West Essex HS Tuba Player Selected to Perform With National All-Eastern Band

West Essex High School senior Brian Gieger, a tuba player from Roseland, has been selected to play with the National All-Eastern Honors Concert Band. Gieger is the first West Essex student ever selected to perform with the prestigious ensemble.

Brian said he was very surprised to learn that he was the first student from West Essex High School to ever be selected to play in the All-Eastern Honors Concert Band.

“It’s a cool opportunity to be a part of a band with the most talented musicians from high schools across the east coast.”

Brian, who has played the tuba since the seventh grade at West Essex Middle School, is a member of the West Essex Marching Band and High School Band, Jazz Band and Brass Ensemble.

Brian said plans to major in music or double major in music and something else next year when he goes to college. Brian can also play the trombone and piano, but the tuba is his favorite.

“The tuba is one of the most important instruments because it sets a foundation for the other instruments,” he explained.

High School Band Director John Scozzaro said he is very proud of Brian.

“This is an incredible accomplishment that Brian has achieved,” he said. “This prestigious band is comprised of 150 of the best student musicians from the entire Northeast.”

Brian is one of only 24 students selected from New Jersey to be part of the ensemble.

“Brian is an extremely hard worker and pushes himself and those around him to be better each and every day,” Scozzaro said. “His willingness to constantly challenge himself has led him to be the musician he is.”

Mr. Scozzaro said that Brian’s achievement is a great reflection on the West Essex Music Program. “We have lots of great things going on in our department and we receive a tremendous amount of support from the school and community,” he said. “The band has been making strides each year and this just shows the type of students we have and the dedication and commitment to excellence that they each possess.”

The 2015 All-Eastern Honors Ensembles, sponsored by the National Association for Music Education Eastern Division, will rehearse April 9 to 11 and perform in a concert April 12 at 1 p.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium in Providence, Rhode Island.

Photo courtesy of Allison Freeman