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The symphony is now in its 42nd season, celebrating with special guests, new music and familiar favorites. Its guiding promise remains the same: “Bringing music to people and people to music.”
That commitment has helped make the ensemble a lasting part of Hanover’s cultural life. Its volunteer musicians include teachers, engineers, accountants and executives who bring different professional backgrounds to a shared musical pursuit. Alongside their dedication to performing, they share a commitment to mentoring the next generation of wind musicians.
The season opened on Wednesday, October 21, with “Versatile Winds,” a free 7 p.m. concert at Memorial Junior School in Whippany, the symphony’s home venue. The program was built to show off the season’s variety, spanning classical music, Broadway, film scores, jazz and more.
Under the direction of music director and conductor Matthew Paterno, the program featured selections from West Side Story and How to Train Your Dragon, alongside Tico-Tico, Fire in the Blood and Fearless.
“The modern wind band has an amazing ability to perform so many different musical genres and styles, from Broadway to brass band and jazz to film scores,” Paterno said of the program. “This concert will showcase HWS’s extraordinary versatility. There is something here for everyone.”
That range offers several ways into the music for audiences throughout the season. A familiar melody can draw in a first-time listener, while an unfamiliar selection can give a returning audience member something new to discover. Together, the selections reflect an ensemble interested in keeping the concert experience varied and welcoming.
Two December celebrations follow, giving residents separate opportunities to make live music part of their holiday traditions.
The annual “Holidays in Hanover” concert is set for Sunday, December 6, at 3 p.m. at Memorial Junior School, 61 Highland Avenue in Whippany. The performance brings the symphony back to its home stage for an afternoon of seasonal music.
One week later, “A Christmas Presence” returns on Sunday, December 13, at 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 90 Whippany Road in Whippany. For tickets to the church concert, call 973-887-0050.
For a community ensemble, longevity depends on people continuing to make room for music in their lives: musicians who prepare and perform, supporters who help sustain the organization and listeners who fill the seats. The Hanover Wind Symphony’s 42nd season celebrates that continuing relationship.
Whether residents have followed the ensemble for years or are considering their first concert, the invitation is the same: come together, enjoy the music and become part of a local tradition still finding new ways to connect.
For the complete season schedule and updates, visit hanoverwinds.org.
