Tedesco returns to roots of his musical career
Newton - Some might say that Alan Tedesco’s career path was predetermined from an early age. His parents are Jerry and Dawn Tedesco, founders, directors and conductors of the Sussex County Youth Orchestra, which is comprised of the Suzuki strings students, Rocking Strings group, the Prep orchestra and the Sussex County Youth Orchestra itself, a full symphony made up of young performers. The Sussex County Youth Orchestra began in 1987, by the Tedescos to give Sussex County’s young people a place to nurture their musical talents and later to showcase what they have learned. They have helped to develop the talents of young people, ranging in age from grammar school to college, from Sussex and surrounding counties, and even a few musicians from Pennsylvania. Alan Tedesco comes back to the orchestra for this holiday concert as conductor of the Rocking Strings Orchestra, featuring music from the motion picture “Pirates of the Caribbean” and the Rogers and Hammerstein musical, “The Sound of Music.” He will also conduct a jazz version of the holiday favorite, “Jingle Bells.” A highlight of this year’s concert will feature Tedesco performing a trumpet solo with orchestral accompaniment of Grande Russian Fantasia, by Jules Levy. A charter member since the seventh grade, Tedesco hasn’t missed a year of participation. Now a music teacher himself, he returns as an alumni year after year to his musical roots to help by mentoring, playing, and conducting. Tedesco received a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the College of N.J., his parents alma mater. Tedesco’s father, also a music educator, always advised his son to be proficient with his instrument, which prompted Tedesco to continue his education after high school studying the trumpet with Edward Treutel. Treutels other students have included Wynton Marsalis, Phil Smith of the N.Y. Philharmonic, and Lou Soloff from the Lincoln Center Jazz. “I have had a love for music for as long as I can remember. Throughout my entire childhood I experienced my father’s music writing, his endless hours of trumpet playing, and my mother’s Suzuki teaching, that continues to this day,” said Tedesco. “There was never any thought to another career.” Tedesco received his master’s degree from Rutgers in 2000. He is now in his eighth year of teaching music in Kinnelon, N.J. “I am striving to be the best educator I can be. I continue to play professionally with my father. He is still my best teacher, I can count on him for constructive criticism whether it be in my playing, conducting, or teaching,” said Tedesco. The Holiday Concert performed by the Sussex County Orchestra will be held in Newton High School’s auditorium on Sun Dec. 3, at 3pm. The concert is free and open to the public, This year’s concert celebrates the music of American composers. The Sussex County Youth orchestra has had four European tours and has performed at Carneige Hall and Lincoln Center.