2004 John Philip Sousa National Junior Honor Bands - New England Region
Harvard, MA
FAST FACTS:
Dates: April 22-24, 2004
Host/Rehearsal Location: The Bromfield School, 14 Massachusetts Avenue, Harvard, MA 01451
Concert Location: Richard Cronin Memorial Auditorium, The Bromfield School, 14 Massachusetts Avenue, Harvard, MA 01451
Festival Hotel: Devins Inn, 22 10th Mountain Dvision Road, Devens, MA
Conductors:
Mr. Richard Vars - Red Junior Symphonic Band
Dr. Steven Grimo - Blue Junior Symphonic Band
Dates: April 22-24, 2004
Host/Rehearsal Location: The Bromfield School, 14 Massachusetts Avenue, Harvard, MA 01451
Concert Location: Richard Cronin Memorial Auditorium, The Bromfield School, 14 Massachusetts Avenue, Harvard, MA 01451
Festival Hotel: Devins Inn, 22 10th Mountain Dvision Road, Devens, MA
Conductors:
Mr. Richard Vars - Red Junior Symphonic Band
Dr. Steven Grimo - Blue Junior Symphonic Band
CONCERT PROGRAM:
Red Junior Symphonic Band
“Carpathian Sketches” - Robert Jager
“The Red Balloon” - Ann McGinty
“Portrait of a Clown” - Frank Ticheli
“Prelude and Dance” -.Elliot DelBorgo
“The Footlifter” - Henry Fillmore/arr. Andrew Balent
“This Is My Country” - arr. James Curnow
Blue Junior Symphonic Band
“Manhattan Beach” - John Philip Sousa
“Galway Bay” - John O’Reilly
“Fire Dance” - Elliot DelBorgo
“Barrington Overture” - Bob Cotter
“Rough-Riders” - Karl King/arr. James Swearingen
“Cowboys” - Daniel Bukvich
“Old Churches” - Michael Colgrass
“United We Stand” - John O’Reilly
Red Junior Symphonic Band
“Carpathian Sketches” - Robert Jager
“The Red Balloon” - Ann McGinty
“Portrait of a Clown” - Frank Ticheli
“Prelude and Dance” -.Elliot DelBorgo
“The Footlifter” - Henry Fillmore/arr. Andrew Balent
“This Is My Country” - arr. James Curnow
Blue Junior Symphonic Band
“Manhattan Beach” - John Philip Sousa
“Galway Bay” - John O’Reilly
“Fire Dance” - Elliot DelBorgo
“Barrington Overture” - Bob Cotter
“Rough-Riders” - Karl King/arr. James Swearingen
“Cowboys” - Daniel Bukvich
“Old Churches” - Michael Colgrass
“United We Stand” - John O’Reilly

CONDUCTOR / COMPOSER BIOS:
Mr. Richard Vars
Richard Vars is presently Director of Bands at East Providence High School in East Providence, Rhode Island. Previously, he has served as Director of Bands and Music Coordinator at Tiverton High School in Tiverton, Rhode Island, instructor of instrumental music at Martin Junior High School in East Providence, Rhode Island, the Archdiocese of Rockville Center Schools on Long Island, NY, Middletown Public Schools in Middletown, Rhode Island and as Supervisor of Music for the Warren, RI, Public School Systems.
Mr. Vars is an alumnus of Rhode Island College where he earned both his Bachelors and Master degrees in Music Education. He has participated in summer sessions at Central Connecticut State University, Rutgers University and Plymouth State College in New Hampshire. Mr. Vars has been a guest conductor in Regional, District, and Honors Festivals in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Virginia. He has also served as guest lecturer and clinician at the Eastern Division Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mr. Vars holds professional memberships in the Music Educators National Conference, Rhode Island Music Educators Association, and International Association for Jazz Education, National Band Association, and the Percussive Arts Society. Mr. Vars is a Past President of the Rhode Island Music Educators Association and has served on the RIMEA Executive Board. Mr. Vars performs as a free-lance percussionist throughout in Rhode Island area.
Mr. Richard Vars
Richard Vars is presently Director of Bands at East Providence High School in East Providence, Rhode Island. Previously, he has served as Director of Bands and Music Coordinator at Tiverton High School in Tiverton, Rhode Island, instructor of instrumental music at Martin Junior High School in East Providence, Rhode Island, the Archdiocese of Rockville Center Schools on Long Island, NY, Middletown Public Schools in Middletown, Rhode Island and as Supervisor of Music for the Warren, RI, Public School Systems.
Mr. Vars is an alumnus of Rhode Island College where he earned both his Bachelors and Master degrees in Music Education. He has participated in summer sessions at Central Connecticut State University, Rutgers University and Plymouth State College in New Hampshire. Mr. Vars has been a guest conductor in Regional, District, and Honors Festivals in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Virginia. He has also served as guest lecturer and clinician at the Eastern Division Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mr. Vars holds professional memberships in the Music Educators National Conference, Rhode Island Music Educators Association, and International Association for Jazz Education, National Band Association, and the Percussive Arts Society. Mr. Vars is a Past President of the Rhode Island Music Educators Association and has served on the RIMEA Executive Board. Mr. Vars performs as a free-lance percussionist throughout in Rhode Island area.

Dr. Steven Grimo
Steven Grimo, an officer in the United States Air Force, entered the Air Force in January, 1986, after a successful teaching career in New England. He is presently a Lieutenant Colonel serving for the USAF Bands and Music Branch as a Band Commander for the United States Air Force Academy Band of Mid-America, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. He is also an active Minister of Music for the Church of the Nazarene.
Dr. Grimo is a native of Bristol, Rhode Island. He began his career in music as a percussionist, attending the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Percussion Performance. Upon graduation, Steve began his teaching career as an elementary and junior high school band director for the Newton, Massachusetts public schools. He later became Director of Instrumental Music at Wachusett Regional High School in Holden, Massachusetts, where he received the National Band Association's Citation of Excellence, and the Stanbury Award of the American School Band Directors Association.
Steven Grimo received his Master of Music degree in Wind Ensemble Conducting from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Frank Battisti. He was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in May of 1992. He has numerous published works to his credit and is a nationally active guest conductor and clinician. He has conducted throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, South America and Australia. His service as an USAF Band Officer has taken him to Washington DC, Texas, Alaska, Illinois and throughout the Pacific. Steve, his wife Lisa, and their children, Michael, Jonathan, and Jennifer, reside at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
Steven Grimo, an officer in the United States Air Force, entered the Air Force in January, 1986, after a successful teaching career in New England. He is presently a Lieutenant Colonel serving for the USAF Bands and Music Branch as a Band Commander for the United States Air Force Academy Band of Mid-America, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. He is also an active Minister of Music for the Church of the Nazarene.
Dr. Grimo is a native of Bristol, Rhode Island. He began his career in music as a percussionist, attending the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Percussion Performance. Upon graduation, Steve began his teaching career as an elementary and junior high school band director for the Newton, Massachusetts public schools. He later became Director of Instrumental Music at Wachusett Regional High School in Holden, Massachusetts, where he received the National Band Association's Citation of Excellence, and the Stanbury Award of the American School Band Directors Association.
Steven Grimo received his Master of Music degree in Wind Ensemble Conducting from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Frank Battisti. He was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in May of 1992. He has numerous published works to his credit and is a nationally active guest conductor and clinician. He has conducted throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, South America and Australia. His service as an USAF Band Officer has taken him to Washington DC, Texas, Alaska, Illinois and throughout the Pacific. Steve, his wife Lisa, and their children, Michael, Jonathan, and Jennifer, reside at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
FULL CONCERT PROGRAM:
For a copy of the complete concert program, including a list of participating schools, click here.
For a copy of the complete concert program, including a list of participating schools, click here.
PICTURES & AUDIO CLIPS:
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