The Bloomfield Civic Band
Tax deductible
Hello Friends and Family,
I am starting a yearly fundraising campaign to benefit the Bloomfield Civic Band. The Civic Band is a self-sufficient, multi-generational, community ensemble that operates solely on the monies that it is able to take in as ticket sales, generous donations, and other fund raisers. Yearly expenses include staff stipends, rehearsal and concert rentals, sheet music, guest artists and much more. We also hope to to allocate part of these funds toward a recording project that will be started in the near future.
We are very grateful to anyone who is able to donate funds toward our goal of keeping Community Music alive in the 21st Century!
About Us:
The BLOOMFIELD CIVIC BAND was “born” on Friday, March 1, 1946, when more than 20 people brought music stands to the high school cafeteria. Sponsored by the Bloomfield Federation of Music, it joined its sister organizations the Symphony Orchestra, the Chorus, the Mandolin Orchestra, and the Men’s Glee Club. The purpose was twofold: to give playing opportunities to those who wished them, and to provide the community with enjoyable musical experiences. Directed by Walter Kurkewicz, the band made it’s debut July 4, 1946 in Bloomfield’s “Welcome Home Celebration,” playing for memorial services in the morning and a parade in the afternoon. Park concerts followed during the summer, and the first indoor performance was held Sunday, January 19, 1947.
Upon the retirement of Walter Kurkewiczin 1961, Ray Hartman, director of the highschool band, was named to the post. Under his leadership the band’s membership grew, and its repertoire enlarged to include 20th Century compositions. High school students were urged to participate, and one of the highlights of the 1960’s was a trip to the NY World’s Fair where the band performed at the NJ Pavilion. Dr. Morton Achter of Bloomfield College replaced the retiring Hartman for one year.
When Dominick Ferrara III stepped on the podium in September, 1972, he found a very loyal core of 15-20 musicians eager to help him rebuild the band. A devotee of band music, he led the Civic Band for 41 successful years until his retirement in 2013.
The next chapter in the story of the Bloomfield Civic Band began in the Fall of 2013, when Conductor Frank Ortega joyfully took the podium to lead the band into the future.
During his tenure, he has continued the tradition of 3 yearly Season Concerts and 4 Summer Concerts "On the Green". He hopes to allocate part of these funds to a recording project that will be started in the near future.
Please visit our dedicated site at: www.bloomfieldcivicband.org
I am starting a yearly fundraising campaign to benefit the Bloomfield Civic Band. The Civic Band is a self-sufficient, multi-generational, community ensemble that operates solely on the monies that it is able to take in as ticket sales, generous donations, and other fund raisers. Yearly expenses include staff stipends, rehearsal and concert rentals, sheet music, guest artists and much more. We also hope to to allocate part of these funds toward a recording project that will be started in the near future.
We are very grateful to anyone who is able to donate funds toward our goal of keeping Community Music alive in the 21st Century!
About Us:
The BLOOMFIELD CIVIC BAND was “born” on Friday, March 1, 1946, when more than 20 people brought music stands to the high school cafeteria. Sponsored by the Bloomfield Federation of Music, it joined its sister organizations the Symphony Orchestra, the Chorus, the Mandolin Orchestra, and the Men’s Glee Club. The purpose was twofold: to give playing opportunities to those who wished them, and to provide the community with enjoyable musical experiences. Directed by Walter Kurkewicz, the band made it’s debut July 4, 1946 in Bloomfield’s “Welcome Home Celebration,” playing for memorial services in the morning and a parade in the afternoon. Park concerts followed during the summer, and the first indoor performance was held Sunday, January 19, 1947.
Upon the retirement of Walter Kurkewiczin 1961, Ray Hartman, director of the highschool band, was named to the post. Under his leadership the band’s membership grew, and its repertoire enlarged to include 20th Century compositions. High school students were urged to participate, and one of the highlights of the 1960’s was a trip to the NY World’s Fair where the band performed at the NJ Pavilion. Dr. Morton Achter of Bloomfield College replaced the retiring Hartman for one year.
When Dominick Ferrara III stepped on the podium in September, 1972, he found a very loyal core of 15-20 musicians eager to help him rebuild the band. A devotee of band music, he led the Civic Band for 41 successful years until his retirement in 2013.
The next chapter in the story of the Bloomfield Civic Band began in the Fall of 2013, when Conductor Frank Ortega joyfully took the podium to lead the band into the future.
During his tenure, he has continued the tradition of 3 yearly Season Concerts and 4 Summer Concerts "On the Green". He hopes to allocate part of these funds to a recording project that will be started in the near future.
Please visit our dedicated site at: www.bloomfieldcivicband.org
Organizer
Frank Ortega
Organizer
Fair Lawn, NJ
Bloomfield Federation of Music
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
