Julius Tolentino

Julius Tolentino is an internationally recognized saxophonist, educator, and clinician who has been a prominent figure on the New York jazz scene for more than 30 years. As both a performer and recording artist, he has collaborated with many of jazz's most celebrated musicians and ensembles, including Louis Hayes' Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band, the Christian McBride Big Band, the Roy Hargrove Big Band, the Mingus Big Band, the Count Basie Orchestra, Natalie Cole, Eric Reed, the Birdland Big Band, and many others.

A graduate of the Hartt School of Music, Julius had the privilege of studying with NEA Jazz Master Jackie McLean, who introduced him to legendary saxophonist Illinois Jacquet—two mentors who profoundly shaped his artistic and educational philosophy. His performance career has taken him to some of the world's most prestigious venues, including Avery Fisher Hall, the Village Vanguard, Birdland, Blue Note, and Dizzy's Club, as well as renowned festivals such as Newport and Tanglewood. His debut recording, Just the Beginning, reached #8 on the national jazz charts in 2006.

Equally respected as an educator, Julius and is currently Arts Department Chair and has served as Director of Bands at Newark Academy since 2007, where he oversees five jazz ensembles, a wind ensemble, and the middle school band program. He is also an adjunct professor at Princeton University, a clinician for Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the founder of JTole Music, an educational platform dedicated to jazz instruction through year round classes, workshops, festivals, clinics, and resources. In addition, Julius was the first conductor for the award-winning big band programs at Jazz House Kids and the New Jersey Youth Symphony, leading both ensembles to national recognition and performances at prestigious festivals.

Under Julius's leadership, Newark Academy's jazz program has earned national recognition, winning top honors at the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition, the Charles Mingus Competition, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, and the NJAJE State Finals for 15 consecutive years. In 2024, Newark Academy captured first place at the Essentially Ellington Competition, one of the highest honors in high school jazz education.

A sought-after guest conductor and clinician, Julius has presented workshops and directed All-State Jazz Bands and music education conferences throughout the United States. His contributions to jazz performance and education have earned him numerous honors, including NJ Jazz Musician of the Year by Inside Jersey (2010), the Illinois Jacquet Jazz Educator of the Year Award (2013), the NJ Jazz Education Achievement Award (2018), and DownBeat Magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award in Jazz Education (2024).

Julius Tolentino is a Yanagisawa Performing Artist and Conn-Selmer Artist. He performs exclusively on Yanagisawa saxophones and Vandoren mouthpieces and reeds, and proudly endorses Key Leaves, ReedGeek, Gard Cases, and TunePike.