Chatham Community Band Welcomes Guest Soloist

CHATHAM, NJ - The Chatham Community Band's Spring Concert Saturday will feature percussion player John Leister.

Leister has performed with the American Ballet Theater Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke's, Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and as a substitute for six Broadway musicals. He has played in orchestras behind artists such as Paul McCartney, Metallica,The Moody Blues, Bruce Springsteen, Sting and James Taylor.

Leister is a graduate of The Juilliard School, University of Illinois, Rutgers University and Chatham High School. Following a 30-year career as a music educator and principal in area schools, including Madison, New Providence and Livingston, he is the percussion teacher at the Montclair Kimberley Academy.

Leister will perform light-hearted numbers with the band called "Xylophonia" and "Roll 'Em Up." The band, under the direction of Brian Conti, will also perform music by Leonard Bernstein in recognition of the 100th anniversary of his birth, as well as variety of show tunes, movie sound tracks and marches.

Doors will open at 2 p.m. for a concert preview by Leister and a donation is suggested.

According to their website, the Chatham Community Band embodies the tradition of the community band in American culture. We provide benefit to the community through performance, education, entertainment, and social action. Through their concerts they reach out to a broad range of audiences, many of whom cannot afford to pay for live entertainment or who, because of age or disability, cannot attend other conventional performances.

The Spring Concert of the Chatham Community Band at the Chatham High School, 255 Lafayette Ave., on Sunday ,May 5 at 3 p.m.

For more information about the band, visit www.chathamcommunityband.org.

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