Ashlen Udell

Biography

Ashlen Udell is an instrumental music educator at Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School (BRMS), where she teaches concert band, wind ensemble, instrumental lessons, general music, and drumming courses for students in the special education program. Dr. Udell is a graduate of Montclair State University (BA – Music Education, Minor in Dance), Northwestern University (MM – Music Education), and Rutgers University (DMA – Music Education). Ashlen received the 2023 John J. Cali School of Music Alumni Achievement Award and was Teacher of the Year for the 2023-2024 school year. She serves on the CJMEA Board as Intermediate Band Chair and conducted the 2025 Region 2 Intermediate Symphonic Band. 

As an educator, Dr. Udell has worked with composers through commissions, consortiums, and a Composer-in-Residence program which brings composers into the classroom to interact with students. Dr. Udell has presented and performed with her students at the NJMEA conference and has been an invited guest with Montclair State Bands. She has presented her dissertation research at BTAA, NJMEA, and AERA. Her dissertation research connects music and movement through using Laban Movement Efforts in the ensemble classroom. Outside of music education, she is a woodwind doubler in local musical theater productions and teaches dance.