ONNY will bring out the big brass for holiday concerts
Dec. 8—The Orchestra of Northern New York will celebrate the holidays with a festive concert in Potsdam and Watertown when a 23-piece ensemble of trumpets, trombones, horns, tuba and percussion performs "Holiday in Brass" for concerts in Potsdam and Watertown.
The concerts are at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at SUNY Potsdam's Hosmer Hall and Sunday, Dec. 17, at First Presbyterian Church, 403 Washington St., Watertown.
James Madeja, professor emeritus at Crane School of Music, guest conducts both concerts. The program he designed begins with Sadler's "Christmas Fanfare for Brass and Percussion," and also includes several familiar pieces, such as "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." It also contains works about Advent, Hannukah and Kwanzaa.
Madeja's 36-year tenure at Crane included teaching instrumental music education, studio trumpet and conducting the Crane Concert Band and Crane Brass Ensemble. Prior to joining the faculty of Crane in 1985, he developed two successful high school wind band programs in Illinois and directed the Judson College Wind Ensemble. His ensembles have performed for both Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
Madeja is a charter member of the Orchestra of Northern New York and Northern Symphonic Winds and was a member of the Potsdam Brass Quintet from 1985 to 2020.
He is a recipient of the SUNY Potsdam President's Award for Excellence in Academic Advising, the MENC/National Association for Music Education Excellence in Teaching Award, and the 2019 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching.
