About the Waldwick Band
The Waldwick Band is a volunteer music organization based in and supported by the borough of Waldwick, in Bergen County, New Jersey. The band performs approximately 20 concerts and parades per year that are free to the public. Performances are at the Crescent School on Crescent Avenue in Waldwick and elsewhere in and around Bergen County. Concerts feature solo performances by band members.

The band's repertoire is an eclectic mix of fine music selected from original compositions for concert band, orchestral transcriptions, music from the Broadway stage and film scores, "big band" favorites, and great marches. Band members come from all walks of life, and range in age from high school students through retirees. The band owns an outstanding concert band library of approximately 1500 compositions.

The Waldwick Band was founded in 1954 as the Waldwick Fire Department Band. In the 1950's, many local fire departments organized marching bands to provide music for their parade appearances. The founder of the Waldwick Band was Dr. Walter Nallin, a professor of music at Bernard Baruch College of the City University of New York. Dr. Nallin organized the band using many area players from former local bands including Waldwick's Italian Band, which flourished in the 1930's, and the Postal Carriers' Band. Within a year, the Waldwick Band started performing concerts in addition to appearing with the Fire Department and marching in parades in other communities.

In 1968, the band reorganized as the Community Band of Waldwick, Inc., but still retained its parade and concert units. For many years, the band played in regular Friday night concerts at the Bergen Mall in Paramus. In 1992, a smaller German band called the Teutonic Knights was added as an additional unit of the Waldwick Band. The Teutonic Knights performs at concerts, Octoberfests, and in venues where a smaller ensemble is more appropriate.

The Waldwick Band is now led by Edmund A. Moderacki, a music educator in the River Vale school district, who took over as conductor and music director following the death of Dr. Nallin in 1978. Since its founding, the band has appeared in nearly 1,000 concerts and parades in Waldwick and surrounding New Jersey and New York communities. It has appeared on cable television and was featured on the Fine Living channel.

The Waldwick Band was designated a 501(C)3 not-for-profit organization by both the Internal Revenue Service and the State of New Jersey in April 2005. Contributions to the band are now tax deductible — and still greatly appreciated.

In 2004, the band celebrated its 50th anniversary as one of New Jersey's most active community ensembles. The band continues to offer both a summer and winter concert series. Check the performance schedule to find when and where our next concert or appearance will occur.


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©2004-7 Waldwick Community Band
Updated April 24, 2004