MTSD BAND PROGRAM

The Mendham Township Band Program fosters the highest performance standards while offering its members an opportunity to expand their technical, intellectual, and musical development. There are four bands in the program at MTMS ranging from beginning band to advanced Wind Ensemble. At MTES instrument lessons and band are taught with a focus on skill development and a love of the instrument.

Being a leader among its peers, the Mendham Township Bands have created a tradition in earning “superior” and “gold” ratings while performing at the North Jersey School Music Association Region 1 Band Festival along with several 1st place finishes at the Music in the Parks Band Festival and Competition over the past twelve years. Mendham Township Schools have been named “Best Schools for Music Education."

Mr. Branch is committed to programming high quality concert band literature balancing music of the past, exploring recent literature and commissioning new music for middle school. In 2017, the MTMS Festival Band premiered its fifth new piece, “Life in Kopila Valley” by composer Matthew Maslanka, at the Region 1 Band Festival.

MTMS Bands also fosters the opportunity for many students to distinguished themselves by auditioning for and participating in the many honors programs available to our district through director sponsorship: All-District Band (by nomination), Sixth Grade Honors Band (by nomination), Area Band (by nomination and audition), Region 1 Honors Band (by audition), Region 1 Jazz Band (by audition)

Mr. Branch has served as guest conductor for the NJSMA Elementary Honors Band in 2014 and then the Region 1 Intermediate Band in 2017. With 20 years of playing and teaching experience, Mr. Branch has a wide background ranging from traditional concert band to civil war period saxhorn band to the nationally competitive “British" style brass band. He currently plays baritone with the Imperial Brass Band.

If you have any questions about the instrumental music program at MTSD, contact Mr. Branch at rbranch@mendhamtwp.org