What's in Your Backyard?
If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard. Because if it isn’t there….then I never really lost it to begin with.
–Dorothy Gale, The Wizard of Oz
If we ever go looking for talent, we needn’t look any further than our own backyard. Because if it isn’t there…..then we wouldn’t be the talented group we are today. This was the motivation for the Hanover Wind Symphony’s concert on February 11, 2026: From Our Own Backyard.
We drew inspiration from deep within our group (pun intended)….in our tuba section with Jason Whitaker. He searched far and wide to find an exciting piece to play with us – not so easy when you’re talking about the tuba. No oom-pahs or walking bass lines here! Jason will show off the entire register of the instrument at finger speeds usually reserved for the trumpets in Gary Ziek’s Concerto for Tuba and Wind Ensemble. When away from his tuba, Jason applies his creative talents to photography and wood working. He joined the Hanover Wind Symphony in 1999.
In the back row, maybe a bit hidden, but always heard, is Travis Salim on mallet percussion. Most percussionists start out playing the snare drum, but Travis learned mallet percussion first back in the seventh grade. His love of playing eventually led him to study music at William Paterson University. He first heard the Log Cabin Blues performed by the Teaneck Community Band and tracked down the arranger to get a copy of the music for us to perform. Travis has been a member of the Hanover Wind Symphony on and off for the past 10 years.
We will honor the passing of one of our long time members, Mike Aleshevich, with Leroy Anderson’s A Trumpeter’s Lullaby, featuring our trumpet section leader Carolyn Masi. He was a lifelong resident of Chester and a music major at Montclair State University. Mike’s love of music had him playing trumpet in many adult concert bands, so that he was in rehearsals just about every night of the week! He was a member of the Hanover Wind Symphony from 1989 to 2016. He was not only a kind soul, but also someone who never spoke an unkind word about anyone. His friends and family will always remember him for his gentle nature.
We will perform the world premiere of Glowing World by Joshua Idio, a young, up and coming composer from Nutley, New Jersey. He likes to tell stories with his music. His own story began on a trip to Italy in the ninth grade. He was on a music tour that included composer Frank Ticheli (Amazing Grace). Rehearsing with him that week inspired Josh to pursue a career as a band director and a composer. Josh so loved hearing us play his piece live in rehearsal that it gave him chills. We hope you will also be excited to hear the world premiere of his Glowing World.
