WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, 2006

View photos from this event RICHARD KIMBALL PERFORMS “RHAPSODY IN BLUE” WITH HIGH SCHOOL WIND ENSEMBLE

The Warwick Valley High School Music Department presented its 3rd Annual Pops Concert on Wednesday, February 22nd. The concert was held at the Theatre at Warwick Valley High School and featured performances by the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Band and Meistersingers.

Pops concerts traditionally feature lighter musical fare, pieces that are fun and familiar to the audience in a relaxed concert setting. Guest artists have always been the highlight of the Pops Concert and this year is no exception as the Music Department welcomed pianist/composer Richard Kimball to the concert as a very special guest performer. The High School music ensembles are privileged to be able to perform with a member of the Warwick community that is held in such high esteem in the music world.
 
Kimball, a resident of New Milford (Warwick Township) whose children attend Warwick schools, graduated from the Juilliard School of Music where he received two degrees in composition. In 1967, Kimball received the Alexandre Gretchanninov Memorial Prize in Composition for his first String Quartet. He also taught at Juilliard for several years.
 
Kimball plays symphonic and jazz bass and has been featured in a number of jazz ensembles, particularly Brazilian groups. He has also played bass with the Larry Elgart Band, the Sammy Kaye Band and the Glenn Miller Band. He has composed film scores for PBS documentaries including the award-winning “Grow Old Along With Me” that was hosted by Julie Harris, James Earl Jones and the late Richard Kiley.
 
The famed River Café under the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City features Kimball as its house pianist, where he has played since 1977. His activities also include fund-raising jazz concerts, the most recent held here in Warwick in October to benefit the survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.