The Central Jersey Wind Ensemble performed at the first of three free summer 2010 concerts last night, July 8.
"You know what's great," said Maryann Witty, director of the Montville recreation department, and coordinator of the summer concert series, "When people perform, and they really enjoy performing. There's nothing like it."
Originally scheduled for the Montville park's amphitheatre, the decision to move last night's concert indoors was made at the beginning of the week in the face of record breaking temperatures. More than thirty members of the Montville community came out to listen.
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"Thank you for coming," said Nicholas Santoro, conductor and founder of The Central Jersey Wind Ensemble. "We are happy to be inside in the air conditioning."
The upbeat concert included patriotic medleys, show tunes, classic jazz, American blues, a nod to Disney movies, and John Philip Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever. Members of the audience were encouraged throughout the evening to sing and dance with the music .
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Joanne Van Steyn, coordinator of Archway, accompanied eight young adults with special needs to the event. "It was wonderful," she smiled. "It was perfect."
The Central Jersey Wind Ensemble was founded in 1993 as a professional organization of invited musicians who volunteer their time and talent. The group's mission is to promote wind instruments and the music written for them. Under the direction of Nicholas Santoro, the ensemble travels throughout the year providing concerts and clinics for thousands of children and adults.
For the second free summer concert, the Montville recreation department will host the Jacksonville Chapel Concert Band at 7:30 p.m. on July 29 at the Montville amphitheatre. Attendees are reminded to bring chairs, bug spray, and non-alcoholic refreshments to the performance.
