Band Together Ct.

Band Together volunteers marched in the 2008
Fairfield Memorial Day parade

Rob Fried:  Director

 www.robfriedmusic.com  website
refried@optonline.net  email

Rob is a businessman, musician and family man who has spent over 27 years in the investment management business, 13 years as a professional musician and composer, and 16 years raising a family with his wife Diane and their three daughters.  His education includes Masters In Business Administration from University Of Oregon.  As a jazz musician, bassist and composer he has released two CD's, “Wind Song” in 2007 and “Water Rhapsody” in 2009.  His original music reveals his enduring fascination with the key elements in nature: wind, water, wood, earth, fire and metal, and seeks to underscore and highlight their relevance in our lives.  He performs regularly at clubs and music festivals with The Rob Fried Group, Bone Dry and Stoneband.  He has performed or recorded with renowned artists including Randy Brecker, Marion Meadows, Chris Parker and Joe Beck and has performed as an opening act for Manhattan Transfer, Tower Of Power, BB King and YES.

Jerry Vigorito:  Director 

www.jerryvigorito.com website
jerryvig@atlanticresidential.net email

Jerry is a self taught harmonica player and musician. He performs regulary with Bone Dry, The Blues Busters and To the Max.
His love for Music, over 25 years of performance experience, deep spiritual connection and a dedication to those in need, have all lead him to the Band Together CT Stage.
Jerry has a 26 year career in the Fairfield County mortgage industry and is Senior Vice President at Atlantic Residential Mortgage in Westport. He is a life long CT resident, graduated from Sacred Heart University, resides with Nancy in Fairfield and has two daughters in college.

Andy Kadison:
Production,Staging & Lighting

andykadison@optonline.net email

Andy is an award-winning entertainment executive with productions that have been nominated for Oscar, and have won Emmy, Grammy, Clio and Ace awards.  He has created TV, DVD and CD projects  for artists as diverse as Billy Joel, Mariah Carey, Don Henley, Santana, Bee Gees and Bruce Springsteen.  He developed a concert series with the Wild Life Conservation Society to promote eco awareness starring John Denver and The Doobie Brothers.  He also has a track record as a world-class manager and business leader, having led a team of over 200 for 15 years running Sony BMG Studios, the largest audio/TV/broadcast studio complex in New York. 

 Ron Kovis: 

Creative Director & Photograghy

www.ronkovis.comwebsite
ron@ronkovis.com  email

Ron has been in the graphics business for over 20 years,16 spent at Sony Music in NYC. His background includes Art Direction, Photography, Print Production as well as department head for many Graphic Artists and Retouchers at Sony Music. Ron's design and production work have appeared on Grammy Award Winning packaging. He currently works as a Print Producer for a leading pharmaceutical ad agency in New York. He is a graduate of Parsons School of Design, is married, has a daughter and lives in his hometown of Fairfield.

Ron Kovis

     
      Sarah Guariglia, Tori Vigorito

In her own words, a College entrance essay by volunteer
Tori Vigorito

Band Together Charity is an accomplishment I am most passionate about throughout my high school years.  This program started as a simple idea of getting musicians and the community together to raise funds for a chosen cause.  The first three concerts benefited local Habitat for Humanity Youth Projects. The most recent concert on November 16 was for a ten-year-old girl named Gianna whose family is in a financial struggle due to her recent diagnoses of brain cancer.  I felt a personal connection to this family because my grandfather suffered from the same disease.
As a result of this concert, over twenty-five thousand dollars was raised for this family, all through donations from the community. I have been associated with this group from the very beginning and helped it grow to become a very successful and passionate organization.  I can remember the first concert, in a small grange filled with an audience of a hundred people.  It’s amazing to see how we evolved from a small group to the involvement of an entire community of supporters. 
Band Together was recently honored by Connecticut Governor Jody Rell and received an Official Citation from the State of Connecticut General Assembly for our “commitment to public service and sincerest dedication to the well-being of families in need.”  Participating in the growth of such a meaningful organization has given me a deeper connection to my family, my community, and compassion for others.  

Public Relations
Leslie Downey:
downey.leslie@gmail.com

Stephanie and Peggy, Hospitality

Jon Bronder, Stage Manager