Raritan Valley Symphonic Band
Pops Concert
Sunday, June 12 at 3 pm
Location: Bridgewater-Raritan High School Auditorium
With Oboe Soloist Matt Sullivan
For Immediate Release The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band, under the direction of Dr. William Berz, will present “Partly Pops – From Baroque to the Beatles”, a concert of European classical and popular band music on Sunday, June 12th at 3:00 p.m. at Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School. Admission is free.
The concert will feature renowned oboe soloist, Matt Sullivan, who will perform Variations on a Theme of Glinka for Solo Oboe and Military Band by Rimsky-Korsakov. Other concert highlights include Folk Song Suite by Vaughan Williams, Selections from The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Music of the Beatles arranged by Michael Sweeney and favorite European marches including Colonel Bogey by Kenneth Alford and Marche des Parachustistes Belges by Pierre Leemans.
Oboist Matt Sullivan has performed extensively on four continents and is recognized internationally as both a virtuoso performer and teacher, as well as an important advocate for the modern oboe. The New York Times has praised his gorgeously lyrical playing and the New Yorker has called his inventive programming the cutting edge. As composer, his innovative works created for oboe, English horn and digital horn, along with his solo and chamber music performances and compact discs, have been featured on National Public Radio and on Voice of America. In addition to his active teaching and solo recital schedule, he is a member of Musicians Accord, the Richardson Chamber Players (Princeton University), the Westchester Chamber Orchestra, First Avenue, and Heliosphere. He serves on the faculties of Long Island University C. W. Post, the European Mozart Academy (Warsaw), the Manhattan School of Music Prep Division, Rutgers University and he teaches oboe at Princeton University where he has also served as a Visiting Associate Professor.
The RVSB is under the direction of Dr. William Berz, Director of Bands at Rutgers – the State University of New Jersey. The RVSB is a 60-member adult symphonic band with its volunteer membership drawn from central New Jersey and the surrounding area. The band has a rich 22-year history and has become known its tradition of bringing quality music to the community, frequently featuring some of New Jersey’s most talented soloists, and providing free and accessible music education outreach to the community.
The concert is 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. The Band is sponsored by the Jointure for Community Adult Education and by contributions from local businesses, corporations, foundations and private citizens. For more information about the concert, becoming a sponsor, to request assistance for persons with disabilities, or to inquire about joining the Band, consult the Band’s website at www.rvsb.org or call 908-359-3136.
Directions to Bridgewater Raritan High School: Bridgewater-Raritan High School is on Garretson Road in Bridgewater, New Jersey. From US Highway 202/206 north of Somerville, exit on Commons Way at the Bridgewater Commons mall. Turn West, away from the mall and proceed a short distance until the road ends at the intersection of Garretson Road. Turn left on Garretson Road and go a short distance to the high school, which is on the left. The auditorium is on the East side of the high school, the side toward the mall.