faculty member at many community music schools and summer music workshops.

Throughout Mr. Surdyn’s entire career he has always put education first. He has always presented clinics and master classes focusing on the techniques and styles that are necessary to achieve musical greatness and employs those same concepts with the music students in Orange.