Dr. Chris Wilhjelm, community leaders, and musicians founded the Ridgewood Concert Band (RCB) in 1983 with the idea of providing high quality performing venues for the many accomplished wind and percussion players living in the New York Metropolitan area. The RCB is proud that audiences containing large numbers of students, adults, and seniors regularly attend the concerts.

Through the years, consistently high level performances have led to the production of two commercially released CDs, performances on the East coast, and peer recognition through the awarding of the be edited John Philip Sousa Foundation's coveted Sudler Silver Scroll Award in 1996.

The RCB performs an annual series of concerts presenting the very finest in wind band literature for capacity audiences. Ranging from light classics and famous marches, to cutting edge compositions by today's brilliant composers, the band's programming has drawn critical attention for its variety and depth. Originally launched as the Ridgewood Community Concert Band, an early review praising the band's fine performance proclaimed this is no "Community" band. The Board of Directors decided to incorporate as The Ridgewood Concert Band.

The members of the Ridgewood Concert Band come from all walks of life. The musicians and board members are drawn together by a common dedication to the study, performance, and support of great music.

The quality of RCB performances has attracted world class soloists from the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, radio and television personalities and other nationally renowned performers and conductors. The Ridgewood Concert Band has also been active in the commission and performance of new works.

The Ridgewood Concert Band is actively engaged with area schools, offering opportunities for talented school musicians to perform with the band. In 2006, the band launched a scholarship program that reaches a large network of high schools in the region, inviting musicians who plan to seek a career in music to compete for scholarship funds. Winners showcase their talent as a featured soloist with the band. The competition and concert is one of the highlights of each season.

Each year the RCB performs a subscription series of concerts at their performance home in the Westside Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

The RCB has also obtained world wide recognition through international touring:

• 1998 - Central Europe: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria
• 2003 - Southern France: The Riviera Reeds Festival, La Croix Valmer; Le Pradet
• 2008 - China: Shanghai, Hangzhou , Xian , Beijing
• 2009 - Brazil: Sao Paolo, Santos, Novo Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Ouro Preto
• 2010 Germany, Austria, Italy; Garmisch, Munich, Salzburg, Schladming Festival, Venice

Mission Statement

The Ridgewood Concert Band’s mission is to promote wind music and adult bands to the surrounding community and beyond by providing high quality performances that engage and inspire all our listeners. The Band is committed to the following:

• To make a substantial contribution to the music and artistic life of our community by providing audiences with the highest level of wind music performances representing a wide range of musical styles, periods, and composers
• To providing the members of The Ridgewood Concert Band an opportunity for individual and collective musical expression and artistic growth
• To producing recorded works and commissions designed to showcase talented, contemporary composers and their works
• To assisting in the musical education of young people and to that end providing students significant opportunities to hear, experience, and participate in live performances