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Giralda Lawn Concert -  Celebrating 25 years, June 29,2008
Held on the last Sunday of June, this much-anticipated family event heralds the arrival of summer, offering a program of light classics performed by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra on the gracious lawns of the Giralda Farms Corporate Park in Madison. Lavish prizes are awarded for the most outstanding  picnics brought by audience members who combine the joy of gathering with friends or family, relaxing in the lovely outdoor setting, savoring a dinner al fresco and listening to quality music. A 50-50 Raffle benefits ACMA's scholarship funds. Tickets are $15 Adults and $5 Children under 12.

"Casting Call" - Giralda Veterans wanted. Be a star at the 25th Anniversary concert

In planning for this momentous anniversary of our much-loved concert, we would love to collect and feature Giralda stories (and perhaps photos) from anyone who attended the first Lawn Concert in 1983 and/or those who have been coming regularly for many years. Giralda traditions among families or groups of friends are also of much interest.

In appreciation for your participation, we will be offering preferred seating and recognition at this year's special 25th Anniversary event.

From earlier Giraldas: First Prize picnic winners with "Carmen" theme (2004); Uncle Sam visits Giralda (2004); Patriotic program inspires decorations (2005)

Please contact Dr. Lynn Siebert at (973) 285-5115, ext. 10 to share your stories...

Tickets: $15 for adults, $5 for children under 12. They will be available starting June 1 at Kings Supermarkets in Morristown and Chatham or, from June 1-20, by calling Kristine Peters at (973) 285-5115, ext. 14. 

With this year's special anniversary, there will be also be special opportunities for organizations and individuals to purchase ads or sponsorships in the 25th Anniversary Program Journal. Please contact Kadie Dempsey at (973) 285-5115, ext. 17 for more information.

To download information on purchasing ads/sponsorships in the 25th Anniversary Program Journal, please click HERE.

Scenes from the 24th Annual Giralda Lawn Concert:  June 24, 2007   
  L-R: Crowds at Giralda 07; Prizewinning picnics, "Petals" and "African Safari"

The Arts Council of the Morris Area heralded the summer with its much-anticipated Giralda Lawn Concert, featuring the NJ Symphony conducted by Jeffrey Grogan and performing on the gracious lawns of the Giralda Farms Corporate Park. 

  Friends and families spread their blankets, set up their picnics, danced on the sidelines and reveled in the sounds of the symphony and the perfect summer weather.

   
Spontaneous waltzing ...to Strauss' "On the Blue Danube"

Roving picnic judges selected winners for the generous prizes (concert or theatre tickets, dinners for two, gift certificates). Adding to the excitement, there was a prize drawing (for arts events and a ride on the Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield blimp) as well as the 50/50 raffle which not only enriched the winner but contributed significantly to ACMA's scholarship fund for artistically gifted students.

This year's program  included soul-stirring music of romance and adventure, drawing from classical repertoire, Broadway and the silver screen. In addition, former Board Chairman, Dick Eger, concluded the concert, serving as guest conductor, led the orchestra in a stirring rendition of Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever:

Dick Eger conducting "Stars and Stripes Forever"

PROGRAM
Glinka's Russlan and Ludmilla Overture
Shostakovitch's Ballet Suite No. 1 (Lyric Waltz, Romance and Galop)
Strauss' On the Beautiful Blue Danube, Op. 314
Dvorak's Humoresque No. 7
Suppe's Poet and Peasant Overture
INTERMISSION
Bernstein's Selections from West Side Story
Copland's Saturday Night Waltz and Hoedown from the ballet, Rodeo
Williams' Selections from Harry Potter
Badelt's Selections from Pirates of the Caribbean
Williams' Selections from Star Wars
Lowden's Armed Forces Salute
Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever (guest conductor, Dick Eger)

Midday Music on the Green
Free, weekly lunchtime concerts during June and July held in Morristown's central square known as The Green. Funded by the Trustees of the Morristown Green, with artistic programming provided by the Arts Council, these concerts offer music for every taste, featuring bebop, swing, classical, Celtic, bluegrass, funk, rock, folk, blues, R&B, pop, Caribbean and world music.

2007 Midday Music on the Green:
Who knew the Square could be so Hip?

Renovation of Morristown's fabled Green has postponed and shortened this sixth season of the highly popular Midday Music on the Green. However, if October cooperates, we'll still hear some terrific sounds as part of this free lunchtime series.

Time: Programs are set for 12:15-1pm each Thursday from October 11th through 25th,2007 
Place: The Morristown Green, Park Place (Rt. 124) in the center of Morristown. Bring your lawn chair, blanket or find a bench...
IT'S FREE!!

In cooperation with the Trustees of the Morristown Green, the Arts Council of the Morris Area is proud to present the following artists:

     OCTOBER 11th: The Bob DeVos Organ Trio

  OCTOBER 18: The Robert Murdock Band   
                                                                                             L-R: Jeff Alai, Robert Murdock and Lee Scott Howard

Formed in the 1980’s, The Robert Murdock Band has since released two critically-acclaimed albums: Don’t Quit Your Day Job and Horizontal Hold on Dockside Music Records. The group extensively tours the Northeastern United States opening for national recording acts such as Leon Russell, New Riders of the Purple Sage, John Eddie, Glen Burtnik (Styx), John Cafferty & Beaver Brown, and Gary U.S. Bonds. In addition, the band has gained international notoriety in England, Sweden, Germany, and Chile where Robert recently appeared on nationally syndicated television shows and radio stations. Among the band’s musical influences are The Beatles, Goo-Goo Dolls, Bryan Adams, AC/DC, Pink Floyd and Def Leppard.

  OCTOBER 25: Quizamba: Funky Brazilian Jazz

This hot young group is bringing their devotion to Brazilian music to the metropolitan area in a big way. Featuring Felipe Salles on Tenor & Soprano Saxophones, Danny Kirkhum on Trombone, Helio Alves on Keyboard, Leonardo Cioglia on Bass, Adriano Santos on Drums and Jorge Amorim on Percussion, Quizamba is part of a regularly sponsored Brazilian Jazz Series which can be heard every Monday evening at NYC's Louis 649 (on 9th St.) as well as at Dizzy's Club  at Lincoln Center and at many leading clubs throughout New York City.  For more information on their performing schedule, times and places, check their  Calendar.

Who knew that being hip just meant a trip ..... to the scene on the Morristown Green?

Annual Arts & Humanities Proclamation
Since October is  National Arts & Humanities Month, ACMA obtains an annual proclamation from the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, declaring a select week in October as Arts & Humanities Week in Morris County. Each year, representatives from the county's many arts organizations as well as individual artists support and participate in the event.

October 13-20, 2007 Arts & Humanities Week Proclaimed in Morris County
 

L-R: ACMA's Executive Director, Catharine Vaucher receives Proclamation from Freeholder Director Margaret Nordstrom; Arts Community gives thumbs up to proclamation! Back row (L-R) Charles Miller, Allison Larena (both of Community Theatre/Mayo Center for the Arts); Terry Scullin (Morris Music Men), Deborah Williams (First Night® Morris), Kenneth Donohue (Morris Choral Society), Jean Turse and Carlene Seppala (both of Masterwork Chorus); Front Row (L-R) Catharine Vaucher (ACMA), Mary Lou Borde and Kit Haines-Bornheimer (both of Masterwork Chorus).

On October 10, 2007 the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders proclaimed the week of October 13-20, 2007 to be Arts & Humanities Week in Morris County. Stating that the arts and humanities "embody much of the accumulated wisdom, intellect and imagination of humankind, adding balance to our lives and enriching all of us with an appreciation of the beauty and creativity that is the core of the human spirit" and acknowledging that "the arts and humanities significantly enhance Morris County's quality of life and rich cultural legacy, bringing people together to share the enjoyment of originality and talent," the Proclamation validates and recognizes the contributions of ACMA and the artists, arts organizations it serves. Artists and representatives from various arts groups within the county attended the proclamation which was given by Freeholder Director Margaret Nordstrom to Catharine Vaucher, ACMA's Executive Director.

First Night Morris County
New Jersey’s biggest and brightest New Year’s Eve non-alcoholic celebration of the arts, has featured more than 300 artists, 92 events in 26 venues - representing dance, drama, music, visual arts and children's events.  The Arts Council of the Morris Area is the artistic programmer for First Night® Morris County and encourages the regional artistic community to apply to present and perform the visual and performing arts at this New Year's Eve celebration. FNMC strives to create a rich, multi-cultural event that blends participation in and enjoyment of the arts and the recognition of the passage of time into a community-centered celebration.  For more information, please call (973) 285-5115.  Visit the First Night website at www.firstnightmorris.com or call (973) 455-0708 for additional information on the December 31st event.

First Night® Morris  - December 31st, 2007
by Dr. Lynn L. Siebert
       

 On December 31, 2007, Morris County ushered in the New Year with five hours of the full power and splendor of the arts at First Night® Morris, New Jersey’s biggest and brightest alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration. Since First Night’s inception 16 years ago, the Arts Council of the Morris Area has served as its artistic programmer, selecting and scheduling hundreds of artists performing in over 25 sites throughout Morristown. Representing multiple artistic disciplines, the live performances, exhibits, activities and demonstrations this year range in style from the popular to the classical, from western to world cultures - for all ages, from young child through adult.

       
Top Row (L-R): Morris Choral Society, Laryssa Krupa, Alexander Slobodyanik, Harmonium Choral Society, Colonial Symphony
 

     
Middle Row (L-R): Organist Jim Hicks, Lyrica Chamber Music; Flutist Inna Gilmore; Coro Lirico conductor Jason Tramm

 
            Bottom Row (L-R): Guitarist Peter Fletcher; Solid Brass; Piano prodigy Yuqing Meng 

For those who love CLASSICAL MUSIC, this year’s event offered a veritable feast of talents from which to select: the stunning, world class pianists Alexander Slobodyanik and his wife, Laryssa Krupa, and Friends; the polished Colonial Symphony; the opera chorus Coro Lirico,  the refined passion of classical guitarist Peter Fletcher, prize-winning Russian-born flutist Inna Gilmore (soon to make her Carnegie debut), the acclaimed a cappella Harmonium Choral Society (with music spanning multiple centuries and cultures); master organist James Hicks (with a program entitled "Organ Encores"); Lyrica Chamber Music (offering light selections from opera and Broadway); perennial favorite, Solid Brass (with "Meet the Presidents" and brass music from the Middle Ages to the Beach Boys); the popular Morris Choral Society (with a patriotic sing-along); the renowned New Philharmonic of New Jersey orchestra; and piano prodigy Yuqing Meng (who performed with the NY Philharmonic when he was 13). 

     
Top Row, L-R: Rio Clemente, the Bishop of Jazz; Grover Kemble's Ray Charles retrospective; Orrin Star & the Sultans of String
 

     
Middle Row (L-R): The Stein Brothers; Girl Authority; The Robert Murdock Band
 

Aficionados of POP AND JAZZ delighted in the heartstopping jazz piano mastery of "the Bishop of Jazz," Rio Clemente;the sophisticated trombone based blues of Danny Kirkhum’s ensemble ; Jazzman Grover Kemble's tribute to jazz great Ray Charles; bluegrass at its best with national flatpicking champ Orrin Star & the Sultans of String; the dazzling bebop art of the Stein Brothers Quartet; the wholesome 'Tween pop sensations (our answer to Hannah Montana) Girl Authority; and the truly fab "British Invasion" rockers, the Robert Murdock Band.

    

      
 (L-R): Andes Fusion South American band; Mark Levy world folksinger; Richard Reiter’s Drum Circle; The Russian Duo

             
(L-R): Native American performer Kenneth Little Hawk; No Discipline (reggae); Folksinger Mike Agranoff; The Strauss-Warschauer Duo, klezmer masters
 
Those with more ECLECTIC MUSICAL TASTES and an interest in WORLD CULTURES relished the traditional and "New Age" Andean music from Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia performed by Andes Fusion; or were entranced and amused by witty and haunting folksongs in French, Ladino, Yiddish, Russian and Spanish by master folksinger Mark Levy. Novices were welcome to experience West African drumming firsthand with Richard Reiter’s Participatory African Drum Circle or to enjoy the sheer virtuosity of The Russian Duo, with folk instrumental masters Tamara Volskaya on domra and Anatoliy Trofimov on bayan (hear/seen on NPR, ABC-TV, at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center). Others went on a spiritual journey (through music and storytelling) with the spellbinding Native American Cultural Treasure Kenneth Little Hawk (who has performed at The White House, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, in Ken Burns' films, and on TV) or danced the night away to the joyous Caribbean music of the much-loved reggae band No Discipline. The clever parodies and zany humor of Mike Agranoff's folk songs brought smiles and pleasure to many while still more indulged the irrepressible urge to dance with the fabled Klezmer Conservatory's own Strauss-Warschauer Duo - who sang and played (and taught Yiddish dance) in shifting combinations of violin, guitar, mandolin and accordion. The Duo’s passionate music has been featured in films, theatre, on HBO, Public Radio International and throughout Europe, Canada and North America.

      

  L-R: The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company; NJ Tap Ensemble Company Soloists Jeffry Foote and Maurice Chestnut; The Shubanjali Dance Company
 
DANCE fans thrilled to this year’s lineup of outstanding talent including the unique blend of Chinese classical movement and American modern dance (and live music) by the renowned Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company (which has received 12 separate awards for its outstanding work from the National Endowment for the Arts!). Dedicated to preserving and celebrating America’s rhythm tap dancing, the New Jersey Tap Ensemble shared two of its outstanding Company Soloists (Morristown native Jeffry Foote and the renowned Maurice Chestnut) who inspired the audience to try out some tapping tricks!  No need to travel to Asia when you could sample some of South India's cultural riches with the exacting and elegant work performed by the Shubanjali Dance Company.

    
L-R:  Allison Larkin in her one-woman comedy, The English American; Dennis Kobray as Chopin (Meet the Musicians); Carol Titus, master storyteller

    
L-R: Jennifer Levine's puppet drama "Miracle on Monroe Street"; comedienne Kate Lyn Reiter; Shakespeare Theatre of NJ's David Foubert and Jay Leibowitz perform "Who's on First?" with an Elizabethan twist

Those who love DRAMATIC ARTS/COMEDY can enjoy the last laughs of the year with Allison Larkin, a "bi-hemispheric" comedienne, author and performer on TV, films, B'way and radio who starred in her funny, poignant autobiographical one-woman comedy, The English American. Jennifer Levine took us back in time, capturing the immigrant experience on the lower East Side in the 1900's with her puppet drama, Miracle on Monroe Street (featured in the International Fringe Festival). Baby Boomers enjoyed From the 60s to 60 at 60mph, comedy about growing up in the Midwest, surviving the 60s, surviving breast cancer and generally finding humor in the midst of life - with Kate Lyn Reiter, an award-winning actress, comedienne and playwright who performed in The World According to Garp with Robin Williams and John Lithgow and on Comedy Central and Fox Network. Audiences experienced the 19^th century musical scene with Meet the Musicians, where actor/musician Dennis Kobray stepped into character as the famed composer Frederic Chopin; Young people were spellbound with tales for young people enacted by master storyteller Carol Titus and capacity crowds entered the zany world of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's own Jay Leibowitz and David Foubert who masterfully performed one of the greatest comedic routines of all time, Abbott & Costello's "Who's on First?" in its original form and with a Shakespearean twist.

   

L-R: Bob Lloyd's "More than Magic"; Kit’s Kaboodle with "The Renaissance"; Big Jeff (with Mr. Kleiner); Mr. Fish and His Super Circus Stuff

L-R: From Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey to Morristown, Will Shaw's "Fun and Funny Juggling Show"; Kip Rosser's "stand-up musicianship" blends music and comedy in his "I've got a theremin and I know how to use it!"; and national champion unicyclists and jugglers, the Dazzling Mills Family, in action.

CHILDREN OF ALL AGES delighted in the fabulous juggling, magic, mime and comedy of Bob Lloyd's More than Magic; Singing, dancing and clapping accompanied the guitar, harmonica and kazoo of consummate kids’ musicians, Big Jeff and Mr. Kleiner; The scene of spinning plates and boomerangs were typical of the fun families had with longtime professional circus performer, Mr. Fish and his Super Circus Stuff while the arts of ladyship and knighthood with Lady Celia Beaumont were sampled with Kit’s Kaboodle interactive theatre, The Renaissance, (where audience members were cast right into the show!) The zany, deadpan antics of Ringling Brothers trainer, performer and master juggler/comedian Will Shaw and his Fun and Funny Juggling Act kept everyone laughing; Others relished the truly unique experience of "stand-up musicianship," featuring music/stories/performance art and audience participation with Kip Rosser, who appeared at the International Fringe Festival and is considered one of America's top performers on the Theremin - the only instrument played without being touched (and which produces that eerie background music in classic horror films). And SRO crowds thrilled to the Dazzling Mills Family, national juggling and unicycle champions who have appeared on nationwide TV 9 times in the last 4 years; And, of course, The Children’s Fun Festival and traveling street performers brought the joys of face painting, airbrush tattoos, wizards, magicians, balloon artists, clowns and the much loved Cow Lady to all the young at heart.

The VISUAL ARTS were well represented with two separate exhibits: Art Upstairs! offered an exhibit of photography by Amy Becker, sculpture by Marguerite Brennan and pastels by J. Carol Goodman on display at the 2^nd floor lobby of the Community Theatre/Mayo Center for the Performing Arts and the Morris County Administration Building’s Atrium Art Exhibit featured 4 floors of exhibits showcasing works by Anne Frommer, Members of the Art Center of New Jersey and the Drew Art Association.

The evening ended with not one but TWO rounds of FIREWORKS (one at 9 and one at midnight)!!

Visit www.firstnightmorris.com for more information and program details.
Our thanks to the corporate, foundation and individual donors and to all of the numerous dedicated volunteers for helping it all work.

         

Third Saturdays at Morris View
With funding from the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Arts Council provides artistic programming for a monthly concert series held at the county's Morris View Nursing Home. Programming is varied and brings everything from choral groups and jazz musicians to classical chamber groups and folk singers to Morris View, providing entertainment and stimulation for the residents, staff and visitors on the third Saturday of each month, year round.

Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship & Eugenie Coladarci Arts Scholarship

CLICK HERE for downloadable application materials.

Offered annually by the Arts Council of the Morris Area to a graduating high school senior who plans to pursue further study in an area related to the arts.  The Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship (now in the amount of $4,000) was established in memory of Elaine Ehlers (1953-2001), a health-care administrator by profession, who had a voracious appetite for all things artistic and musical. She derived intellectual and emotional sustenance from the arts and she supported programs at many museums and musical institutions. By establishing this scholarship, an enduring legacy has been created to reward those who possess artistic talent and who plan to further their arts education.  The Eugenie Coladarci Arts Scholarship (in the amount of $1,250) was first awarded in 1999, in memory of Eugenie R. Coladarci, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, Chase Manhattan Bank, who was an active member of the Arts Council of the Morris Area for eleven years and was completing her first term as Board Chair when she passed away in 1997. As a statewide champion of the arts, Gene encouraged the development of young artists and believed in the value of the arts to the quality of life. The idea of a scholarship to assist talented young people wishing to continue their study in the arts was very important to her.  Applicants must be Morris County residents who plan to pursue post-secondary studies at an accredited institution or acknowledged arts school or fine arts program and have demonstrated artistic excellence in dance, drama, music, or visual arts.  

     
L-R: Tom Barth and Emily Trenk, the 2007 winners of the Ehlers and Coladarci Arts Scholarships respectively
 

Arts Mentoring Program at Morristown High School
Funded by Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Grant, the Art Mentoring program assists selected, highly talented art students who need additional support in refining their artistic skills, developing their own personal style and assembling a strong art portfolio which, in turn, enhances their ability to compete for admission into quality art schools, college, a career in visual arts and/or scholarship aid.  Two professional artists meet with the students for 12 weeks, assigning work tailored to each student's needs. Additionally, the students receive instruction in Art History, Life Drawing, Still Life Drawing and Computer Arts. Graduates of this program have been highly successful in meeting their career goals. A highlight of this year’s program was a November 8^th Field Trip to NY’s Museum of Modern Art. “I’m sure the experience will resonate for our students for a very long time, and may even have been life altering,” said Mira Morrison, Chair of the Art Department of Morristown High.

  
L-R: Mentors Charles Perkalis, Mira Morrison, Dan Fenelon;  Standing: Cori Connolly, Samantha Storch, Charles Perkalis, Kadie Dempsey, Dan Fenelon, Mike Lewis, Mira Morrison/ Seated: LeDavia Taylor and Travis Samuels.

On January 22, 2008, the 2007-08 Morristown High School Art Mentoring Program awarded Certificates of Completion to senior participants: Cori Connolly, Michael Godoy, Michael Lewis, Travis Samuels, Samantha Storch and LeDavia Taylor. Professional artists Dan Fenelon and Charles Perkalis provided expert mentoring in this program managed by Kadie Dempsey, ACMA’s Local Arts Director, and arranged by Mira Morrison, Chair of the Art Dept. at Morristown High.

       
L-R: Student with their art: Cori Connolly, Travis Samuels, LeDavia Taylor, Mike Lewis, Samantha Storch

Celebrate the Arts/ Awards Event
This annual event recognizes those individuals and organizations who have contributed significantly to the artistic vitality of our community. Based on nominations, awards are given in the categories of Outstanding Arts Organization, Outstanding Arts Educator (The Joyce Talbot Award), Outstanding Corporation (The Robert Maass Award), Outstand Arts Advocate (The Josephine Margetts Award) and Outstanding Professional in the Arts. Additionally, the two graduating high school senior winners of the Ehlers and Coladarci Arts Scholarships are announced and formally introduced to the larger arts community.  For more detailed information on last year's Celebrate the Arts, awardees and scholarship winners, click here.

Workshops for Arts Organizations and Individual Artists
The Arts Council periodically offers workshops to assist Arts Organizations and Individual Artists in developing skills in grantwriting, business/financial management and such. Typically there will be one workshop in the Fall and one in the Spring on such topics. Those interested should contact ACMA's Director of Local Arts at (973) 285-5115, ext. 17.

Community Service Arts Initiatives
This initiative provides creative, intellectually stimulating and healing arts experiences to some of Morris County's most vulnerable children and their families - those fighting poverty, homelessness, hunger and neglect. This program is a vital and growing piece of our program offerings, expanding the Arts Council's reach beyond the classroom in several important ways:  a) advancing the range and quality of arts offerings provided to families by social service agencies b) enlivening and revitalizing neighborhoods through transformational community arts projects c) deepening the skill sets of social service administrators an daycare teachers
d) boosting the morale of families struggling to survive and e) tapping the creative and intellectual potential of vulnerable children in Morris County.