The weather was glorious and the atmosphere, magical, as record crowds attended Morris Arts’ 31st annual Giralda Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, June 22, 2014. The crowds cruised (and purchased from) the many colorful artists’ and jewelers’ booths, tried out their hula hoop skills, visited the poetry tent, sampled ice cream from the vintage ice cream truck and savored a truly inspired program performed by the state’s top orchestra, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. The picnic judges enjoyed roaming the grounds, inspecting the many creative and colorful picnics, six of which won a total of over $2,000 worth of prizes donated by cultural organizations and businesses from this the area. And, of course, there was the fabled 50-50 raffle which netted the lucky winner $2,160 in cash! Very generously, he donated $300 of that back to Morris Arts to amplify the balance – which supports our Coladarci Arts Scholarship for a graduating high school senior talented in the arts.
Above: Gemma New conducts the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra in the National Anthem.
Photos from June 22, 2014’s Giralda:
L-R: Artist Madison Berry; Artist Sharon Reed; Hula Hoop master, Jessikah Krause with hoop; Rainbow the clown’s shoes; Jessikah Krause hula hoops on her head: artist Christian Markovic (photos by Nicole Okumu).
L-R: Packed crowds enjoying the concert; Conductor Gemma New at the end; Gemma New conducting the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (photos by Dr. Lynn L. Siebert)
Conductor Gemma New, engaged the audience with backgrounds on each piece and explained the New Jersey links between composers featured on this wonderful program, in light of the 350th anniversary of New Jersey’s founding charter. (Who knew Rachmaninoff spent time in New Jersey?)
MOZART – Cosi fan tutte Overture
VIVALDI.”Summer” from The Four Seasons for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 8
III. Presto, with BRENNAN SWEET violin
TCHAIKOVSKY . Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, “Pathétique”
II. Allegro con grazia
BEETHOVEN. Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
IV. Allegro
COPLAND . Fanfare for the Common Man
RACHMANINOFF.Vocalise
STRAUSS. Die Fledermaus Overture
ROSSINI.William Tell Overture
~INTERMISSION~
BERLIN/Arr. BENNETT.Annie Get Your Gun Overture
COUNT BASIE/Arr. HOLCOMBE. “One O’Clock Jump”
Arr. VANACORE. Jersey Boys Tribute
SINATRA/Arr. MOSS. Salute to Ole Blue Eyes
SOUSA. Atlantic City Pageant
WILLIAMS. Liberty Fanfare
LOWDEN. Armed Forces Salute
People of all ages, from the youngest of babies to nonegenarians, attended and enjoyed relaxing on the gracious lawns of the former Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge Estate, now Giralda Farms Corporate Park. It was a beautiful, happy day and a most fitting way to welcome summer.
Here are some additional photos from the event:
L-R: Artist Valerie Verona with her painting and her son; Rainbow the Clown with her goose friend; Deb Regan with friends and their prizewinning Summer Solstice; “shark” watermelon from prizewinning Margaritaville picnic.
L-R: Prizewinning picnics: Nicoise salad and almond raspberry tart from Afternoon in the French Countryside: sipping a drink at the [Mou]stache Bash picnic; Cassoulet from the Afternoon in the French Countryside picnic; members of the [Mou]Stache Bash picnic, “in the spirit.”
L-R: Brie, fruit with mango and pineapple chutneys; the vintage ice cream truck; Artist-jewelers, the Merzattas; winner of the 50-50 raffle with Tom Werder, Morris Arts’ Executive Director; Morris Arts Board Member Beatriz Bueno with Board Chair, Tom McMillian. (photos by Dr. Lynn L. Siebert)
Enjoy listening to excerpts of Brennan Sweet’s performance of the violin solo from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Op. 8, Movement 3 of “Summer” HERE and HERE or catch a little of the New Jersey Symphony’s performance of Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man.
See a bit of the hula hoop fun as well.
It was a magical and wonderful time for all.
Morris Arts wishes to thank our sponsors: David and Dorothy Clair; Richard R. Eger; Edda and Jim Gillen; and AthenianRazak/KeyBank; Frank & Lydia Bergen Foundation; Brinton Eaton Wealth Advisors; Gary’s Wine & Marketplace; GRC Management; investors Bank; JWeber Creative, LLC; Kings Super Markets; Lincoln Equities LLC; Maersk Inc.; Open Spaces Management Association; RXR Realty LLC; Yelp. Corporate Arts Sponsor: NJ.com; Media Sponsor: The Daily Record. All proceeds benefit the many programs and services provided to artists, arts organizations, schools and the community by Morris Arts.