Meet Vincent Pettinelli
Vince Pettinelli
Who is Vince Pettinelli?
Vincent Pettinelli is one of the preeminent event musicians in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Vince Pettinelli is not only an event musician, but is also an educator and entertainer. Vincent Pettinelli is the founder and lead musician of the Vince Pettinelli Orchestra, a high energy 18 piece band that plays classic and modern big band favorites with a mix of R&B and pop for audiences throughout NJ and PA. Vincent Pettinelli is also the creative force behind the recently formed Vince Pettinelli Sacred Band, a 17 piece band that takes their passion for sacred music by incorporating well loved hymns into a jazz setting for a service or special event. Generations is an 8 piece band specializing in weddings, parties and private functions. Vince Pettinelli also provides other musical services including Disc Jockey, wedding ceremony music and music for small parties and cocktail events through VPO Entertainment.
A regarded educator and musician, Vince Pettinelli has been a familiar face in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania music scene for decades. His entrepreneurial spirit and passion for music has helped bring some of the most well renowned musicians to various local festivals and concerts. Vincent Pettinelli has dedicated himself to bringing top notch, professional musicians who embrace the purity of the craft of musicianship to New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
A proud Italian American, Vince Pettinelli brings a love of heritage and custom, faith, and the value and importance of helping others to his music. These values permeate his music, leading to a richer, more full-bodied sound that crosses all walks of life and all generations. Vincent Pettinelli brings a passion and commitment to his music that is rarely seen in popular showcases.
Bring Music Into Your Life
Musical Styles
Vincent Pettinelli and the Vince Pettinelli Orchestra is comprised of the finest musicians in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania area. With a great horn section, tight rhythms, and top quality vocalists, the Vince Pettinelli Orchestra and its music offers some of the most energetic and authentic examples of classical, big band, and jazz.
Big Band and Jazz
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late 1940s. Big Bands evolved with the times and continue to today. A big band typically consists of approximately 12 to 25 musicians and contains saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. The Vince Pettinelli Orchestra embodies the classic structure and musical performance genre of big band ensembles from yesteryear.
Jazz is a music genre that originated amongst African Americans in New Orleans, United States, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Since the 1920s jazz age, jazz has become recognized as a major form of musical expression. It emerged in the form of independent traditional and popular styles, all linked by the common bonds of African American and European American musical parentage with a performance orientation. Jazz is characterized by swing and blue notes, call and response vocals, polyrhythm and improvisation. Jazz has roots in West African cultural and musical expression, and in African-American music traditions including blues and ragtime, as well as European military band music. The musicians of the Vince Pettinelli Orchestra are not only professionally trained, but are also culturally aware of all of the influences of the music they perform. Vince has made sure that all of the musicians he works with understand the hidden language of music, and respect the originators of a particular genre.
European Art Music
European art music is largely distinguished from many other non-European and some popular musical forms by its system of staff notation, in use since about the 16th century. Western staff notation is used by composers to indicate to the performer the pitches (e.g., melodies, bass lines, and chords), tempo, meter and rhythms for a piece of music. Classical music has been noted for its development of highly sophisticated forms of instrumental music. Vince Pettinelli is a dedicated musician, and as such, takes his craft seriously.
The Vince Pettinelli Orchestra
It is this merging of influences and styles that makes Vincent Pettinelli and the Vince Pettinelli Orchestra such sought after musicians throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The high octane performances of the Vince Pettinelli Orchestra have made it a high demand staple throughout the area. Each performance highlights the professional integrity and virtuosity of each musician. Vincent Pettinelli and the Vince Pettinelli Orchestra is a spectacle not to be missed.
Generations
Generations is an 8 piece band that gives the same electrifying performances as the Vince Pettinelli Orchestra but on a smaller scale. The musicians maintain the integrity of the full complement of the band, but have adapted their performances to cater to weddings, corporate or social events, and fundraisers. Vince Pettinelli has gathered a group of musicians together that truly delight in performing.
The Vince Pettinelli Sacred Band
The Vince Pettinelli Sacred Band follows along the outline of the Vince Pettinelli Orchestra in its dedication to authenticity and perfection o f musical performance. Vince Pettinelli and the Vince Pettinelli Sacred Band perform traditional as well as jazz and swing influenced renderings of sacred music. Vince Pettinelli and the Vince Pettinelli Sacred Band members approach each affair with a joy and energy that does not diminish the solemnity or devoutness of each blessed event. Each musical performance will enhance any event as well as nourish the soul.
The performances of the Vince Pettinelli Sacred Band have become known for their spiritually rousing numbers. Each performance of the Vince Pettinelli Sacred Band has garnered high praises from various denominations for their soul stirring interpretations of sacred hymns. Whenever the Vince Pettinelli Sacred Band plays, one can hear the testimony of each musician through their performance.
Recent Projects
Constantly searching for new entrepreneurial and artistic endeavors, Vincent Pettinelli maintains a grueling schedule of entrepreneurship, education and musical performance. On any given day, Vince is presenting, practicing, or performing. Some of his most recent projects include:
- Member of Musicians Local 45 AFM, Allentown, PA
- Founder and lead musician of the Vince Pettinelli Orchestra, the Vince Pettinelli Sacred Band , and the band Generations
- Owner of VPO Entertainment
- Featured member of Select Three of VPO Entertainment
- Trumpet player for the Atlantic City Ballet under the direction of Phyllis Papa and musical director Paul LoPresti.
- Trumpet instructor and assistant with the Moravian College Big Band under the direction of Dr. Neil Wetzel
- Business agent for the Holiday Brass, a 50 piece brass ensemble, and the Holiday Brass Quartet, which performs during the Christmas season in the Lehigh Valley, Pa. area.
- Freelance with various entertainment companies including All About Fun and Full House Entertainment
- Vince is active as a teacher, performer and clinician.
Career Background
Highly sought after for his knowledge and dedication to musical and artistic integrity, Vincent Pettinelli has worked with or for some of the leading artists and organizations throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Some of his accolades include:
- Director of Planning and Development for Musique & Art Nouveaux, a large music and art festival Phillipsburg, NJ
- Ken Brader Benefit Concert Easton, PA Administrator,
- Planner and Director Phillipsburg Ole Towne Festival Board Member Phillipsburg, NJ
- Performances with: Grammy award winning artists Peter Nero, piano, and Phil Woods, saxophone, Connie Francis, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Gerry Blavat, Louie Bellson, Tex Beneke, The Gaylords, Robin Eubanks, Larry Elgart, Tony Kadleck, Larry Storch, Nelson Hill, Gary Rissmiller, Tony Gairo, Al Gaumer
- Performed locally with Joyous, Lucky 7, the Dave Neith Orchestra, City Rhythm Orchestra, The Royalaires, The Muhlenberg College Jazz Ensemble, Maynard Ferguson & the Big Bop Nouveau Band and The Starburst Orchestra featuring Mike Berkowitz, Ken Brader and Lynn Roberts
- A featured soloist with the Lehigh Valley Italian American Band
- Former soloist and assistant lead trumpet for the Lafayette College Jazz Ensemble
- Member Musicians Local 45 AFM, Allentown, PA.
Music Education
Currently, Vince Pettinelli is pursuing his graduate degree in Music and Sound Reinforcement Engineering from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pa, one of the nation’s most prestigious performing and visual arts institutes. So far, his current course load has been completed with high honors.
Vince attended the Ithaca College School of Music and received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1995. During his time at Ithaca, Vince was lucky enough to study with some of the most well renowned musicians and musical theorists of the past 40 years. Vince studied trumpet with Frank Campos and Moffatt Williams, and jazz with Steve Brown. Vince also studied theory with renowned author Dr. Mary I. Arlin.
During his formative years, Vincent Pettinelli developed a love of music. He was fortunate enough to study trumpet with Ken Brader of Easton, Pa. Vincent Pettinelli has also studied classical and jazz piano with the late John Scully of Henryville, Pa.
Personal Philosophy
There are several key components to the success that Vince Pettinelli has. Vince clearly adheres to his personal philosophy in everything that he does, and it comes out in his strive for excellence. His core beliefs are leadership, education, and love.
Vincent Pettinelli is a leader who values listening, effectively utilizing the strengths of those he works with, and applying them efficiently to the task at hand. Success as a leader is found in how one can build up those they are working with to let their ability, strengths and work style prosper is a core belief to Vince Pettinelli and his entire musical ensemble. This philosophy has led Vince Pettinelli to inspire others to become leaders and entrepreneurs. Many who have worked with Vince Pettinelli have gone on to experience musical renown of their own.
Vince understands that those who he works with are representative from every walk of life. Every situation is different and should be understood. Everyone communicates differently. Vincent Pettinelli promotes that the ability to blend different voices, skills and ego’s to foster the success of the project at hand is a skill that takes patience, focus, and tolerance.
Vince has been a lifelong musical academic, whether it was studying theory and practical at a young age, going through college, or now helping to train the next generation of jazz musicians. Vince still discusses techniques and collaborates with professional musicians and music theorists. Vincent Pettinelli has been a dedicated public educator in music throughout his career in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Part of his core philosophy is the belief in the educational, emotional and physical value that music can have on everyone.
Vincent Pettinelli is an example of his dedication to academic excellence. While attending Ithaca College School of Music in the early 1990’s, Vince attained Dean’s list status. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree. Currently, Vince is pursuing his graduate degree in Music and Sound Reinforcement Engineering from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where he is receiving high honors. Vince uses his own academic pursuits to inspire and encourage his students to strive for excellence and never stop learning.
Vince is passionate about music education. He believes in the educational, emotional and physical value that music can have on everyone. The knowledge that children who are involved in some form of music education experience a higher rate of success in life is one of the reasons that Vincent Pettinelli is a leader in music education. It is this love of and for music and willingness that everyone experiences music that drives Vincent Pettinelli.
Vincent Pettinelli has dedicated his life to the love of music. He has based his professional career and his entrepreneurial endeavors on his love of music. the Vince Pettinelli Orchestra the Vince Pettinelli Sacred Band , and the band Generations are all incarnations of the love Vince has for his music, and the tremendous joy that he experiences sharing that music with others.
When playing as a guest soloist or in front of my orchestra, I always have the mentality and thought process that I am gracing my audience with Love. For the beauty of music can only be shared through the emotion it creates. ~ Vincent Pettinelli