Written by Gina Caruso
Drew and Dallas Tyson, identical twins, share more than just looks—they share a love for music, nurtured by the steadfast support of their mother, Javanda Tyson. Drew, who began playing cello, then transitioned to double bass with the Paterson Music Project (PMP) 8 years ago, now performs with the NJYS Jazz Orchestra. Dallas, who began playing viola with PMP 8 years ago as well, has transitioned to piano and now performs with the NJYS Big Band. The boys, now sophomores, attend Manchester Regional High School in Haledon, and are part of a prestigious technology program that accepts only 25 academically excelling students from Paterson each year. Alongside their studies in computer engineering, TV production, and even drone technology, music remains a cornerstone of their lives, thanks to their mother’s dedication.
Javanda’s belief in the power of education comes from her own upbringing. Raised in New Jersey, Javanda excelled academically, attending Catholic school in Montclair before graduating high school as salutatorian. She continued her education at Rowan University, where she earned her degree in Accounting—a field she has remained in for the past 26 years. For the past 12 years, she has worked remotely for a greeting card company, Prudent Publishing, since during the pandemic. Doing so has allowed her the flexibility to balance her career with her sons’ demanding schedules in school, at PMP, and NJYS.
Her journey into motherhood was not without its challenges. Drew and Dallas were born nearly 3 months premature in June 2009. “Drew was 2 pounds, 3 ounces, and Dallas was 1 pound, 13 ounces. They were so fragile, I was afraid to hold them—they were so tiny.” Javanda recalls. After months in the hospital, Drew came home in early August , followed by Dallas later that month. With the love and support from her parents, close family and friends, Javanda cared for her boys as they fought to grow stronger.
Naming her sons was a deeply personal decision for Javanda. She wanted strong names and chose Dallas after her favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys, and Drew, because it was the name she loved most. She honored the men who shaped her life by giving her sons their middle names—Joseph, after her grandfather, for Drew, and John, after her father, for Dallas.
As the boys grew, so did their involvement in music. They discovered the Paterson Music Project through their after-school program at School 1, where PMP faculty and staff, Shanna Lin and Liz Moulthrop, introduced them to a variety of instruments. Drew and Dallas were immediately captivated by the cello and viola, telling their mother they wanted to play music. It was the start of a journey that would shape their lives—and one that Javanda wholeheartedly supported.
The arts weren’t entirely new to the family. While her mother, who worked in healthcare, and her father, an educator, didn’t pursue it, Javanda’s uncle was a principal dancer with the renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Javanda herself took ballet, tap, and jazz growing up and was a cheerleader in high school. Though she had to give up dance to focus on her rigorous academic schedule, her love for the arts never faded.
Over the years, Javanda has navigated the complexities of single motherhood with grace and resilience, often juggling her remote job, school, music lessons, and the demands of raising twins. When Drew was accepted into the Cali Pathways Project at Montclair University, she ensured he had everything he needed to succeed, driving him to bass camp and helping him prepare for his solo performances. For Dallas, who lights up when he plays piano, she partnered with Shanna Lin to connect him with the best teachers PMP has to offer, always encouraging his passion on piano. That hard work has paid off as Dallas also has been accepted into the Cali Pathways Project at Montclair University.
Javanda’s family has always placed a strong emphasis on tradition, and she continues to pass those values on to her sons. “I used to go see my uncle dance with Ailey every Christmas growing up. And now I (30 years later) take the boys to see Alvin Ailey every year,” she says, sharing that the tradition is just one of many ways she keeps the arts alive in their home. Music is another tradition in their household. “We listen to everything—classical, opera, jazz, Billy Joel, Elton John, everything,” she says. “Music is always playing in our home.”
Despite the challenges of coordinating schedules, especially during the summer when both boys are enrolled in demanding music programs, Javanda enthusiastically supports them. She attends every performance, driving them to lessons, camps, and workshops. “Sometimes I joke with them that I feel like I’m Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy!” she laughs. She also volunteers in the NJYS library on Sundays.
Javanda believes that fostering her sons’ talents is her most important role as a mother. “If the parents don’t foster it, the kids don’t foster it,” she says. “I never have to force them to practice or do their homework, but I do help them manage their time. I always tell them, start with the hardest task first and work your way to the task that may be the easiest.”
For Javanda, it’s not just about music or academics—it’s about raising good people. “I want them to work hard and be kind. If they get a C and they’ve worked hard for it, I’m okay with that. The most important thing is that they become good human beings.” It has paid off as both of them have consistently been on honor roll.
Reflecting on her journey with her sons, Javanda feels deeply grateful for the opportunities they’ve had through PMP and NJYS. “Music has had such a positive effect on my kids. It helps them to concentrate, teaches them how to process information, speak a different language, and advocate for themselves. I will always advocate for them, but I’ve also taught them to advocate for themselves.”
