Raritan Valley Symphonic Band

Sunday,  December 16, 2001 at 3 pm

Location: Hillsborough High School Auditorium

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Holiday Concert by Raritan Valley Symphonic Band

New Conductor to Debut with the RVSB

Tuba Virtuoso to Solo at December 16^th Concert

 

For More Information: Carter Dreves (908) 359-8054

Dr. Berz, Director of University Bands at Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey, has accepted the position as Musical Director of the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band, succeeding Dr. Jerry Rife, who resigned after three concert seasons with the Band in order to pursue his career as a professional clarinetist and music educator.

A nationally prominent symphonic conductor, Dr. Berz conducts the renowned Rutgers Wind Ensemble and has served as conductor of the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra, New Jersey Youth Symphony, New Jersey All-State Orchestra and assistant conductor of the Jupiter Symphony and Naumberg Orchestra, both of New York City. He has produced numerous acclaimed recordings of classical and new wind ensemble works and earned the Outstanding Teacher Award from the Rutgers College Parents Association. A 1994-1995 Lilly Endowment Fellow, Dr. Berz is editor of the Journal for the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles.

The RVSB will perform two major works for wind band, Gustav Holst's Second Suite for Military Band in F Major and Norman Della Joio's Variants on a Mediaeval Tune. The featured soloist will be Scott Mendoker, one of nation's top freelance tuba players, who will be performing Richard Strauss's Concerto no. 1 for Horn adapted for the tuba. Mendoker has performed with The New York Philharmonic, The Bavarian Radio Orchestra, The Montreal Symphony, The New Jersey Symphony, The Boston Pops, The New York Pops and the Broadway hit musical Ragtime. A resident of Chatham, New Jersey, Mendoker has also performed and recorded with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony as well as in concerts with many leading musical organizations such as the renowned United States Army Band (Pershing's Own). This will be Mr. Mendoker's second appearance with the RVSB.

In addition to classical band works, the concert program will include festive holiday music and a sing-a-long, followed by a reception for the audience and performers.

Concerts by the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band 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 administered by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission through the State/County Partnership Local Arts Program. Funding has also been made possible in part by a grant from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission (SCC&HC) and Forbes Inc. through the SCC&HC Mini-Grant Program. The Band also is supported by contributions from local businesses, corporations, foundations and private citizens.

Program (subject to change)

Directions to Hillsborough High School: Amwell Road intersects US Route 206 approx. 6 miles south of
Somerville, NJ. From Route 206, proceed west on Amwell Road to the second traffic light. Turn left on Raider
Boulevard and pass in front of the high school into the parking lot to the left of the building.