Album Notes

The South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble is an 65 member band composed of professional casino musicians, music teachers, and college graduates who have maintained high musical standards since playing in their college bands. Formed in March of 1997, The band has presented over 75 concerts, awarded three $1000 scholarships to outstanding high school musicians, rehearsed over 250 major band works, and has had numerous guest conductors, including Col. Bryan Shelburne, US Army Band (Pershing's Own), Washington, DC; Dr. Jack Stamp, U. of Indiana of Pa; Dr. Peter Boonshaft, Hofstra U.; Dr. William Berz, Rutgers U.; Lt. Col. John Pastin, US Navy Band, Washington, DC; Dr. Timothy Oliver, Temple U.; Patricia Childress, Rutgers U.; Bruce Yurko, Cherry Hill East School Dist.; Patrick Burns, Montclair State College; Dr. Christian Wilhjeim, Director of the Goldman Band; Dr. Joe Brashier, Valdosta University; and Stephen Melillo, noted composer.

Guest soloists during the past 8 years have included Tyrone Breuninger, euphonium, Philadelphia Orchestra (ret.) and Rowan U., Gerald Tedesco, trumpet, a graduate of Julliard School of Music, Anita Stagliano, Pianist, Benjamin Sotomayor, boy soprano, Toni Anne Gisondi Pugliese, vocalist, who played Mollie in the movie Annie, Mary Jane Morey, vocalist and Sgt. Christopher Jones, clarinetist, US Military Academy Band, West Point, NY.