Raritan Valley Symphonic Band – Annual Pops Concert
“Tribute to America”
Sunday June 12 @ 3 pm
The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band under the direction of John C. Hylkema, proudly presents its annual Pops Concert “Tribute to America” on Sunday, June 12 at 3 PM. The concert will be held at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, 600 Garretson Road, Bridgewater.
For this concert, we celebrate America, its landmarks, its composers, and its music! You will hear many traditional American marches such as American Exultant by Henry Fillmore, National Emblem by E.E. Bagley, and The Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa.
The program includes an arrangement of Lowell Mason’s hymn tune My Faith Looks Up To Thee, as well as two medleys by American-born composers Irving Berlin and George Gershwin. These medleys include favorites such as This is a Great Country, This is the Army, Mr. Jones, Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor and God Bless America (Berlin) and An American In Paris, Strike Up the Band, and Rhapsody in Blue (Gershwin).
Additionally, the band will be performing a tribute to the life and presidency of Abraham Lincoln entitled With Malice Towards None by James Swearingen. The program continues with God’s Country by Rossano Gallante, and Rushmore by Alfred Reed, which depict many of our wonderful landmarks. The program concludes with a musical salute to our armed forces, where we request the veterans in the audience to stand to be recognized for their invaluable service during their respective branch theme song. This parting program will bid our audience a fare thee well for what we hope is a thoroughly enjoyable summer — look for announcements of our 2022/2023 season beginning in October!
RVSB comprises about 60 musicians from the northern and central New Jersey area. Band membership includes professional musicians and music educators, as well as amateur musicians ranging in age from high school through retirees.
As always, admission to the concert is FREE. To provide a safe environment for all attendees and the RVSB, the following precautions are mandatory:
- Masks must be worn by all attendees at all times.
- All attendees must be vaccinated.
- Auditorium seating will be limited to every other row.
This concert is funded, in part, by a grant from the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission. For more information about the band please visit www.rvsb.org.
