Thanks for visiting! We are a community band of 100+ amateur and professional musicians who have been making and enjoying music for three decades. Don’t miss one of New Jersey’s premier volunteer musical organizations in their 30th concert season!

- May 20th, 2013

AFTER 30 YEARS THE RARITAN VALLEY SYMPHONIC BAND MARCHES ON

In conclusion of their 30th anniversary season, the band will perform its annual pops concert; “Pairs of Pops”

Bridgewater, N.J., June 7, 2013— The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band (RVSB) will present its annual pops concert on Friday, June 7, 2013 at 7:00 pm at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.  The school is located at 600 Garretson Rd, Bridgewater, New Jersey. Admission is free and open to the public.

For this program, the band will perform two of the best known works of the golden age of Broadway musicals— “Porgy and Bess” by Gorge Gershwin and “The Sound of Music” by Richard Rogers. The band will also play a few toe-tapping favorites such as “The Syncopated Clock” and “Pavanne” from Symphonette No.2. You can count on the band to also perform numerous popular marches, including “MetaMarch”, which was commissioned by the RVSB in celebration of its twentieth anniversary season.

This year has been a successful 30^th anniversary season for the RVSB. The band has featured several of its own talented musicians as soloists and received numerous accolades from the community. The band received proclamations from the Governor of the State of New Jersey, Hillsborough Township, Somerville Borough, Raritan Borough and the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The band is proud to be renowned as “the band that keeps the tradition of community band music alive in our state”.

More in the press release here…

- March 21st, 2013

RARITAN VALLEY SYMPHONIC BAND CELEBRATES 30 YEARS

The band will present “Anniversaries and Remembrances” as a reflection on 30 years of making music in the local community.

PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF VENUE.

Bridgewater, N.J., April 21, 2013— The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band (RVSB) will present its thirtieth anniversary concert on Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 3:00 pm at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.  The school is located at 600 Garretson Rd, Bridgewater, New Jersey. Admission is free and open to the public.

The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band has been bringing live, quality music to New Jersey residents for three decades. Founded in 1984 by Dr. Anthony Isch, former Director of Bands at The College of New Jersey, the RVSB has grown in both size and caliber to be recognized as one of the state’s premier volunteer symphonic bands.  Presently, the band has over 100 members drawn from central New Jersey and the surrounding areas. With a diverse repertoire, from classics to Broadway, the RVSB brings together talented amateur and professional musicians, distinguished conductors, renowned guest artists and enthusiastic audiences.

As a reflection on 30 years of making music in the local community, the band will perform a concert titled, “Anniversaries & Remembrances”. The band will play “Pineapple Poll,” Suite from the Ballet, based upon the music of Arthur Sullivan, arranged by Charles Mackerras, as well as Percy Grainger’s’  “Irish Tune From County Derry”. Featured songs will also include “Post Bellum Rhapsody” and “Elegy for a Young American”.

For this program, the band will perform works that also are celebrating milestones in 2013, such as selections from the musical “The Phantom of the Opera,” which opened on Broadway 25 years ago. Another piece is Grieg’s “Peer Gynt Suite,” since Ibsen’s original play opened 150 years ago.

The RVSB is proud of its tradition of bringing quality music to the community and frequently featuring some of New Jersey’s most talented soloists and conductors. In fact, featured artists have included principal musicians from the New York Philharmonic. For this special anniversary program, the RVSB will feature its own talented musicians as soloists. Principal flutists, Marissa Fleming and Carter Dreves will highlight their advanced technique as they perform “Andante and Rondo” by Franz Doppler. This concert will also feature a Euphonium solo by the talented David P. Linton, Jr. He will be showcased in “An American Portrait” by Lewis J. Buckley. Last, but certainly not least, saxophonist Melissa Santamaria will be featured in “Serenade for Solo Alto Saxophone and Band” by Frank Bencrisutto.

Please read more information in the press release here.

- March 19th, 2013

The 30th Anniversary RVSB

- January 7th, 2013

RARITAN VALLEY SYMPHONIC BAND PRESENTS HEROES AND VILLAINS
A CHILDREN’S CONCERT ON SUPERBOWL SUNDAY

The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band (RVSB) will present its annual children’s concert Sunday February 3, 2013 at 3:00 pm in the Bridgewater-Raritan High School auditorium. The school is located at 600 Garretson Road, Bridgewater, New Jersey. Admission is free and open to the public.

This concert is a great opportunity for children to learn to recognize musical instruments, while sharing a cultural performance with parents. Under the musical direction of Jennifer Eidel, RVSB Assistant Conductor, children will listen to music from popular kid’s movies like The Incredibles, Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter. The band will also perform “Symphonic Marches” by John Williams and “Armed Forces Salute” arranged by Bob Lowden.

A musical instrument “petting zoo” will follow the 45 minute concert. This demonstration of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments will be given by members of the band and will take place in the lobby of the auditorium.

Please see the press release here for more information.

Our concerts are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and are administered by the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission through the State/ County Partnership Local Arts Program. The Band is sponsored by the Jointure for Community Adult Education and by contributions from local businesses, corporations, foundations and private citizens.