10th Annual Side-by-Side concert brings young musicians to campus

Bringing high school musicians to the campus for an educational and musical event, Rowan University’s Department of Music hosts the 10^th Annual Side-By-Side Concert on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 7:30 pm in Pfleeger Concert Hall.

This unique event brings young musicians together in an honor band under the university’s Director of Bands, Dr. John Pastin. The program allows select high school musicians from throughout the area to work and perform “side-by-side” with university students and faculty. The students rehearse during daytime sessions prior to the concert, with time to for questions and feeback, adding additional educational impact to the process. The evening concert features performances by this South Jersey Honor Band and Rowan’s Wind Ensemble.

Titled “Everything You Ever Wanted To Program,” the concert features music written for the band repertory including Gustav Holst’s First Suite for Military Band and Second Suite in F, Paul Hindemith’s Symphony in B flat, John Barnes Chance’s Incantation and Dance and Norman Dello Joio’s Scenes from The Louvre, among other works.

Pastin, Lieutenant Commander and Conductor, US Navy Band (Retired), came to the university in 1998 after a 30-year career in the United States Navy’s music program. He commanded, trained and performed with some of the Navy’s most prestigious bands and performed in concerts and ceremonies at the White House and Pentagon, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, the Vatican, Russia, Japan, China and tours to all 50 states. He earned numerous personal military awards, including the Legion of Merit and Joint Meritorious Service Medals, the Navy Meritorious Service and the Colonel George S. Howard Award for Musical Excellence. He is a member of the American Bandmasters Association, Association of Concert Bands, College Band Directors National Association and the John Philip Sousa Society

This year, the Honor Band is comprised of students from Barnegat High School, Clearview Regional High School in Mullica Hill, Cumberland Regional High School in Seabrook, Egg Harbor Township High School, Kingsway Regional High School in Woolwich Township, Middle Township High School in Cape May Court House, Penns Grove High School, Palmyra High School, Triton Regional High School in Runnemede.

Pfleeger Concert Hall is located in Wilson Hall on the Rowan University campus, Route 322 in Glassboro. Tickets are $10, general admission, and $5 for seniors, non-Rowan students, staff and alumni. Rowan students are admitted free with valid ID. For tickets and information, call the box office at 856-256-4545, email arts@rowan.edu or purchase online at rowan.tix.com.