RBR VPA Students Make Regional Symphonic Band and Orchestra

Visual and Performing Art (VPA) students Matt Rosen, Little Silver and Alex LaRocca, Shrewsbury, have both gained placements in the prestigious Region II Symphonic music groups. Rosen, a sophomore, will play the contra clarinet in the Wind Ensemble while LaRocca, a junior, will play the double bass for the Symphonic Orchestra.

This is Rosen’s second year making the Region II Symphonic Band. He plays a variety of woodwind instruments and actually auditioned on three instruments (the maximum allowed by the competition) and won all three placements as first chair contra clarinet for the Wind Ensemble, first chair alto clarinet for the Symphonic Band and fourth chair bass clarinet for the Symphonic Band.

Rosen chose to accept the more challenging smaller Wind Ensemble group. He also plays the tenor saxophone in the High School Marching and Jazz bands. He is a part-time bassoonist in the RBR concert band.

“I am very proud of Matt’s outstanding work ethic and his dedication to the RBR band programs. It is inspiring to have a student with such an innate passion for music,” said Rosen's band teacher Kerry McNulty.

LaRocca, who auditioned for his first honor regional band, was also thrilled to be representing his high school. He amazingly did not play any orchestral instruments prior to enrolling in RBR’s VPA Academy. He plays the double bass for the RBR Orchestra and the bass drum in the RBR marching band. He also plays piano and bass guitar, and is currently studying the harp at RBR.

Both young men also play for the New Jersey State Youth Orchestra conducted by Roy Gussman where they practice weekly. They perform throughout the year at select venues including the Grand Auditorium in Ocean Grove and Lincoln Center in New York City.

LaRocca will play in the Region II Symphony Orchestra concert on Sunday, Jan. 8, at Montgomery Township High School in Skillman, NJ.  Rosen will perform at the same location on Sunday, Jan. 15, in the Region II Symphonic Band Concert.  

The Region II music groups are organized by the Central Jersey Music Educators Association under the auspices of The New Jersey Music Educators Association. It includes the counties of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset and Union Counties.