Summer Stars: Imperial Brass

Summer Stars at The Great Auditorium
presents
Imperial Brass

featuring Special Guest Joseph Alessi
Thursday, July 2, 2026
in the Great Auditorium

PROGRAM

“Fanfare” and “The Star-Spangled Banner”

Erik Leidzén

Frontier Soundscapes

Harold Burgmayer

I. “The Long Journey”

II. “The Night Sky”

III. “The Big Sing”

Concert Piece for Trombone

Alexandre Guilmant Op. 88,
arr. Ray Steadman-Allen

Joseph Alessi, soloist

Overture to the opera Zampa

Ferdinand Hérold,
arr. Howard Lorriman

“Softly, As I Leave You”

Alfred DeVita,
Duet arr. Alan Catherall

Joseph Alessi, Robert Tiedemann, soloists

The Golden Age of the Xylophone

Ralph Pearce

Julian Dippolito, soloist

Sambezi

Philip Sparke

Joseph Alessi, soloist

Trombone Vespers

Ray Steadman-Allen

Robert Tiedemann, Vernon Post, Tom Mesevage, and Lee Anderson, soloists

Thoughts of Love

Arthur Pryor,
arr. Julian Oliver, adapt. Bertrand Moren

Joseph Alessi, soloist

Promenade

Leroy Anderson,
arr. Mark Freeh

“The Green Bee”

Tommy Newsom,
arr. Mark Freeh

Americana

Martin Cordner

Imperial Brass Personnel

Ronald Waiksnoris — Conductor

E♭ Soprano
Adam Schoenfeld

Solo Cornet
Mike Connor, Principal Cornet
Tim Beadle
Zack Grun
Ray Nettleship

Repiano Cornet
David Burgmayer

Second Cornet
Brian Plagge
Kim Wojcik

Third Cornet
Stas Zakharenko
Bill Evans
Flugelhorn
Robert Sukovich

Solo Horn
Steven Behnke

First Horn
Manny Zabala

Second Horn
Carolee Waiksnoris

First Baritone
Russell Branch

Second Baritone
Steve Wasco

First Trombone
Robert Tiedemann
Vernon Post

Second Trombone
Tom Mesevage

Bass Trombone
Lee Anderson

Euphonium
Megan Alexander
Gerard Wells

E♭ Bass
Tim Murphy
Jason Procaccini
Ted H. Szatrowski

B♭ Bass
Remoh Mosley
George Colwell

Percussion
Julian Dippolito
Nik Pothos
Lucas Waitkus

Imperial Brass

Imperial Brass has been delighting audiences around New Jersey for 35 years. Originally founded as the Rutgers Alumni Brass Band by alumni Steve Dillon and Jon Korzun with arranger Mark Freeh, the band gave its first concert in April of 1991. Since then, Imperial Brass has presented highly entertaining programs that include traditional brass band literature, classical arrangements, popular music and more.

Many of the world’s greatest brass musicians have worked and collaborated with Imperial Brass over the years. Featured artists have included former principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic Philip Smith, principal trombone of the New York Philharmonic Joseph Alessi, storied British euphonium soloists Robert and Nicholas Childs, famed American jazz cornetist Warren Vaché, principal trombone of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Charles Baker, and principal tuba of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Derek Fenstermacher.

In November of 2025, Imperial Brass won the US Open Brass Band Championship Challenge Section in its first appearance at the entertainment contest. Imperial Brass has also recorded, produced and released 7 CDs: Imperial Brass Highlights (1995), Imperial Brass and Friends (2002), Bone-a-Fide Brass (2007), Have Yourself a Brassy Little Christmas (2007), An American Legend: Imperial Brass Plays the Music of Leroy Anderson (2017), Imperial Brass Plays J.S. Bach (2018), and A Symphony of Marches & Songs (2024).

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Joseph Alessi

Soloist, Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic

Joseph Alessi was appointed Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic in the spring of 1985. He began musical studies in his native California with his father, Joseph Alessi, Sr. As a high school student in San Rafael, California, he was a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony before continuing his musical training at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music. Prior to joining the Philharmonic, Mr. Alessi was second trombone of The Philadelphia Orchestra for four seasons, and principal trombone of L’Orchestre symphonique de Montreal for one season. In addition, he has performed as guest principal trombonist with the London Symphony Orchestra in Carnegie Hall led by Pierre Boulez.

Mr. Alessi is an active soloist, recitalist, and chamber music performer. In April 1990 he made his solo debut with the New York Philharmonic, performing Creston’s Fantasy for Trombone, and in 1992 premiered Christopher Rouse’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Trombone Concerto with the Philharmonic, which commissioned the work for its 150th anniversary celebration. Mr. Alessi also has appeared as soloist with the New York Philharmonic in performances of concerti by Kazimierz Serocki, Bramwell Tovey, and William Grant Still. In June of 2021 he gave the world premiere of the Chick Corea Trombone Concerto.

Mr. Alessi is currently on the faculty of The Juilliard School; his students now occupy posts with many major symphony orchestras in the U.S. and internationally. As a clinician for the Eastman-Shires Instrument Co., he has also given master classes throughout the world and has toured Europe extensively as a master teacher and recitalist. He has performed as soloist with several leading concert bands, including the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point, U.S. Army Band (Pershing’s Own), and the U.S. Marine Band (President’s Own). In addition, he has performed with the Maria Schneider Orchestra, the Village Vanguard Orchestra, and has recorded with jazz greats, J.J. Johnson and Steve Turre.

Further information about Mr. Alessi can be found on his website, www.slidearea.com. Mr. Alessi plays exclusively on a Shires-Alessi model trombone.

Ronald Waiksnoris

Conductor, Imperial Brass

Ronald Waiksnoris has served Imperial Brass as music director since 2016. He has led the band through a demanding concert schedule, including performances at prestigious venues such as the Leroy Anderson House, the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, and the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, and recently led the band on the contest stage at the 2025 US Open Brass Band Championships, where the band won the Challenge Section. Before his work with Imperial Brass, Waiksnoris served as the Bandmaster of The Salvation Army New York Staff Band for 24 years. Prior to his tenure as conductor of the NYSB, Waiksnoris had already achieved international acclaim as a cornet soloist, highlighted by his heralded performances in such venues as London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Waiksnoris has been a passionate advocate for music education throughout his career. He has served as an adjudicator and clinician at competitions such as the Norwegian Brass Band Championships, the North American Brass Band Championships, and the Mid-Atlantic Brass Band Festival. As Music Secretary for The Salvation Army Eastern Territory, he led educational programs such as Star Lake Musicamp and he founded programs such as Salvationist Star Search and Future All-Stars. He has featured as a guest conductor throughout North America, Europe and Asia.