All rights reserved. ©2003 Lloyd A. de Vries
"The Music Man" (116):
From the two evening performances, March 21 and 22. I have made an attempt to show as many of the performers as possible from where I was sitting each night. Not all the pictures are great, some are duplicative, and they're not presented in order.
A disclaimer: This is a private site and is not sanctioned by the Paramus, N.J., Board of Education, the Paramus High School Music Parents Association, or any other entity or organization.
Parents and students are granted permission to download the photos for private use.
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Time for a commercial: The Waldwick Community Band is looking for qualified, motivated high school musicians to play in this adult community band. PHS students who have played in the Waldwick Band include Sean Ryan, Dave Caravella, and Karl de Vries; PHS alumnus Jeff Berinato is currently a member. There are several other Paramus residents in the band, too.
The Waldwick Band rehearses Thursday evenings 7:30 - 9 PM, at The Cupola on Ridgewood Avenue in Paramus; there are four concerts during the school year, three on Saturday nights (May 3rd is upcoming), and one on a Sunday afternoon. All concerts are free, nor are there fees to belong to the Waldwick Band.
If interested in performing with this friendly, low-key band, please contact Lloyd A. de Vries, AIM "The Lloyd" or {201} 251-4234.
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After the May 3 concert, the Waldwick Band begins rehearsals for its summer season. Most of the concerts are on Tuesday evenings, and only a few rehearsals are scheduled during July and August. There will be several performances in Waldwick (!) as well as one in June in Ridgewood at the Kasschau Band Shell.
During the summer, the Waldwick Band plays almost every week, but few members make every performance. This is when there is the greatest need for additional players.
Are there opportunities for high school students? Presently, the band's principal tubist is Kevin Raschen, a freshman at Northern Valley High School; he played a solo in the March concert. PHS' Sean Ryan conducted last summer, and Peter Folliard of Ridgewood High School played a euphonium solo.
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Unfortunately, some of the pit orchestra musicians were just not visible, and, of course, the lighting in the pit was not intended to show the musicians:
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Why am I such a zealot for student involvement in community music? Because I had the opportunity to play with the union band in my home town as a high school and then college student, and it was great playing with adults (including some of my schoolteachers). Because it was a different experience from playing with a school band — different music, different attitudes. Because over the years I have met and made so many friends (including my wife).
And, finally, because I think community music groups need regular infusions of younger blood. True, some of the high school students will pack away their horns in a few years. Some will move away to other communities, but, hopefully, those communities' musicians will move here.
There is musical life after high school, and outside high school. Besides, why should the music teachers have all the fun?
The next page is the Select Ensembles concert in February; before that are the holiday concert and marching band performances.