USA East Music BULLETIN - WINTER 2019/20 - ISSUE 4 | Page 15

By Tom Scheibner, Assistant Territorial Music Secretary, THQ
DECEMBER 13, 2019 — The Montclair
Citadel Band sponsored their annual
Christmas Benefit Concert at the corps
on Friday night, December 13, 2019. As
has been the case in previous years, all
proceeds from the event helped support
The Salvation Army’s hunger and homeless
services.
Special guests were featured in the
program, along with the Montclair Citadel
Band. Montclair’s own Aaron VanderWeele
was featured as guest euphonium soloist
and provided a wide variety of solos to satisfy
everyone’s tastes. Aaron is also the Principal
Euphonium and Euphonium Soloist of the
New York Staff Band and serves on the faculty
of Mason Gross School of the Arts – Rutgers
University, The State University of New Jersey.
Among the many accolades he has earned
over the years, perhaps the one that stands
out the most is the awarding of International
Euphonium Player of the year in 2007 – only
the third American to receive this prestigious
recognition.
Also featured as guests were the North
Jersey Home School Association (NJHSA)
Chorale, directed by Dr. Beth Prins. This home
schooled group of students form a choir of
about 30 members. Concerts, rehearsals,
group devotions and other activities are
all designed to encourage a deeper walk
with God. The mix of songs presented on
this evening were well received by the near
capacity crowd in attendance.
The citadel band presented items that
were carefully placed throughout the
program, including “Joy to the World” (arr.
DiLorenzo), “Advent Hymn” (Rayment), “Yule
Dance” (Harper) and “Fantasy of the Bells”
(Pearce). The major work of the evening for
the band was Bramwell Tovey’s “Coventry
Variations”, which used as its theme the
Christmas song Coventry Carol. Starting with
the tune, several variations were presented
– some depicting the horrors of World War
II and the destruction reigned on the city of
Coventry by German forces, including the
destruction of the Coventry Cathedral.
Aaron’s euphonium solos were both
accompanied by the band but also featured
the outstanding piano accompanist (and
soloist) Dr. Azusa Komiyama. In addition to
accompanying Aaron, Dr. Komiyama was
featured as a guest soloist in her own right
on “Les Sylvans, Opus 60” (Chaminade). Her
presentation was spectacular. Aaron featured
several solos with the band, including “O Holy
Night” (arr. Wilkinson), and “Auld Land Syne”
(arr. Wilkinson).
The NJHS Chorale presented 2 sets of
enjoyable music, and featured some of the
following titles: “Ding Dong! Merrily on High”
(arr. Helvey), “Deck the Halls” (arr. Parker/
Shaw), “White Christmas” (arr. James) and
“Grown Up Christmas List” (arr. Hayes). Dr.
Prins, conductor of the group, has excellent
credentials including performances at
Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln
Center. It was easy to see why the group
responded to her leadership and performed
admirably on all items.
Plans are already underway for a similar
benefit concert in 2020. It is not too early
to put this event on your calendar for next
December! ■