NJWS With Jennifer Montone

     Friday, February 10, 2023
8:00PM
West Side Presbyterian Church

Prelude Concert
7:30 PM

Pascack Hills High School Band
Ryan Dore, Director

Adult – $25.00
Senior (62+) – $20.00
Student – $5.00

Principal horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Jennifer Montone joins the NJWS as guest soloist for this evening of music. The concert program will include Leonard Bernstein’s  dynamic “Divertimento”.

Guest Soloist

Jennifer Montone

Jennifer Montone
Principal Horn, Philadelpia Orchestra

Grammy Award Winner Jennifer Montone has been hailed by the New York Times for her “flawless horn solos… and warm and noble sound”. As Principal Horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and a world acclaimed soloist, chamber musician and teacher, she has been on the faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School since joining the orchestra in 2006. Read More

In 1980, the Boston Symphony Orchestra commissioned Leonard Bernstein to compose a piece in celebration of their centennial season. The resulting work was Divertimento, a work consisting of eight very short pieces, each from a different musical genre. Each movement utilizes the notes B and C as a basis of thematic ideas – B, for “Boston”, and C, for “Centennial”.

We are excited to include this work on our program for our February 10th concert.

Winner of the 2019 National Band Association Revelli Composition Contest, Come Sunday composed by Omar Thomas is a two-movement tribute to the Hammond organ’s central role in black worship services. The first movement, Testimony, follows the Hammond organ as it readies the congregation’s hearts, minds, and spirits to receive The Word via a magical union of Bach, blues, jazz, and R&B. The second movement, Shout!, is a virtuosic celebration — the frenzied and joyous climactic moment(s) when The Spirit has taken over the service.

Mariachitlán by Juan Pablo Contreras is a musical homage to the composer’s birthplace, the Mexican state of Jalisco, where mariachi music originated. The piece incorporates traditional rhythms accompany original melodies inspired by the beautiful landscapes of Jalisco. Near the end of the piece, a “policeman” blows their whistle in an attempt to stop the party.

Comments from composer Pat Burns.

I have often said that the New Jersey Wind Symphony is my favorite band in the world that isn’t one of my own, and our 20-year association bears out my great affection for this incredible ensemble and its membership. In 2003, I wrote a piece called Perfect Trip for the then-called Ridgewood Concert Band’s 20th anniversary season, and so it’s fitting tonight, I think, to bookend that with a laudatory composition for their 40th. Read More

All New Jersey Wind Symphony Subscription Concerts are held at the West Side Presbyterian Church, Ridgewood, NJ. West Side Presbyterian Church is fully ADA compliant providing handicap accessible entry to the concert venue as well as bathroom facilities. Important signage and directions are presented in braille.