Rutgers Alumni Wind Symphony
Keeping The Music Alive
By Marty Siederer LC ’77
Photos by Peter Del Vecchio and Avi Ohring
For many Rutgers graduates, commencement marks the end of a chapter filled with friendships, traditions, and unforgettable experiences. For graduating seniors who were music majors or performed in music ensembles such as the marching band, it might be the end of regular opportunities to practice and perform with classmates.
More than four decades ago, a group of Rutgers band alumni decided that their musical journey should not end at graduation. Their vision gave birth to the Rutgers University Alumni Wind Symphony (RUAWS), an organization that continues to enrich the lives of alumni and strengthen connections to the university today.
Founded in 1983, the Rutgers University Alumni Wind Symphony was created to provide alumni of Rutgers’ band programs with the opportunity to continue performing the music they love long after their student days have ended.
The idea for an Alumni Wind Symphony originated with Rutgers band alumnus Peter Del Vecchio, RC ’73, who envisioned an ensemble where former Rutgers musicians could gather regularly to rehearse and perform. Del Vecchio reached out to Rutgers Professor of Music Scott Whitener, who provided his full support of the Alumni Wind Symphony and offered the use of McKinney Hall
on the College Avenue campus for rehearsals. What began as an ambitious experiment and a spinoff from the Rutgers University Band Alumni Association has grown into one of the nation’s longest-running university alumni concert bands: RUAWS and the University of Michigan remain the only known continuously performing university alumni wind ensembles in the United States.
Over the years, RUAWS’s members represent multiple generations of Rutgers graduates, bringing together alumni from different schools, professions and eras. The group’s accomplishments are impressive. Following months of planning and volunteer efforts by dedicated alumni who believed that music could remain a lifelong connection to Rutgers, the first rehearsal attracted 16 alumni, with the first concert taking place in the College Avenue Student Center on March 3, 1984 with 26 performers and 50 people attending. The second concert included 40 performers and took place at Voorhees Chapel on the Douglass Campus. By its 30th anniversary in 2014, RUAWS had performed more than 75 concerts, conducted hundreds of rehearsals, and built a membership approaching 80 instrumentalists. Its repertoire has ranged from classical masterworks and marches to Broadway favorites, film scores, patriotic selections and contemporary compositions. Today, RUAWS’ concerts take place at the Nicholas Music Center, with two concerts each year in May and December on campus and a smaller outdoor performance in June taking place in Lambertville, NJ.
By Marty Siederer LC ’77
Photos by Peter Del Vecchio and Avi Ohring
For many Rutgers graduates, commencement marks the end of a chapter filled with friendships, traditions, and unforgettable experiences. For graduating seniors who were music majors or performed in music ensembles such as the marching band, it might be the end of regular opportunities to practice and perform with classmates.
More than four decades ago, a group of Rutgers band alumni decided that their musical journey should not end at graduation. Their vision gave birth to the Rutgers University Alumni Wind Symphony (RUAWS), an organization that continues to enrich the lives of alumni and strengthen connections to the university today.
Founded in 1983, the Rutgers University Alumni Wind Symphony was created to provide alumni of Rutgers’ band programs with the opportunity to continue performing the music they love long after their student days have ended.
The idea for an Alumni Wind Symphony originated with Rutgers band alumnus Peter Del Vecchio, RC ’73, who envisioned an ensemble where former Rutgers musicians could gather regularly to rehearse and perform. Del Vecchio reached out to Rutgers Professor of Music Scott Whitener, who provided his full support of the Alumni Wind Symphony and offered the use of McKinney Hall
on the College Avenue campus for rehearsals. What began as an ambitious experiment and a spinoff from the Rutgers University Band Alumni Association has grown into one of the nation’s longest-running university alumni concert bands: RUAWS and the University of Michigan remain the only known continuously performing university alumni wind ensembles in the United States.
Over the years, RUAWS’s members represent multiple generations of Rutgers graduates, bringing together alumni from different schools, professions and eras. The group’s accomplishments are impressive. Following months of planning and volunteer efforts by dedicated alumni who believed that music could remain a lifelong connection to Rutgers, the first rehearsal attracted 16 alumni, with the first concert taking place in the College Avenue Student Center on March 3, 1984 with 26 performers and 50 people attending. The second concert included 40 performers and took place at Voorhees Chapel on the Douglass Campus. By its 30th anniversary in 2014, RUAWS had performed more than 75 concerts, conducted hundreds of rehearsals, and built a membership approaching 80 instrumentalists. Its repertoire has ranged from classical masterworks and marches to Broadway favorites, film scores, patriotic selections and contemporary compositions. Today, RUAWS’ concerts take place at the Nicholas Music Center, with two concerts each year in May and December on campus and a smaller outdoor performance in June taking place in Lambertville, NJ.
I can’t emphasize enough the social aspect of the rehearsals and concerts. It’s a great way for alumni who were part of the music programs as students to stay engaged with Rutgers beyond reunion/homecoming celebrations.
Unlike many performing ensembles, the Rutgers Alumni Wind Symphony is powered entirely by volunteers. Alumni musicians, conductors and officers donate their time and talents to ensure the organization’s continued success. Support from Rutgers University, the Rutgers Alumni Association and particularly the Mason Gross School of the Arts has helped sustain the ensemble and provide rehearsal and performance opportunities over the years. RUAWS members rehearse on alternate Saturday mornings at the Nicholas Music Center. Rochelle Ohring DC ‘78 GSM ‘83, the President of RUAWS’ Executive Board, a French horn player and the first member of the RUAWS who is still active with the band, said, “I can’t emphasize enough the social aspect of the rehearsals and concerts. It’s a great way for alumni who were part of the music programs as students to stay engaged with Rutgers beyond reunion/homecoming celebrations.”
The impact of RUAWS extends beyond music, according to Dr. Todd Nichols, Rutgers’ Director of University Bands. “For many participants, the ensemble serves as a community that fosters lifelong friendships and a continued connection to Rutgers. Members of RUAWS come from multiple generations of Rutgers graduates, and frequently describe rehearsals as reunions where memories are shared, new relationships are formed, and the Rutgers spirit remains vibrant. The ensemble embodies one of the university’s core values: that learning, creativity, and engagement continue throughout life.”
Dan Zugale MGSA ‘00 ‘10 ‘18 serves as RUAWS’ Music Director and selects the pieces to be performed at concerts with input from the alumni symphony members. “At a time when universities seek meaningful ways to engage graduates, RUAWS offers a model of sustained participation that combines passion, service and community. Through music, alumni remain active contributors to Rutgers culture while creating opportunities for future generations of musicians.”
More than forty years after its founding, the Rutgers University Alumni Wind Symphony continues to rehearse, perform and inspire. Its story is not only about music. It’s about the enduring bonds that connect Scarlet Knights across generations. Every rehearsal and every performance serve as a reminder that while students may leave the banks of the Raritan, the friendships, traditions and passions formed at Rutgers can continue to resonate for a lifetime.
For more information about the Rutgers Alumni Wind Symphony, visit https://ruaws.org/
Upcoming concerts include the Winter Concert on December 12, 2026 and Spring Concert on May 8, 2027. Both start at 7:30 pm and take place at the Nicholas Music Center. Admission is free to the general public.