By : Stacey Womack
The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band (RVSB) will present its annual summer concert Sunday June 10, 2012 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.
Under the musical direction of Lawrence C. Markiewicz, who is a Director of Bands at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, the band will perform a concert titled, “Americana: Summer Sounds from the Gazebo”. Featured songs will include “Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company” by John Phillip Sousa; “Someone to Watch Over Me” by George Gershwin, arranged by Warren Barker; and “The Star Spangled Banner,” arranged by Bill Moffitt. A special highlight during this program will be the performance of the full transcription of Anton Dvorak’s “Symphony No 9 ‘From the New World’ ”, arranged by Erik Liedzen.
This concert will feature three talented local high school musicians. Becky Orlando, of Bridgewater-Raritan High School, will be featured playing the tuba in “Tubby the Tuba”. Orlando was the first chair tuba player in the Region II Wind Ensemble, as well as the NJ All State Wind Ensemble this year. She plans to major in music at Montclair State University in the fall. Also featured in this program will be Bridgewater-Raritan High School senior clarinet players Catherine Heiba and Nicholas Mossa. Heiba and Mossa have solo parts in “Concertino Opus 26” by Carl Maria von Weber. For the last two years Heiba was first chair Eb Soprano clarinet in the Region Wind Ensemble and NJ All State Wind Ensemble, as well as the NJ All State Orchestra. She plans to major in music at Rutgers University next year. Mossa has also held a prestigious first chair seat in the NJ All State Symphonic band in 2011 and placed fifth overall in the All State Wind Ensemble this year. He too will be studying music at Montclair State University in the fall.
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 at www.rvsb.org, or call 908-359-3136.

