Mr. Michael Gonzalez (Mr. G.) has been a music teacher in New Jersey schools for 13 years, having graduated from William Paterson University in the Spring of 2009.

His teaching experiences cover K-8 General Music, Music Theory, Musical Theatre, Piano Methods, and Band and Choral Methods and Ensembles. Mr. Gonzalez currently teaches Music Theory, Piano Methods, Intro to Theatre, Spring Concert Choir, and A Capella ensemble at the newly built Carteret Junior High School. Additionally, 2023-2024 will be the fourth year of our after school Musical Theatre club, Highlights.

Entering his eighth year in Carteret, Mr. Gonzalez and the CJH choral ensembles have grown from 54 in its inaugural year to between 80-90 annually. CJH choirs have been fortunate enough to attend and earn Excellent ratings at Festivals of Music events in 2018 and 2019, also taking home the Festival's Espirit de Corps award in 2018.

In spring of 2022, our a capella ensemble earned best in show honors and a Superior rating, and our 8th grade spring choir won the Espirit de Corps once again. Our last year with a 6th grade in CMS, our 6th graders also had a Superior rating at their festival, scoring themselves a 97 on one of their songs!

This past year, in 2022-2023, all of our ensembles took home Superior ratings! Our a cappella group, EssenCe, took best in show for MS/JH level choirs at all three attending shows, and our Spring Choirs each got best in category at their performances!

This coming year, in 2023-2024, we look to continue this with our 7th grade Spring Choir and Essence attending Rutgers University's NJMEA festival, and our 8th grade choir (and band) along with EssenCe attending Music in the Parks at Dorney Park, PA.