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The Waldwick
Band is Now Celebrating its 70th year! |
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The
Waldwick Band is a volunteer music organization based in and supported
by the borough of Waldwick, in Bergen County, New Jersey. The band
performs approximately 20 concerts and parades per year that are free
to the public. Performances are at the Village School in Waldwick with summer concerts at Waldwick Borough Park and elsewhere in
and around Bergen County. Concerts often feature solo performances by
band members and guest artists. The band's repertoire is an eclectic mix of fine music selected from original compositions for concert band, orchestral transcriptions, music from the Broadway stage and film scores, "big band" favorites, and great marches. Band members come from all walks of life, and range in age from high school students through retirees. The band owns an outstanding concert band library of over 2100 titles, including John Philip Sousa originals dating from as early as 1891. |
Edmund A. Moderacki, Waldwick Band Music Director |
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Dr. Walter Nallin Late 1960's |
The
Waldwick Band was founded in 1954 as the Waldwick Fire Department Band.
In the 1950's, many local fire departments organized marching bands to
provide music for their parade appearances. The founder of the Waldwick
Band was Dr. Walter Nallin, a professor of music at Bernard Baruch
College of the City University of New York. Dr. Nallin organized the
band using many area players from former local bands including
Waldwick's Italian Band, which flourished in the 1930's, and the Postal
Carriers' Band. Within a year, the Waldwick Band started performing
concerts in addition to appearing with the Fire Department and marching
in parades in other communities. In 1968, the band reorganized as the Community Band of Waldwick, Inc., but still retained its parade and concert units. For many years, the band played in regular Friday night concerts at the Bergen Mall in Paramus. In 1992, a smaller German band called the Teutonic Knights was added as an additional unit of the Waldwick Band. The Teutonic Knights performs at concerts, Octoberfests, and in venues where a smaller ensemble is more appropriate. |
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The
Waldwick Band is led by Edmund A. Moderacki, a former music
educator in the River Vale school district, who took over leadership
following the passing of Dr. Nallin in 1978. Ed recently celebrated 45
years as the band's conductor
and music director. This remarkable accomplishment was featured in an article published in The Record (After 800 Concerts and 300 Parades, Waldwick Conductor Still Going Strong!). Since
its
founding, the band appeared in over 800 concerts and parades in
Waldwick and surrounding New Jersey and New York communities. The band was also featured in a 2011 article
published in the Waldwick
Surburban News as it prepared for its summer concert series. The Waldwick Band is designated a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization by both the Internal Revenue Service and the State of New Jersey. Contributions to the band are tax deductible -- and greatly appreciated! During the 2023 -2024 season, the band is celebrating its 70th anniversary as one of New Jersey's most active community ensembles, and still going strong. The band continues to offer both a summer and winter concert series. Admission is always free. Check the performance schedule for our next concert. |
Waldwick Band Does it Again!
Winner, Best Musical Group on a Float in Ridgewood's 2022 Fourth of July Parade (16 of the last19 Years!) |
©2024 The
Community Band of Waldwick
A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization Updated 2-1-2024 |
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