PERFORMANCES
Winter concerts are performed at the First Congregational Church in Madison and Guilford High School.
No tickets necessary.
The spring concert is performed at
Guilford High School.
No tickets necessary.
AUDITIONS
Auditions for the 2023-2024 season to be held Monday, June 12, 2023 at Daniel Hand High School in Madison.
Contact us now for an audition.
SYSO
P.O. Box 947
Madison, CT 06443
We are a nonprofit organization. Contact Us about becoming one of our proud sponsors.
Our Wind-Brass Coach
Frederick “Eric” Gerhardt is the Instrumental Music Director at Westbrook High School where he conducts the Concert and Jazz Bands. Additionally, Mr. Gerhardt teaches Acoustic Guitar, UCONN ECE Music Theory, History of Jazz and Rock & Roll, and Beginning Band. He has previously served as Chairman for CMEA Southern Region and All-State Jazz Ensemble.
Mr. Gerhardt earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Ithaca College, and his Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from the Manhattan School of Music.
In 1999, Mr. Gerhardt became the Band and Jazz Director at Elisabeth C. Adams Middle School in Guilford, CT, teaching 7th & 8th Grade Bands, Honors Band, and Jazz Band. His groups earned top ratings in both state and regional festivals.
In 2003, he taught at Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, VA. While at Great Bridge, Mr. Gerhardt worked as the Jazz Program Director and Assistant Band Director.
Mr. Gerhardt has worked as a freelancer performing with the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Brooklyn Philharmonic, and other prestigious orchestras. He also has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and on Broadway. In Connecticut, he has performed with the New Haven Symphony, Orchestra New England, Bridgeport Symphony, Stamford Symphony, the Goodspeed Opera, the Mohegan Sun Casino Orchestra, and the Shoreline Jazz Collective.
Mr. Gerhardt's inpresseive career has rewarded him with numerous honors and awards as a performer and educator.
In his free time Eric enjoys fishing (fly fishing is his favorite), barbecues, pretending to be a golfer, and being a huge Mets fan.
