Ferrari Featured in Geller Scholarship Tribute Band Concert

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After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Herb Geller Memorial Scholarship Tribute Band returns to the Rome Free Academy auditorium, 95 Dart Circle, on Saturday, November 5, at 7:30 P.M. The 50-musician concert band, under the baton of artistic director John A. Flaver, will perform a largely American repertoire that showcases music for brass including Aaron Copland's “Fanfare for the Common Man,” Leroy Anderson's “Bugler's Holiday,” Sousa marches, a suite and overture for band, and the ever-popular “Armed Forces Salute,” among others. Featured soloist will be trumpet and cornet player Master Gunnery Sergeant Christian Ferrari of Rome, who joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in September 1993. He is a graduate of The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Syracuse University, and RFA. MGSgt. Ferrari regularly performs with the Marine Band on their national tours and at The White House and will be highlighted with the Geller Scholarship Concert band in a jazz, Dixieland, and Gospel interpretation of “Amazing Grace,” arranged by L. Henderson and orchestrated by C. Coletti. “We are so fortunate to have Christian coming back home to join us as one of the finest military band trumpeters in the nation,” said principal conductor Flaver. “That his distinguished career started here in Rome where Herb was his RFA band director could not be greater testament to the quality of our music education!” The rest of the program includes “Second Suite in F for Military Band” by Gustav Holst, “American Overture for Band” by J.W. Jenkins, Sousa's “Hands Across the Sea” and “Stars and Stripes Forever,” “Classics! Classics! Classics!” and “MacArthur Park.” GSC committee member, concert emcee, and guest conductor Ted Lenio added, “The Geller Tribute Band concert gives current students an opportunity to hear instruments played live at the highest level by local professional musicians, music educators, and alumni, with a few even playing with them.” The Geller Scholarship Concerts have presented six free PREformances this year including music by Darryl Sleszynski, Rick Montalbano and Julie Falatico; Mike DiMeo and the Paris Hill Brass; Jo Ann Geller and Bruce Smith in a Four Hands piano concert; an Alliance Classical Players performance benefiting the Geller Scholarships; and the 'Aria' opera pops event produced by Greg Unangst and Colleen O'Neil. Geller and Smith will also be featured at the piano in the half-hour preceding the 7:30 P.M. concert. The Geller Memorial Scholarships honor longtime RFA and Vernon-Verona-Sherrill band director and professional clarinetist Herb Geller, who passed in 2017. Thus far, the Geller Scholarship Concerts have awarded $6,950 in three seasons to a dozen select RFA and VVS graduates for their collegiate studies in music. GSC president Jo Ann Geller summed up the event by saying, “We know the audience will be greatly entertained and hope they are generous in contributing to scholarships that further RFA & VVS seniors continuing their music education. We remain dedicated to our mission of 'supporting scholastic instrumental excellence.'” Contributions toward scholarships will be gratefully accepted at this free concert, and at www.PayPal.me/GellerScholarship , or checks to Geller Scholarships, P.O. Box 186, Verona, NY 13478.