Concert Band

Rutgers Concert Band is open to non-music majors, rehearses once a week in the spring semester only, and presents at least one concert during the semester. The concert band performs both standard and contemporary literature from the wind-band repertoire. Concert Band has also had the honor of being conducted by several distinguished directors including Jerry Junkin, Mallory Thompson and Dennis Fisher. The group is conducted by a mixture of the band conductors and Wind Conducting Associates.

Kevin Patrick Cotter proudly serves as Director of Bands at Matawan Regional High School in Aberdeen, NJ. Mr. Cotter holds a Master’s Degree in Wind Conducting from Messiah University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with Honors from William Paterson University.

Mr. Cotter is currently pursuing a doctoral degree, DMA in Wind Conducting at Rutgers University. On euphonium, Mr. Cotter performed exclusively with Atlantic Brass Band from 2005-2012, and won two National Championships. Throughout his student life, Mr. Cotter is grateful to have studied with excellent mentors: Matthew J. Paterno, John Palatucci, and Aaron VanderWeele on euphonium; and in wind conducting Dr. J.Craig Davis, Dr. Travis J. Weller, and Dr. James Colonna.

Kevin and his wife Lorraine, also a music educator, and their children Michael, Margaret, and Elizabeth reside in Neptune, New Jersey. In his spare time, Mr. Cotter is an active member of Free and Accepted Masons of New Jersey and does not enjoy writing about himself in the third person.

Directors:

Kevin Cotter

Dana Mandell

Dana Mandell is a graduate student in the Wind Studies Program at Rutgers University, pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting and studying with Dr. Kraig Alan Williams. Currently, she serves as the director of the Rutgers Concert Band and frequently conducts the Rutgers Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, and Symphony Bands.

Before arriving at Rutgers, Ms. Mandell held the position of Assistant Band Director at the University of Notre Dame. There, her duties included conducting concert bands, directing pep bands and chamber ensembles, instructing the Band of the Fighting Irish, and teaching methods courses.

Ms. Mandell earned a Master of Music degree in Music Education from Arizona State University, where she worked as a graduate assistant for the athletic band program and instructed the Sun Devil Marching Band. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, serving as a student leader for the Minuteman Marching Band under the direction of the late George N. Parks.

Ms. Mandell is entering her fifteenth season as an educator in the marching arts and actively serves as an adjudicator, clinician, and consultant across the country. She is excited for the upcoming season with the Marching Scarlet Knights.

Adam Wilson

Adam Wilson has been educating students around the country for ten years. He is currently pursuing his DMA in Wind Conducting at Rutgers University. Mr. Wilson holds a Master's Degree in Wind Conducting from the University of Louisville and a Bachelor's Degree in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Oklahoma.

Before coming to Rutgers, Mr. Wilson taught elementary, middle, and high school band in Louisville, Kentucky, where he started the band program at the Grace James Academy of Excellence. After his undergraduate degree, Mr. Wilson joined Teach for America and taught high school band and choir in Chicago, Illinois. He also served as a Chicago Public Schools Fine Arts Advisor, All-City Director, and Chicago Teachers Union Representative.

Mr. Wilson has studied conducting and rehearsal technique with mentors including Dr. Frederick Speck, Dr. Amy Acklin, Dr. Michael Raiber, and Dr. Debra Traficante. Mr. Wilson studied trombone throughout his degrees with Dr. Brett Shuster and Dr. Irvin Wagner, which included opportunities to travel and play throughout the country and record with a variety of other instrumentalists. In his free time. Mr. Wilson enjoys playing basketball, catching up on his backlog of video games, and feeding treats to his two cats Omega and Sushi.