Registration is now open for the Princeton Youth Brass Band’s 2025 season!
The Princeton Youth Brass Band is the educational outreach ensemble of the award-winning Princeton Brass Band. PYBB is open to all brass and percussion players in 8th-12th grade, offering an exciting musical opportunity for young brass and percussion musicians to perform and work alongside members of the Princeton Brass Band- all while playing exciting, challenging, and varied music, including pop, rock, film, folk and original brass band literature.
PYBB rehearses on Monday evenings from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at Franklin High School in Somerset, NJ. Rehearsals will begin on February 3rd, 2025. This season, the PYBB will perform two concerts alongside the Princeton Brass Band.
Tuition for the 2025 Season is $350.00 per musician.
The Music Director of the PYBB, Max Morden, can be reached via email - princetonyouthbrassband@gmail.com.
PRINCETON YOUTH BRASS BAND ANNOUNCES NEXT MUSIC DIRECTOR
Max Morden, a highly versatile musician, is celebrated for his remarkable ability to seamlessly transition between diverse musical genres. His performances include orchestras such as the New Jersey Symphony, New Jersey Festival Orchestra, as well as Broadway. He has also performed with renowned artists like Dave Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespie, Wycliffe Gordon, Joe Locke, Gary Oleyar, Matt King, Mark Peterson, Freddie Hubbard, Pete McCann, John Tropea, Max Weinberg, Marshall Crenshaw, Bernard Purdie, and many more.
A substantial portion of his professional engagements involves serving as the principal soloist for numerous churches. In addition, he frequently finds himself in chamber music settings and jazz groups, such as Cubano Be Cubano Bop and his own Max & Friends.
Notably, Morden holds the position of principal solo cornet for Gramercy Brass of New York, where he also serves as the assistant conductor and lead arranger. Furthermore, Morden has collaborated with rock musicians, including Glen Burtnik, Rob Paparozzi, The Weeklings, and Pat Guadagno. These collaborations have involved horn and string arranging, guitar, vocals, and the leadership of his horn section, aptly named the Maximum Horns. Additionally, he has been a featured soloist on tours with the world-renowned Celtic group Cherish the Ladies for a decade.
Max Morden has also served as the arranger and horn section leader for the house band at numerous New Jersey Hall of Fame Award induction ceremonies. As the lead arranger, Max significantly contributes to three Gramercy Brass recordings: Christmas Time Is Here, Brubeck: Bold & Brassy, and A Gramercy Brass Christmas. His compositions span all levels of students, from elementary to college, and extend to churches, choirs, woodwinds, concert band, and artists like Allen Vizzutti, Steve Turre, Scott Mendoker, and his YouTube series, From the Red Room.
In a number of concerts showcasing the music of Duke Ellington and Count Basie, Max had the privilege of conducting an all-star big band comprising members of the Lincoln Center, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie jazz orchestras.
As an educator, Max dedicated 35 years to the Verona Public Schools, where he initiated students’ musical endeavors in fourth grade and culminated their journey through their participation in high school jazz and brass ensemble. Since 1999, he has been an adjunct professor of brass at Caldwell University and has been the conductor for the Premier Brass at Gramercy Brass Band Camp for two decades. Currently, he serves as a teaching artist at Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper School.
Max holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Eastern Michigan University, a Master’s degree in Jazz/Commercial Music Performance from Manhattan School of Music, and Doctoral studies in classical trumpet performance from Rutgers University.
MEET OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR
The Princeton Brass Band would like to take a moment to acknowledge some big changes for us this season!
Aaron VanderWeele is stepping down as Music Director after piloting us through five years of growth and success. Aaron’s term at the helm of PBB has been transformative for the band. From his hiring in March of 2020, he has exhibited exemplary stewardship in guiding the band out of the Covid pandemic all the way to a First Section championship at the 2023 NABBA contest. He will depart as a truly cherished member of the PBB family. Everyone on the board and membership at large wishes him and his family the best, and we thank him immensely for the growth and wonderful band culture that he has helped to create.
The band would also like to announce the appointment of our next MD: Dr. Todd Nichols! Todd currently serves as Director of University Bands at Rutgers University. He has led Rutgers ensembles, including the Marching Scarlet Knights, in performances ranging from the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to a performance for President Joe Biden. Dr. Nichols has also conducted the Eastern Wind Symphony since 2010, leading acclaimed performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Midwest Clinic.
The band is incredibly excited to welcome Dr. Nichols, who brings an incredible level of musicianship and a wealth of experience in building successful programs. We are excited for him to begin his tenure with us this fall. More info about Dr. Nichols can be found on our website.
