February 27, 2020!
The NOVA Alexandria Band, The George Mason Elementary School Jazz Band, The Amati Orchestra (6th grade) of Francis C. Hammond Middle School and Area School Band and Orchestra Students!
With baton raised, our band director Lisa Ecksetin, began the evening with March of the Resistance by John Williams, (from Star Wars: The Force Awakens)
Brian Jones, one of featured artists for the evening, joined the band for Artie Shaw’s Concerto for Clarinet. He is incredible!
Dr. Jones has served on the faculty of NVCC Alexandria since 2009. He moved to Washington, D.C. in 1992 after winning a position with The Unit- ed States Air Force Band. During his tenure there, he was invited by the Honorable Sandra Day O’Connor to perform Leonard Bernstein’s Sonata for Clarinet at the U.S. Supreme Court in a recital honoring the 100th anniversary of the composer’s birth. Dr. Jones authored seven articles for The Instrumentalist magazine, presented at the 2007 Virginia MENC conference, and performed at the international ClariFest in 2008. In addition to teaching at NVCC, he serves on the faculty of the Levine School of Music, and has been a member of the 257th Army Band, “The Band of the Nation’s Capital” since 2002. Currently the First Sergeant of that organization, he was the conductor of that Band from 2013-2018, and served as acting commander for eighteen months. He hold degrees from Catholic University (DMA), Baylor University (MM), and Florida State University (BME) and his teachers include Sidney Forrest, Richard Shanley, and Frank Kowalsky.
Brian was followed by the famed Denny Edelbrock on Trumpet, performing Excursions for Trumpet and Band by Bruce Broughton.
Dr. Dennis Edelbrock is described by the Washington Post as having “incredible technique” and performing with “reckless abandon,” Dennis Edelbrock has had a performing career spanning 48 states and 14 foreign countries. As a member of the U.S. Army Band and the Army Brass Quintet for 35 years, he was tasked with performing and producing White House concerts and internationally televised historical events including presidential state funerals and inaugurations, as well as international Olympic events. He was awarded the Legion of Merit by the U.S. Army in 2010.
In recent years, he has performed with the Bolshoi and Kirov Ballets, the New York Metropolitan Opera, and has recorded with the National Symphony Orchestra. He has performed in other internationally televised events such as those at the Kennedy Center where he was featured as soloist in Messiah for the world’s first webcast, Opening Ceremonies for Olympic Games, and shows as varied as NBC’s Today Show and NPR’s Prairie Home Companion. As a soloist, he has been featured in films as varied as Contact, Wag the Dog, Gardens of Stone, and in Steven Spielberg’s film Lincoln (Dreamworks 2013), which garnered several academy awards. He has given masterclasses all over the world including at the prestigious St. Petersburg and Moscow Conservatories, as well as at Central Beijing University.
The Band’s final piece featured a world premier from our very own Nathan Pereda. Nathan is a student at nova and received a commission from an anonymous donor to perform at this concert.
Nathan Piece, Le’oria, the City of Music has three movements.
I. The Royal Reception and Dance
II. Merluna’s Charm
III. Dance in the Moonlight
Congratulations to Nathan and the NOVA Alexandria Band on a wonderful performance!
And how phenomenal was the work? A standing ovation was had!
Following intermission, The Amati Orchestra (6th Grade) of Francis C. Hammond Middle School, took to the stage under the direction of Veronica Jackson.
The kids performed Bohemian Folk Song, (a traditional round), Mark William’s Sailor Song and Soon Hee Newbold’s Russian Music Box.
The George Mason Elementary School Jazz Band followed with The Blues is Loose by Victoria Lopez, Blues in Hoss’ Flat by Frank Foster and Count Basie and I Got Rhythm by George Gershwin.
For the grand finale began with a combined performance of school children from area elementary and middle schools with the NOVA Alexandria Band performing, Ode to Joy by Ludwig van Beethoven, in celebration of Beethoven’s 250th Birthday Year.
The grand finale’s participating teachers and schools include:
Participating Teachers: Danielle Brosious Eun-Jin Chae Kimberly Hess Erin Flynn-Pace Veronica Jackson Paul Norris Heather Rosner Richard Seracino Laura Torchia and Dawn Wilson
Participating Schools: Charles Barrett Elementary Francis C. Hammond Middle Matthew Maury Elementary Douglas MacArthur Elementary George Mason Elementary George Washington Middle Swanson Middle and Tuckahoe Elementary
The final piece of the evening was another world premier! Champion by Nathan Pareda.
An amazing night was had by all and hats off to all the musicians!
Please see our concert schedule for updates on all our future concerts!
