The History of The Imperial Music Center

 



The Imperial Band has in the past made five record albums. The following information is taken from two of those albums.


The Imperial Band


ORGANIZED IN 1946 BY TED KADELA AFTER HIS DISCHARGE FROM THE U. S. MARINE CORPS, THE BAND RAPIDLY GAINED A REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE. WINNERS OF COUNTLESS "BEST BAND" AWARDS FOR THEIR MARCHING ABILITY, THE BAND IS ALSO RECOGNIZED AS A SUPERB SYMPHONIC CONCERT BAND. COMPOSED OF PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. IT BOASTS OF MANY TALENTED MUSICIANS SUCH AS GEORGE KRAUSS, MUSIC SUPERVISOR IN THE NEW BRUNSWICK SCHOOL SYSTEM; CHARLES URBANSKI, MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE WOODBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL BAND; WILLIAM BUCKNER, MUSIC DIRECTOR IN THE MARLBORO TOWNSHIP SCHOOL SYSTEM; GEORGE ESPOSITO, FORMERLY WITH THE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE ORCHESTRA; BONNIE GURGDORF, TRUMPET SOLOIST WITH THE N. J. ALL STATE BAND; BERNARD GOLDSTEIN, MUSIC DIRECTOR IN THE EDISON SCHOOL SYSTEM; GARY BECKER, MUSIC DIRECTOR IN THE SOUTH RIVER SCHOOL SYSTEM; JOHN JORDAN, FORMERLY WITH THE U. S. NAVY BAND AND MANY OTHERS. THE BAND IS PRESENTLY PREPARING FOR A CONCERT TOUR IN THE BRITISH ISLES.



More About Our Founder


IN 1946, AFTER HIS DISCHARGE FROM THE U. S. MARINE CORPS, WHERE HE SERVED WITH THE FIRST MARINE DIVISION, TED KADELA ORGANIZED THE IMPERIAL BAND OF SOUTH RIVER. THIS ORGANIZATION IS WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS AN OUTSTANDING PARADE BAND, RECEIVING MANY "BEST BAND" AWARDS EACH SEASON. THE BAND EXCELS IN SYMPHONIC CONCERT MUSIC, PERFORMING IN AS MANY AS 40 CONCERTS EACH SEASON, THROUGH THE THREE-COUNTY AREA.


TED KADELA ORGANIZED THE IMPERIAL CHORUS IN JANUARY, 1968. COMPOSED OF 90 MIXED VOICES, THIS NEW CHORUS IS HAILED BY MANY AS ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING CHORAL GROUPS IN THE STATE.


1968 SAW THE BEGINNING OF THE IMPERIAL MUSIC CENTER. THE 20 YEAR DREAM WAS COMPLETED IN 1970. IT IS PRESENTLY USED AS A REHEARSAL HALL AS WELL AS A THEATER FOR CONCERTS, DRAMA, AND MUSICAL COMEDY PRODUCTIONS.


TED KADELA PROUDLY BOASTS OF TWO NEW ADDITIONS TO THE EVER GROWING MUSICAL FAMILY: THE JUNIOR IMPERIAL BAND AND THE JUNIOR CHORUS.


TED KADELA'S RESTLESS MUSICAL ORGANIZATION IS PRESENTLY PREPARING FOR A SEVEN DAY CONCERT TOUR OF EUROPE, WHICH THEY HOPE WILL BE A BI-ANNUAL EVENT.



From the Office of the Mayor

South River

Proclamation


Whereas, On this day, the 6th of October in the year of 1996, We who are gathered here are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Imperial Band; and


Whereas, On October 1, 1946, Theofil "Ted" Kadela and four Other dreamers Alfie Meade, Charles "Butch" Stochel, Carl Wnet, and Paul Zelanko met above the Bar in a little meeting room at the Polish National Home to discuss the idea of creating a Musical Band; and


Whereas, Over the last 50 years, the Imperial Band has had major accomplishments and well deserved kudos. They marched for 15 years as the accompanying band to the South Amboy Fire Department at the Fireman's Parades in Atlantic City and Wildwood, winning "Best Band" on at least two occasions; and


Whereas, In 1975 and 1978 they made concert tours to Ireland and Poland respectively,. During the tours they were accompanied by the Imperial Chorus, a 60-member strong group who also joined the band making five record albums; and


Whereas, As part of their numerous Community based programs, the Imperial Band has given out music scholarships to local students at South River High School and they perform concerts monthly for anyone who enjoys music; and


Whereas, In 1970, the Imperial Music center was officially opened; and

Whereas, Sadly, there are only two original faces left, Alfie Meade and Paul Zelanko but along the way, many new faces have joined the ranks; and


NOW, THEREFORE, I, THOMAS J. TOTO, MAYOR, along with the members of the Council of the Borough of South River do honor and congratulate the entire band on fifty years of excellence and hard work and we hope that in the next fifty years a new generation of band members will remain an asset to the Community of South River by issuing this Proclamation naming today:


IMPERIAL BAND DAY

in the Borough of South River.

Given under my hand and the seal of the Borough of South River, New Jersey this 6th day of October 1996. Thomas J. Toto Mayor

Founding Members

Front row seated left to right

Charles E. Stochel - Theofil T. Kadela - Paul Zelanko

Rear row Standing left to right

Theodore Appleby - Alfred I. Meade - Carl Wnek