Second Sunday Concert Series – Gabrieli Brass Quintet -RESERVED SEATS FULL

UPDATE: WE ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE WEATHER AND MAY POSTPONE THE CONCERT IF THE STORM WORSENS. REGISTERED GUESTS SHOULD CHECK THEIR EMAILS ON SUNDAY MORNING. THANK YOU. ALL RESERVED SEATS HAVE BEEN TAKEN. SOME SEATS MAY BE AVAILABLE JUST BEFORE THE START OF THE CONCERT. Gabrieli Brass Quintet will perform in the living room at Van Vleck House. The Gabrieli Brass Quintet was formed to spread the brilliance of brass music to those who may not be familiar with its unique and specialized repertoire. Members came together because of their common love for brass quintet music. The quintet is named for the great 16th century composer Giovanni Gabrieli, who is known, particularly to brass players, for composing music for antiphonal brass choirs at the Cathedral of San Marco in Venice, Italy. That “antiphonal” music was performed in the cathedral with brass choirs in opposite corners of the great church. It was characterized by its use of contrasting dynamics in the playing and responses of various brass choirs from across the cathedral. In a time when music could only be heard live and only mostly in the renaissance style, this “new music” was ground-breaking; allowing the audience to hear the first true stereo production of the glorious sound of brass. Reservations are strongly suggested as space is limited. The concert is free but a suggested donation of $10 to support the series is appreciated . THE PLAYERS Tom McGee (Trumpet and Flugelhorn), A native of the Cleveland, Ohio, area, he attended Baldwin- Wallace University as a music theory major. While there he studied with James Darling of the Cleveland Orchestra, and Charles Berginc. After moving to New York and taking a hiatus from playing, he got back into it with lessons with Jim Donato. Over the last 30+ years he’s played with most of the volunteer orchestras and some of the professional groups in the New York metro area, including as principal trumpet of the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, and board president member of The Broadway Bach Ensemble. Tom has also been a regular member of the pit orchestras of Trilogy: An Opera Company, and the Amore Opera. Prior to joining the GBQ, he was a member of the South Mountain Brass in Maplewood, NJ. By day, he works in the IT department at Seton Hall University. Dan Sugarman (Trumpet and Flugelhorn) began playing the trumpet when he was eight years old. Since making Millburn, NJ his home in 1993 he has played with a variety of groups over the years including cover bands, orchestras, community bands and brass quintets. Before joining the Gabrieli Brass Quintet in 2021, Dan was a member of the Somerset and South Mountain Brass Quintets. He currently plays with the West Orange Community Band and was a member of the Westfield Community Band until 2019. He has also played with the Metropolitan Orchestra of New Jersey, The Broadway Bach Ensemble, and the Imperial Brass. He has been a member of several “basement bands” — including Los Traficantes del Amor, the Lost Souls, and the Logistical Nightmares — performing popular music in local venues and at Maplewoodstock. He is also one of the horn players on Still Thinking of Midnight, part of an album — “The Desk Drawer Tapes” — released in 2021 by The Cucumbers. Glenn Parisi (Trumpet) started playing brass instruments with a drum and bugle corps when he was 13 years old. He bought a trumpet when he was in 9th grade and has been playing it since. After high school, Glenn studied music at West Chester State College where he was a trumpet student of Dr. Ken Laudermilch, principal trumpet with the First State Orchestra in Delaware. Glenn recently retired from a 35-year career teaching music to children from pre-school to 8th grade. He taught general music, chorus, band and orchestra, specializing in Orff Schulwerk and the Kodály Method. He joined the Westfield Community Band 25 years ago and continues to perform with them on principal trumpet. He was the principal trumpet with the Metropolitan Orchestra of NJ for 15 years and performs regularly with the Livingston Symphony Orchestra. He was a member of the Somerset Brass Quintet and has performed as a soloist in local churches for the past 30 years. Leah Van Doornik (Horn) discovered the horn during her freshman year of high school and was immediately hooked by the beautiful tone and the challenge of playing the instrument. She graduated from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa with a degree in Music Education. She has performed with local large and small ensembles in the various places she’s lived such as the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra and the Kalamazoo (Mich.) Concert Band. In addition to the Gabrieli Brass Quintet, Leah also plays with the Livingston Symphony Orchestra and other ensembles as her availability permits. Leah is a private horn instructor, elementary music teacher, and a proud mom for four children. John Vitkovsky (Trombone) began his study of the trombone at the age of eight. Sixty years later, he continues to enjoy sharing his love for his instrument and for good music. John received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as his supervisors certificate from Montclair State University. He was a music teacher in the Nutley, NJ School District for thirty-nine years; the last sixteen of which as Supervisor of Music. John has played trombone in the Bergen Philharmonic for 37 years. Since his retirement from teaching, John also plays with the Society of Musical Arts Orchestra, the South Orange Symphony Orchestra, the August Symphony, the North Jersey Symphony Orchestra, the Rockland Symphony Orchestra, and most recently the Gabrieli Brass Quintet. Adam Smith (Tuba) started playing trumpet at age nine and after coming to his senses, learned trombone and tuba in high school. He studied music at Drew University before getting degrees in chemistry from William Paterson University and Montclair State University. In addition to the Gabrieli Brass Quintet, Adam has played in numerous musicals and church bands, the Brass Factory Brass Band, Jacksonville Chapel Band, Bloomingdale Cornet Band, Polished Brass Quintet, Ramsey Wind Symphony, Livingston Symphony Orchestra, Hackettstown Community Band, and others. In addition to his professional music activities, Adam is a high school chemistry teacher. Many thanks to our Patrons Courtyard Patrons: Jessica Sporn & Fred Cordero, Erner Featherstone, Linda Leddy & Arlene McLeer Music Room Patron: Catherine Belisle, Lyn & Glenn Reiter, Vicki & James Ray, Lyn Rosensweig & Bruce Schnelwar Library Room Patron: Yukiko & Bruce Anderson, Ken and Jennifer Browne, Harvey Chipkin, Carylmead Eggleston, Kathleen Fess, LindaSue. Galate PhD, Geremia Helou, Rosemary Iversen, Amy Knapp & Myron Walden, Julia Lanigan, Letizia Matturri, & Leo Nakashian