Ridgewood Concert Band’s Conductor Dr. Chris Wilhjelm Receives Honor

March 19,2014Ridgewood NJ, Dr. Chris Wilhjelm, conductor and music director of the Ridgewood Concert Band and band director at Pascack Hills High School, has just been elected to the American Bandmasters Association. This storied organization, founded in 1929 by Edwin Franko Goldman, Albert Augustus Harding, and John Philip Sousa, has been the premier association of professional conductors and composers active in the band world for 85 years. Dr. Wilhjelm is first New Jersey high school educator to be invited in the association’s history. He joins only two additional New Jersey residents, Dr. William Berz, professor of music at Rutgers University (formerly Director of Bands), and Dr. John Pastin, former director of the United States Navy Band, and currently Dean of the School of Performing Arts at Rowan University.

Dr. Wilhjelm thanks his sponsors, Dr. Dennis Zeisler, president of the American Bandmasters Association, Loras Schissel, director of the Virginia Military Band and the Blossom Festival Band, Dr. Timothy Rhea, Director of Bands at Texas A&M University, and Colonel Arnald Gabriel, retired director of the United States Air Force Band and one of the most honored musicians in the nation. He also extends his thanks and appreciation to all of the members for this honor.

Dr. Wilhjelm is deeply appreciative of the decades of support received from his family, friends, colleagues, and students for making this award possible.