Raritan Valley Symphonic Band Concert to Mark 30th Anniversary

The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band will present its 30th anniversary concert on at 3 p.m. April 21 at Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School with a concert titled, “Anniversaries & Remembrances." 

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.

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 feature 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.  

Hillsborough residents Marci Oslick (flute), Audre Morrison (trumpet), Gary Smith (French horn) and soloist Carter Dreves (flute) are long-time members of the RVSB.

Prior to the anniversary concert, the RVSB will be honored at the Hillsborough Township Committee meeting on April 9, where Mayor Frank Delcore will present the band with a proclamation. The band has also received proclamations from the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Somerville Borough and Raritan Borough.

Three Decades of Music

Thirty years ago the RVSB was founded by Dr. Anthony Isch as an offering of the Jointure for Community Adult Education. Dr. Isch conducted the band from inception in 1983, with a mere six members, through 1998 and a membership of over 80 musicians.  The band was initially called the Hillsborough Community Band, but as more members came from communities other than Hillsborough, the name was changed to the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band to reflect the larger community that the band represents.

Dr. Anthony Isch is a retired professor of music from The College of New Jersey where he served as Band and Wind Ensemble director for 20 years. He has served as an adjudicator and massed band conductor, lecturer and guest conductor for countless music festivals and programs in the Tri-State area. In addition, Dr. Isch has been published in numerous music journals and magazines. He led the RVSB until his retirement in 1998, building the band into the successful group it is today.

Dr. Jerry Rife was the second conductor of the RVSB, directing the group from 1998 through 2001. Dr. Rife is professor of music at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ, where he teaches music history courses and is the Director of Bands.  He has been the chairman of music in the Fine Arts Department since 1984 and taught graduate-level musicology courses at Westminster Choir College in Princeton. He is an active performer, Sousa scholar and author. Dr. Rife is presently the conductor and artistic director of community band, The Blawenburg Band.

Dr. William Berz was the third conductor of the RVSB from 2001 through 2005.  Dr. Berz is Chair of the Department of Music at Rutgers—The State University of New Jersey. He has conducted a wide variety of performance ensembles including bands, orchestras, contemporary music groups and opera. In addition to his work as a conductor, he is active as a researcher and writer. He has published a number of articles and presented many sessions in instructional technology, music education, and conducting. Currently, Dr. Berz is conductor of the Rutgers Wind Ensemble and Rutgers Symphony Band.

The members of the band thank all of our conductors, past and present, for thirty years of inspirational leadership and dedication.

This 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 atwww.rvsb.org, or call 908-359-3136.

About RVSB

The purpose of the RVSB is to contribute positively to the musical environment of the community while providing an outlet for individual musical expression and growth among its membership and to affirm the community concert band position in American music.  It is the intent of the RVSB to provide an opportunity for musicians of all ages to play together for enjoyment as well as to provide lasting musical and social values to both the members and the community.

The band is also committed to continuing music education for the community. As part of its outreach program, the band sponsors master classes and master band clinics with its guest soloists and guest conductors. These programs are offered free of charge to area music students and adult musicians.