RCB May, 2015 Concert

Season 32, Concert 5 - May 8, 2015 The Annual Generations Concert

2014-15 CONTRIBUTORS The Ridgewood Concert Band gratefully acknowledges the support of our donors

and subscribers whose generous support makes these programs possible.

BENEFACTOR ($3,000 and above) Cheryl & James Mallen Lindsay B. Gallagher Joseph & Deborah Marsicovete Thomas & Victoria Price Jerrold, Mary A. & Leah Meyer Merrill Lynch Wealth Management/ Irene Montella Bank of America Corp. Mary & Michael Nussear Marcella Phelan PATRON ($2,000 to $2,999) Deloss Schertz & Rose Kraybill Carolyn & Howard Crumb Francis & Barbara Schott Ted & Evelyn Slockbower SPONSOR ($1,000 to $1,999) Richard & Karen Summers Emilio & Maria Uriarte Kathleen & Harold Sylvester In Memory of John Rodland Janice Willett In Memory of Warren Grim Nancy E. Zweil Judith Widicus Blue Moon Cafe Daichii Sankyo, Inc. FRIEND ($1 to $99) SUPPORTER ($500 to $999) Virginia Baird Barbara Abney Bolger Eileen Beaumel Darel & Michael DePompeo Richard & Janet Boziwick Lawrence & Donna Friedman, in support of Vincent & Marianne DeDea the Ridgewood Concert Band Society Michelle Dugan Joel Kolk Sue & Ira Emanuel Keith Mogerley Vicki Fiore, M.D. Randy F. Reveley Katherine Grasso John & Marilyn Wagner Richard F. Hahn Patricia & Frederick Yosca Carol & Richard Holodak PVH Corporation Richard & Katherine Innis Janet Johnston ASSOCIATE ($250 to $499) Judith & David Maron Paul & Mary Bergquist Betsy Murphy John G. Bolger Walter & Diana Perog Naomi Freshwater Samantha Price-Koontz Paul Goldberg Albert W. Schagen Paul & Carolyn Kirby Edward J. Schlamp Dorothy S. Neff Beth Seavers Kathleen & John J. Palatucci Ann Sirinides Carol & Neil Sheehan Virginia Sirinides BNY Mellon Community Partnership David Sternberg Costco of Hackensack Alexander & Deborah Taylor Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC. Jon Thurlow Plymouth Rock Foundation William D. & Helen L. Thurlow Whole Foods of Ridgewood Richard & Jessie VerHage Janet Vidovich AFFILIATE ($100 to $249) Mark & Andrea Zettler John & Louise Butler Amazon Smile Foundation David & Jacalyn Bychek Tito’s Burritos of Ridgewood James Demes Sally Fillmore If you are a recent subscriber or donor, we Capt. Kenneth Force may have received your name too late to Frank & Loretta Healey include in this program and we apologize for Marie Kane that, but you will be in subsequent programs. Jill Keller Thank you.

Printing of this program generously underwritten by Konica Minolta Business Solutions. Dr. Christian Wilhjelm, Music Director

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Funding has been made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, through grant funds administered by the Bergen County Department of Parks, Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs. The Annual

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Generations Concert The Ridgewood Concert Band would like to thank all of the many volunteers who have made this concert possible. FEATURED GUEST SOLOIST Stephanie Pizza, Flute ______2014-2015 RCB Youth Soloist Competition Winner

The Ridgewood Concert Band would like to give a FEATURED GUEST ARTISTS The Orpheus Club Men's Chorus special “thank you” to the Pascack Valley Regional High School District. The Pascack Hills High PRELUDE CONCERT - 7:30 PM School Band room is our weekly rehearsal site. Westfield Concert Band Thomas Connors, Director ______

Friday, May 8, 2015 - 8:00 PM For additional RCB information, please West Side Presbyterian Church, Ridgewood, NJ visit our website or scan our QR code: Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. is a Proud Sponsor of WWW.RIDGEWOODBAND.ORG the Ridgewood Concert Band

THANK YOU TO OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS FOR ANOTHER YEAR OF LOYAL SUPPORT!

BOX OFFICE: Sylvia DeVries, Kathy Smith & Keiji Takamoto PROGRAM NOTES: Marcie Phelan

PUBLICITY: Beth Seavers RECEPTION: Kathleen Peters, Phil Biello RECORDING: Noreen Baer REFRESHMENTS: Mike DePompeo STAGING: Tony Spinuzzi, Mike DePompeo & Bob Sacchi USHERS: Ginny Baird, John Butler, Darel DePompeo & Nancy Zweil

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For additional RCB information, please visit our website or scan our QR code: WWW.RIDGEWOODBAND.ORG

RIDGEWOOD CONCERT BAND

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PRESIDENT: Mark Zettler

VICE PRESIDENT: John Wagner

RECORDING SECRETARY:

Annette Lieb

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY: Mary Nussear

TREASURER: Neil Sheehan

MEMBERS AT LARGE: Noreen Baer Annette Baron John Butler Mike DePompeo Lawrence Friedman Carolyn Kirby Kathleen Peters Philip Peters

Thomas P. Price

Deloss Schertz Beth Seavers

Flutist Stephanie Pizza is a junior at Ridgewood High School. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Medley – Transcribed/ Stephanie studies flute in the honors program at Mannes College - Preparatory Division with Judith Mendenhall, where she performs with Arranged by David Avshalomov (b.1946). The impact of the Beatles has the Philharmonic Orchestra on both piccolo and flute. Stephanie has often been noted but cannot be overstated. The “Fab Four” from won a number of awards and honors including: Gold Winner in the Liverpool, England startled the ears and energized the lives of virtually all International Virtuoso Competition (2014), winner of the New York who heard them. Landing on American shores in February of 1964, they Flute Club Young Musician’s Contest (2010, 2013) and first prize winner in the Alexander and Buono International Flute Competition (2011). As literally stood the world of pop culture on its head. The Beatles’ success can a first prize winner of the Alexander and Buono International Flute be attributed to a combination of factors, including John Lennon and Paul Competition, Stephanie performed in recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weill McCartney’s songwriting genius, George Harrison’s guitar playing prowess, Recital Hall. Stephanie was a national finalist in the Music Teacher’s National Association Young Musician’s Competition (2012). She also Ringo Starr’s artful simplicity as a drummer, and the solid group harmonies was the grand prize winner of the Wagner College Young Musician’s Competition (2011). that were a hallmark of their recordings. It was after they retired from Stephanie has been awarded a seat in Bergen County and New Jersey Region I Honors Bands touring and became a group performing only in the studio that they created every year since seventh grade. This year Stephanie was selected to perform in the New Jersey All the artistic Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album that many would cite State Symphonic Band on both piccolo and flute. as the ultimate creative standard for Rock and Roll. David Avshalomov has Upon entering high school Stephanie was awarded a position in the Connor Donohue Fellowship, transcribed this medley for male chorus and band allowing us to go back in where she enjoys participating in many musical activities. Stephanie is a member of the time and enjoy melodies and harmonies that have become timeless. Ridgewood High School Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Mr. Jeffrey Haas and flute ensemble coached by Alison Crossley. Stephanie was the flutist in her high school productions of Listening to this medley lets us understand why the Beatles remain the most Aida, Footloose, The Wiz and Shrek, conducted by Mr. Gary Fink. Stephanie is also a member of enduring phenomenon in the history of popular music. the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Stephanie would like to thank all of her teachers for their instruction and guidance, and her family and friends for their never ending support. Bonnie Annie Laurie March – John Philip Sousa (1854-1932). According to the Sousa scholar, Paul Bierley, Sousa often remarked that the old The Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus Scottish ballad “Annie Laurie” was the most beautiful of all folk songs. In 1883 he wrote the march Bonnie Annie Laurie, based on this favored melody. On October 11, 1909, eight men met at the Ridgewood home of Frank R. Pawley to discuss a It begins with two strains of original Sousa materials. At the trio of this da men’s singing club. A week later, ten men gathered to capo march he introduces a delightful original tune that later turns out to be sing in the Village Library, a room in the First a counterpoint to Annie Laurie. Sousa was to use this charming National Bank building. The group paid 75 cents per night to use the room and began singing together, compositional device again whenever his later marches were about to with Dewitt Clinton, Jr. as director. The Orpheus introduce well-known melodies. Club Men’s Chorus was born. Others joined the club and by December of 1909 it was agreed a concert would be presented. Their first performance Shenandoah – Frank Ticheli (b.1958) is an American composer of was in May of 1910. The opening number in that concert was the rousing “Winter Song.” Club membership quickly rose from the 18 who sang the first concert to 35. The members met weekly orchestral, choral, chamber, and concert band works. He lives in Los on Wednesdays from October to May, and in 1913 the club gave it’s first performance of Angeles, California, where he is Professor of Composition at the University “Pilgrim's Chorus” from Wagner’s Tannhäuser. of Southern California. He is the recipient of numerous awards and has an

Variety in repertoire was common in Orpheus Club concerts. A program might include “The extensive library of publications. A number of his works are particularly Boog-a-Boo,” a ragtime number, “Old Black Joe,” the Stephen Foster parlor song, comedy notable, as they have become standards in the concert band repertoire. The numbers like “But They Didn’t,” and classics, sometimes sung in French or German. composer describes this piece in his own words: “In my setting of

Ten years after its founding, the Orpheus Club was making guest appearances around New Jersey Shenandoah I was inspired by the freedom and beauty of the folk melody and and New York. As the years continued, the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus remained a significant by the natural images evoked by the words, especially the image of a river. I part of New Jersey’s cultural life. When the Kasschau Memorial Band Shell was dedicated in was less concerned with the sound of a rolling river than with its life- Ridgewood, the club sang at the inauguration. affirming energy – its timelessness. Sometimes the accompaniment flows

Presently, the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus includes about 50 singers from New York and New quietly under the melody; other times it breathes alongside it. The work’s Jersey, and generally makes eight to 10 appearances annually including four formal concerts. The mood ranges from quiet reflection, through growing optimism, to profound exultation.” Club has performed with the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra and the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea. The men of Orpheus have joined with the Ridgewood Choral to sing and have previously appeared with the Ridgewood Concert Band to sing the music of Aaron Copland and Richard Wagner. Program Notes compiled by Marcie Phelan In 1962, Richard Lane signed on as pianist for the club, beginning a distinguished career that ROGRAM OTES would continue for 42 years until his death in 2004. A brilliant composer and teacher, Lane wrote P N 20 numbers for the Club and today’s concerts always feature at least one of Richard’s compositions. Italian in Algiers Overture – Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868) was born into a musical Italian family and composed more than thirty operas. In the Spring of 2005, the Chorus made its Lincoln Center debut, performing at the Lincoln Center Library with the Palisades Virtuosi Chamber Ensemble. Additional performances in recent Curiously, though he lived to be 76, he ceased writing opera at age 37. years have included concerts at the Kasschau Memorial Band Shell in Ridgewood, singing in Although Rossini composed his first comic opera at age 18, it is this one, Ridgewood’s Independence Day parade, area churches, and in November 2009, a presentation of written three years later, that is considered his first mature work in the Beethoven’s Fantasia for Piano, Chorus, and Orhcestra, Op. 80 (the Choral Fantasy) with the genre. Rumored to have been written in only two and a half weeks, it was Ridgewood Choral, the Ridgewood High School Chamber Choir, and the Eastern Christian High School Chorus. Most recently the Club, in partnership with the New Jersey Choral Consortium, his first work to gain him international recognition. The bubbly music of hosted a state-wide men’s chorus festival at Rutgers University. the overture hints of the fun to come when the curtain would rise on the comic opera. Although the composer’s William Tell Overture is more widely Richard Lane’s composition declares: “We are men who like to sing. We are the men of Orpheus” and for more than 100 years this has been their mission and their goal. known, this is also a favorite, for it holds the distinct Rossini style that is so exciting to the listener. Dr. Thomas Connors is Director of Instrumental Music and Conducting Studies at Kean University where he conducts the Flute Concerto No. 2 in D – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791). Wind Ensemble and Chamber Winds as well as teaching History records that the flute was not Mozart’s favorite instrument, yet his conducting and instrumental music method courses. Prior to his flute concerti are ranked exceptionally high in the music world. Due to a arrival at Kean, he was the assistant Director of Bands and The time constraint, Mozart actually borrowed from his own Oboe Concerto in C Director of Athletic Bands at Kent State University. Before moving to the college ranks he taught for 10 years in the public and composed this Flute Concerto No. 2 in D. To the benefit of the flute schools in New Hampshire and New York. repertoire, the translation of the oboe concerto is not an exact copy and is able to show off both the virtuosic technicality of the soloist along with the Dr. Connors holds a Ph.D. in music education from Florida State University, a M.M. in conducting from the New England beautiful finesse the flute can bring to the piece. Mozart recreated a Conservatory of Music and double degrees from Berklee College concerto that is exposing and challenging, yet lying perfectly within the of Music in composition and music education. range of the instrument. It has proven to be an excellent showpiece for the most virtuosic soloists. In addition to being an active guest conductor and clinician in several states he is also an active member of several professional organizations including: CBDNA, WASBE, NAFME and The New Jersey Music Educators where he served for seven The Invincible Eagle – John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) composed this years on the board. He is also a founding member and current board member of the New Jersey march for his band's performance at the Pan American Exposition in Band Association.

Buffalo, New York, in 1901. He considered naming it “The Spirit of For the past 10 years Dr. Connors has also served as the Music Director of the Westfield Concert Niagara” in recognition of the exposition, but decided not to localize it Band, one of the nations oldest community based bands, currently celebrating 103 years of because he thought his new march might eventually rival The Stars and performance. The ensemble is composed of over 60 music educators and other talented amateur Stripes Forever. Soon after its premiere, Sousa described the conviction and musicians from central New Jersey. spirit, which compelled him to compose this march in his own words, "It is what I call one of my sunshine marches. Some of my heavy marches are intended to convey the impression of the stir and strife of warfare, but The Invincible Eagle shows the military spirit at its lightest and brightest – the parade spirit . . . with the bravery of uniform, the sheen of silken stands, and the gleam of polished steel.”

SIDE-BY-SIDE STUDENT MUSICIANS

One of the most important missions of the Ridgewood Concert Band is to reach out to the youth in our area and expose them to fine wind ensemble literature and performance. With this in mind, Dr. Chris Wilhjelm suggested that we set up a concert in which deserving high school students would have the opportunity to play side-by-side with the musicians in the RCB and prepare several works that would challenge them musically and involve them in a professional level performance situation. Music teachers from the RCB and area high schools made their recommendations, and we are delighted this evening to host the 7th Annual “Side-by-Side Concert.”

The music you will hear during the second half of tonight’s concert is the result of hours of personal practice as well as joint rehearsals with the students and the RCB. It is our hope that the students and you, our audience, will find this annual event both educational and enjoyable.

Below are the names of the student participants. We are grateful to them, their teachers, their parents, Dr. Chris Wilhjelm and the Side-by-Side Committee (Heidi Kolb, Alecia DeJoseph, and Dave Bychek) for making this performance possible. We would also like to give a special "thanks" to Music & Arts in Paramus for donating the student folders.

First Name Last Name Grade Instrument School Naseeb Ally 12 Oboe Pascack Hills High School Madison Asch 9 Oboe Midland Park High School Angie Bellanich 11 Clarinet New Milford High School Margy Benavides 11 Alto Saxophone North Bergen High School Michelle Cascione 9 Bass Clarinet Paramus High School Shannon Christensen 9 Tenor Saxophone New Milford High School Cody Cline 10 Trombone Butler High School Dan Collins 11 Tuba Midland Park High School Daniel D'Amico 12 Trumpet Ramapo High School Jacob Davis 10 Tenor Saxophone Mahwah High School Kristen DiLorenzo 11 Flute Westwood High School Carolyn Douthat 9 Trumpet Wayne Valley High School Peter Drum 12 Trumpet Pascack Hills High School Matthew Fiengo 12 Euphonium West Milford High School Amanda Flanagan 11 Clarinet West Morris High School Fiona Fujita 11 Clarinet Paramus High School Amanda Garcia 9 Flute Midland Park High School Christina George 12 Flute/Piccolo Kittatinny Regional High School Anne Glerum 11 Clarinet Ramsey High School Ryan Griffin 9 Clarinet Waldwick High School Benjamin Harris 9 Alto Saxophone Paramus High School Julia Haviland 11 Flute North Bergen High School Paula Heredia 11 Trumpet North Bergen High School Ulala Hoshino 9 Baritone Midland Park High School Kelly James 12 Percussion Ramapo High School Catherine Janson 12 French Horn Ridgewood High School Natalie Kowalski 10 Clarinet Butler High School Rebecca Kronyak 11 Alto Saxophone West Milford High School Nicholas Lauerwald 10 Clarinet Mahwah High School Heather Lazoff 11 Clarinet Lakeland Regional High School Alan Lazoff 12 Trumpet Lakeland Regional High School Tara Levine 11 Flute New Milford High School Brian Lim 10 Clarinet Ramapo High School Christine Malapit 11 Flute New Milford High School Rose Martus 12 Flute West Milford High School Zach McIntyre 11 French Horn West Milford High School Scarleth Mejia 11 Flute North Bergen High School Cara Montella 12 Trombone Waldwick High School Victor Nazzaro 10 Clarinet Morristown High School Zoe Orlino 11 Flute/Piccolo New Milford High School Max Piasevoli 11 Alto Saxophone New Milford High School Jon Pinon 12 Euphonium Livingston Hgh School Stephanie Pizza 11 Flute Ridgewood High School Matthew Rizzo 12 Trombone Ramapo High School Daniella Roitman 12 Double Bass Pascack Hills High School Adam Romano 10 Percussion Paramus High School Alexis Silverman 11 Bass Clarinet West Milford High School Kelly Sondermeyer 10 Clarinet Butler High School David Stein 9 Tuba Morristown High School Charlie Sternberg 12 Trombone New Milford High School Sean Stouffer 10 Trombone Don Bosco Prep Nick Wekselblatt 9 Bari Saxophone New Milford High School Sam Wekselblatt 11 Tuba New Milford High School Carla Whittaker 11 Clarinet Ridgewood High School Chris Winiarski 10 Tuba Ramapo High School Jack Wyman 10 Trumpet Pascack Hills High School Sarah Yae 10 Flute Northern Valley Reg OT Daniel Zapata 12 Percussion North Bergen High School Joshua Zonenashvili 10 Bassoon Paramus High School

Dr. Christian Wilhjelm, conductor, professional musician and educator, has been the Ridgewood Concert Band’s Musical Director since it was founded in 1983. He was also Music Director of the renowned Goldman Memorial Band in New York City. As a guest conductor, Dr. Wilhjelm has conducted the West Point Band, the United States Army Field Band, the Virginia Wind Symphony, the Allentown Band, the Hanover Winds, the Raritan Wind Symphony, and the Norwalk Symphony. Dr. Wilhjelm has been the conductor of the annual New York City Tuba Christmas since 2000. He was recently appointed the conductor of the Ramapo College Concert Band. As a French horn player, he has performed under the world’s great conductors including Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, Sir Colin Davis and Arthur Fiedler.

Dr. Wilhjelm has played the French horn with the Boston Symphony, the Boston Pops and, as a principal, with the Boston Ballet Orchestra, the Boston Opera Orchestra and the Richmond Symphony. An honors graduate of the New England Conservatory, he received his doctorate from Columbia University in 1998. He has been the band director at Pascack Hills High School since 1984. Dr. Wilhjelm was recently honored by his election to American Bandmasters Association. He is the 2012 recipient of the Outstanding Conductor Award presented by the Association of Concert Bands. Dr Wilhjelm is the state chair for the National Band Association. In 2013, he was elected to the Board of Directors for the Association of Concert Bands.

The Ridgewood Concert Band (RCB), in its 32nd season, is one of the leading wind ensembles in the United States. Founded by community leaders, dedicated musicians and Music Director Chris Wilhjelm in 1983, the RCB is committed to engaging and inspiring our audiences with the finest in traditional and contemporary wind literature. Led by Dr. Wilhjelm, the band is composed of professional, amateur and student players drawn from across the tri-state area.

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PROGRAM

Prelude by the Westfield Concert Band

Thomas Connors, Director

R HRISTIAN ILHJELM USIC IRECTOR Prelude from Richard III - William Walton D . C W , M D Valse Triste - Jean Sibelius, transcribed by Mayhew Lake FLUTES CORNETS/TRUMPETS HARP Jill Bloom Dave Bychek Irene Bressler Handel In the Strand - Percy Grainger, transcribed by Richard Franko Goldman Carolyn Crumb Mike Connor Marissa Fleming Alecia DeJoseph PIANO ------Lisandra Hernandez Brian Fleming Ron Levy Heidi Kolb David Hurd Jennifer Kasyan Amanda Innis PERCUSSION Overture to Italian in Algiers Gioacchino Rossini Annette Lieb David Luquette Nick Dekens Arranged by Lucien Cailliet Diana Rettie * Danny Osorio Andrew Haderthauer Tomomi Takamoto Michael Russo James Mallen Max Taylor-Piccolo Ann Sirinides Adrienne Ostrander Concerto for Flute No. 2 in D Major Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Jennifer Wise Tony Spinuzzi Chris Tarantino Movement 1 - Allegro aperto Arranged by Ervin Monroe Joseph Stella Mark Zettler Stephanie Pizza, Flute OBOES Roger Widicus * Mary Lou Irvine* * PRINCIPAL 2014-15 RCB Youth Soloist Award Winner Andrea Nowalk FRENCH HORNS Mark Holodak ______BASSOONS Carolyn Kirby * The Invincible Eagle March John Philip Sousa Bob Gray* Brian McLaughlin Edited by James F. Keene Andy Stachow Bryan Meyer ASSOCIATE CONDUCTORS Deloss Schertz John Palatucci CLARINETS Richard Summers Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Medley The Beatles Jeffrey Bittner TROMBONES Suzanne Coletta Tom Abbate LIBRARIAN Transcribed/Arranged by David Avshalomov Naomi Freshwater Noreen Baer * Dave Bychek Ashley Grutta Lloyd DeVries Joe Mariany Stephanie Dutcher PERSONNEL MANAGER

Michelle McGuire (&Eb) Paul Kirby Richard Summers INTERMISSION Leigh Myers Keith Marson Marcie Phelan Federico Perez STAGE MANAGER Jean Roughgarden Tony Spinuzzi The Ridgewood Concert Band Side-by-Side Symphonic Band:

Rachel Schulman EUPHONIUMS Beth Seavers Robyn Keyes BOX OFFICE Bonnie Annie Laurie March John Philip Sousa Neil Sheehan John Palatucci * Marilyn Wagner Arranged by Robert E. Foster Karen Summers Donald Van Teyens Heidi Kolb, conductor Richard Summers * PARKING DIRECTOR Janet Vidovich TUBAS John Hahn Michael Gould  Presentation of the 2014-2015 Ridgewood Concert Band Youth Soloist Awards  BASS CLARINETS Robert Sacchi * WEB ADMINISTRATOR Glenn Chernicky Deloss Schertz Bianca D’Agostaro CELLO Joel Kolk * Hannah Reasoner PROGRAM DESIGN Shenandoah Frank Ticheli Olivia Rutler Joseph Stella Alecia DeJoseph, conductor SAXOPHONES Lois Hicks-Wozniak* - Alto GUITAR Deanna Loertscher - Alto Kyosuke Nonoyama Joyful Theme from Ludwig Van Beethoven's 9th Symphony Jacqueline Sarracco - Alto Arranged by Michael Treni Andre Baruch - Tenor STRING BASS

Erik Sloezen - Tenor David Marks Michael De Pompeo-Baritone *Flash photography and audio or video recording of this concert is strictly prohibited.*

PROGRAM

Prelude by the Westfield Concert Band

Thomas Connors, Director

Erik Sloezen - Tenor David Marks Michael De Pompeo-Baritone *Flash photography and audio or video recording of this concert is strictly prohibited.* Dr. Christian Wilhjelm, conductor, professional musician and educator, has been the Ridgewood Concert Band’s Musical Director since it was founded in 1983. He was also Music Director of the renowned Goldman Memorial Band in New York City. As a guest conductor, Dr. Wilhjelm has conducted the West Point Band, the United States Army Field Band, the Virginia Wind Symphony, the Allentown Band, the Hanover Winds, the Raritan Wind Symphony, and the Norwalk Symphony. Dr. Wilhjelm has been the conductor of the annual New York City Tuba Christmas since 2000. He was recently appointed the conductor of the Ramapo College Concert Band. As a French horn player, he has performed under the world’s great conductors including Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, Sir Colin Davis and Arthur Fiedler.

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SIDE-BY-SIDE STUDENT MUSICIANS

In 1962, Richard Lane signed on as pianist for the club, beginning a distinguished career that ROGRAM OTES would continue for 42 years until his death in 2004. A brilliant composer and teacher, Lane wrote P N 20 numbers for the Club and today’s concerts always feature at least one of Richard’s compositions. Italian in Algiers Overture – Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868) was born into a musical Italian family and composed more than thirty operas. In the Spring of 2005, the Chorus made its Lincoln Center debut, performing at the Lincoln Center Library with the Palisades Virtuosi Chamber Ensemble. Additional performances in recent Curiously, though he lived to be 76, he ceased writing opera at age 37. years have included concerts at the Kasschau Memorial Band Shell in Ridgewood, singing in Although Rossini composed his first comic opera at age 18, it is this one, Ridgewood’s Independence Day parade, area churches, and in November 2009, a presentation of written three years later, that is considered his first mature work in the Beethoven’s Fantasia for Piano, Chorus, and Orhcestra, Op. 80 (the Choral Fantasy) with the genre. Rumored to have been written in only two and a half weeks, it was Ridgewood Choral, the Ridgewood High School Chamber Choir, and the Eastern Christian High School Chorus. Most recently the Club, in partnership with the New Jersey Choral Consortium, his first work to gain him international recognition. The bubbly music of hosted a state-wide men’s chorus festival at Rutgers University. the overture hints of the fun to come when the curtain would rise on the comic opera. Although the composer’s William Tell Overture is more widely Richard Lane’s composition declares: “We are men who like to sing. We are the men of Orpheus” and for more than 100 years this has been their mission and their goal. known, this is also a favorite, for it holds the distinct Rossini style that is so exciting to the listener. Dr. Thomas Connors is Director of Instrumental Music and Conducting Studies at Kean University where he conducts the Flute Concerto No. 2 in D – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791). Wind Ensemble and Chamber Winds as well as teaching History records that the flute was not Mozart’s favorite instrument, yet his conducting and instrumental music method courses. Prior to his flute concerti are ranked exceptionally high in the music world. Due to a arrival at Kean, he was the assistant Director of Bands and The time constraint, Mozart actually borrowed from his own Oboe Concerto in C Director of Athletic Bands at Kent State University. Before moving to the college ranks he taught for 10 years in the public and composed this Flute Concerto No. 2 in D. To the benefit of the flute schools in New Hampshire and New York. repertoire, the translation of the oboe concerto is not an exact copy and is able to show off both the virtuosic technicality of the soloist along with the Dr. Connors holds a Ph.D. in music education from Florida State University, a M.M. in conducting from the New England beautiful finesse the flute can bring to the piece. Mozart recreated a Conservatory of Music and double degrees from Berklee College concerto that is exposing and challenging, yet lying perfectly within the of Music in composition and music education. range of the instrument. It has proven to be an excellent showpiece for the most virtuosic soloists. In addition to being an active guest conductor and clinician in several states he is also an active member of several professional organizations including: CBDNA, WASBE, NAFME and The New Jersey Music Educators where he served for seven The Invincible Eagle – John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) composed this years on the board. He is also a founding member and current board member of the New Jersey march for his band's performance at the Pan American Exposition in Band Association.

RIDGEWOOD CONCERT BAND

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PRESIDENT: Mark Zettler

VICE PRESIDENT: John Wagner

RECORDING SECRETARY:

Annette Lieb

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY: Mary Nussear

TREASURER: Neil Sheehan

MEMBERS AT LARGE: Noreen Baer Annette Baron John Butler Mike DePompeo Lawrence Friedman Carolyn Kirby Kathleen Peters Philip Peters

Thomas P. Price

Deloss Schertz Beth Seavers

THANK YOU TO OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS FOR ANOTHER YEAR OF LOYAL SUPPORT!

BOX OFFICE: Sylvia DeVries, Kathy Smith & Keiji Takamoto PROGRAM NOTES: Marcie Phelan

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For additional RCB information, please visit our website or scan our QR code: WWW.RIDGEWOODBAND.ORG

Printing of this program generously underwritten by Konica Minolta Business Solutions. Dr. Christian Wilhjelm, Music Director

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and subscribers whose generous support makes these programs possible.