the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Band Directors Jeff Haas and John Luckenbill provided an overview at the Ridgewood Board of Education meeting on Monday night of the 100-year history of the Ridgewood High School Band Program. Highlights included various milestones: the first known band member, Dorothy Zimmerman, (Class of 1925), the first band performance at graduation (1935), the first performance of the Willow Club – the present-day Jazz Ensemble (1936), the first Tunes in June performance (1951), and the first Marching Band Championship (1980). In addition to many co-curricular opportunities available to students, educational travel opportunities are an integral component of the band program. RHS Senior Vera Witte spoke about the band program from the student’s perspective and the role it has played in her high school experience. Upcoming 100th Anniversary Events include the Spring Concert, Jazz in the Wood, and Tunes in June.
