The Documentary
This unique documentary provides a window into the lives of eight talented individuals as they go from gifted teenagers to successful professional musicians. Under the inspiring tutelage of a one-of-a-kind teacher and mentor, these young men ‘banded together’ at Glen Rock High School – where music education was cherished.
From band practice to playing alongside such jazz, blues, and rock legends as Bruce Springsteen, Donald Fagen, and Al Kooper, the Boys from Glen Rock High all have remarkable journeys. Banded Together is truly a celebration of music and homegrown camaraderie.
The Band
JOHN FEENEY principal double bass of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the American Classical Orchestra and Opera Lafayette, is a chamber musician and soloist of international renown. John has performed as a guest bassist with the Vienna Philharmonic. An avid Viennese violonist, in 2010 he co-founded The Serenade Orchestra and the Serenade Quartet, performing many dozens of concerts featuring the music of 18th & 19th century Vienna. John has recorded extensively for most major record labels and holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Juilliard School where he was a scholarship student of David Walter. He began his bass studies with Linda McKnight. His urtext editions of the never-before-published music of Domenico Dragonetti are available online at johnfeeney.musicaneo.com.
JERRY VIVINO is a multi-talented reed player who attributes his mastering of 7 woodwinds to his High School band director Joe Sielski. After graduating H.S. in 1972 he attended Manhattan School of Music aspiring to become a full time musician. For 25 years he was the featured saxophonist for Conan O’Brien on NBC’S Late Night, The Tonight Show and the TBS cable T.V. show Conan. As a sideman Jerry has shared the stage or recorded with the likes of Tony Bennett, Donald Fagen, Johnny Mathis, Darlene Love, Dion DiMucci, Stanley Clark, Franki Valli, Keely Smith, The Allman Brothers, Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen to name a few. Jerry also performs with his brother Floyd’s The Uncle Floyd Show, brother Jimmy’s Blues Revue and as a leader with his own jazz quartet.
DOUG ROMOFF is a professional bassist, entrepreneur, and film producer. He performed music in many Broadway shows as well as movie scores and commercial jingles. Doug founded Harmony 534, a full-service music production and video editing facility with clients such as Sesame Street and Criterion Films. Doug also founded the Paradiso Group, an advertising agency that creates multi-media presentations, live television broadcasts, and classic TV, radio, and print advertising. Doug was the executive producer and creator of Beyond the Crush, a docu-series about wine owners in Napa Valley. He is the co-owner and creative director for Adrenaline Films, a creative services company with clients such as Universal Studios and Xfinity.
The Mentor
Joe Sielski was the music teacher and band leader at Glen Rock High School from 1963 to 2003. In 1968, he started the orchestra program at the school, and served on the Middle Atlantic States High School Evaluation Committee. In 1976, Joe got his M.A. degree in conducting from Columbia University TC, and also served as Glen Rock High School Fine Arts Department Chairperson.
Joe has been married to his wife Carolyn for over 50 years. They hosted the reunion of the Boys From Glen Rock High, and he played and conducted at the reunion concert on Dec. 2nd at Glen Rock High School.
The Director
Barry Rubinow grew up in Glen Rock, NJ, and made his first film in 8th grade at Glen Rock Jr.-Sr. High School. With early aspirations to be a filmmaker, he moved to Los Angeles and attended the University of Southern California’s acclaimed school of cinema. The first documentary he edited, Red Grooms: Sunflower in a Hothouse, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject. His career as a producer, director, editor and indie filmmaker has included winning an Emmy award for editing the CBS science show, Beakman’s World. He was also a founding member of the Documentary Channel, which was in 25 million homes on Dish Network and DirecTV, and ran all creative endeavors of the channel, overseeing the branding and on-air ids and promos. He produced over 100 episodes of the channel’s flagship original show, DocTalk, interviewing acclaimed documentary filmmakers from Werner Herzog to Alex Gibney to Errol Morris. Rubinow brings his unique background and experience, and love of his hometown, to this powerful project.
Learn more about the team behind Banded Together: The Boys From Glen Rock High here.
“Quotable”
Joe Sielski on the band – “I’m so proud to be associated in some way with you guys.”
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