Ben Schwartz has been a Music Adjudicator with USBands since 2006. A renowned music educator, he served as the director of bands at Elizabeth High School for 16 years, helping the marching band win 7 state championships, 3 national championships, and secure 2 finalist placements at the Bands of America Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships. A gifted musical arranger, Ben has written wind and percussion scores for several competitive marching bands and drum and bugle corps across the country for over 20 years. A professional drummer, Ben plays regularly in the NJ/NYC area. He also won the Drum Corps Associates I&E Drum Set competition 3 times in 2006, 2009, and 2010. In 2012, Ben represented New Jersey in School, Band, and Orchestra Magazine as one of the "50 Directors Who Make a Difference" and was awarded the Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction in 2019. Ben proudly holds a B.M. in Music Education from Mason Gross School of the Arts as well as an M.A. in Music Education from New Jersey City University. In addition to USBands, he is an active music adjudicator for New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association, Cavalcade of Bands, and Drum Corps Associates. He currently teaches Music Technology full time in the Newark Public Schools. He resides in Woodbridge Township, NJ with his beautiful wife Robyn, and his children Skylar and Zachary.