Bridgewater-Raritan High School Band Celebrates Director's Retirement

(Article and photos contribution of Nancy Leonard-Fischer)

The Bridgewater-Raritan Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble performed to a full house on Thursday, May 28 at the school’s Spring Band Concert marking the final performance for Band Director, Gary Myer.

Myer will be retiring at the end of the school year after dedicating 31 years of service as the Director of Bands for Bridgewater-Raritan High School. For the final performance, student musicians filled the stage, lined the auditorium walls and down the aisle ways before joining together in a final tribute song that was filled with passion and led to a standing ovation.

The audience was filled with band parents, former students, and even Myer’s own parents and family. Myer was also presented that evening with a proclamation from the town of Bridgewater and Raritan for his years of dedicated service.

The celebration continued on Tuesday, June 2, when the BRHS band hosted a banquet at The Imperia in Somerset to celebrate the graduating seniors, band accomplishments and Myer’s retirement. The highlight of this evening included a closing tribute performance by a select group of students to Myer.

Myer is in his 31st year as a Director of Bands at Bridgewater-Raritan High School. This is his 40th year as a music educator. He accepted his first teaching position in the Melcher-Dallas, Iowa School System.

Myer’s bands were noted for excellence in Concert, Jazz and Marching in the state of Iowa. Myer returned to New Jersey in 1984 as Director of Bands at Bridgewater-Raritan High School East. As the community began to grow, so did the breadth of his duties.

Myer served as band director for Bridgewater-Raritan High Schools East and West beginning in 1989 and facilitated the BRHS merger in 1991. He is responsible for designing the curriculum for the combined instrumental music program as it exists today.

Under his direction, BRHS bands have consistently been recognized for excellence. As an advocate for music education, he has mentored dozens of student-teachers from local universities over the years.

Myer is an avid racing sailor and rides his motorcycle on a regular basis. He and his wife, Ann, reside in Bridgewater, where they raised their two daughters, Kimberly and Jennifer.