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Paterson Music Project

Voices of the Silk City: Performing at NJPAC is a breeze

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Paterson Music Project Blog: Voices of the Silk City by Danielle Lefebvre | June 2019

On May 19, 32 Paterson Music Project students joined 120 New Jersey Youth Symphony students on stage at NJPAC for the NJYS 40th anniversary celebration. Twelve-year-old PMP violinist, Akeira, from Alexander Hamilton Elementary School recalls performing at NJPAC:

“I have been to NJPAC twice; both times I went were very, very fascinating experiences! I found it different to play in such a big orchestra at NJPAC; I am usually used to playing in a small orchestra with twenty people or less.”

When asked about playing with older, more experienced students, Akeira said, “It encourages me to work harder and be almost just like them.”

The PMP students performed Palladio by Karl Jenkins, Dance of the Tumblers by Rimsky Korsakov, and a world premiere of three Langston Hughes poems for choir and orchestra by Jack Bender. Akeira said, “My favorite piece out of the three was Palladio. It is my favorite piece because of the dynamic changes and how it is composed. It is more intense and more unusual than the music I usually play.”

Akeira concluded her reflection on the day by saying, “My first time going to NJPAC, I was extremely nervous because it was only my first year in music. My second time going, I was not nervous because over the past year I have advanced. I was way more confident than I was before. I have really enjoyed both my experiences at NJPAC. I hope I can go again next year!”

 

WHARTON ARTS ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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The Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts (WIPA) Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Peter H. Gistelinck as its new Executive Director, effective July 1, 2019. Gistelinck was unanimously approved by the WIPA Board of Directors following a six-month nationwide candidate search.

“WIPA is fortunate to be welcoming such a seasoned and accomplished arts executive in Peter Gistelinck to lead us in carrying forward our commitment to musical excellence for students in our communities. Peter’s passion for music education combined with his strong track record in guiding organizations will serve to take our already excellent programs to even higher levels of positive impact for all,” said Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts Board President Bob Hamburger.

Gistelinck joins WIPA from Kalamazoo where he was President and CEO of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra from 2014 through 2019. Prior to that, from 2006 through 2014, he was Executive Director of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. Before immigrating to the United States in 2006, Gistelinck was Director of Sales and Marketing and Co-Artistic Director for the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra in Belgium and General Manager of Business Affairs at one of France’s leading Baroque orchestras, Le Concert Spirituel in Paris.

Says Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts Artistic Director Helen Cha-Pyo, “It is rare to have an opportunity to work with such a well-rounded arts executive leader as Peter. I am excited to join my efforts with him in furthering our mission to create life-changing experiences for young people through performing arts education.”

“I am absolutely honored to have been chosen as the next leader of the renowned Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts,” said Gistelinck. “This institution, because of its commitment to diversity in the arts, outstanding leadership, and nationally-praised educational programs with sweeping community impact, is poised to become even more prominent in the field of performing arts education. I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to be part of this endeavor.” Read more…


Join us in welcoming Peter to the Wharton Arts family and help kick off the 2019-2020 season! CLICK HERE to donate. This past year we provided the highest quality music education to over 1,500 students…help us reach even more in the season to come. Thank you for your continued support!

 

Community Supports the New Jersey Youth Symphony’s 40th Anniversary

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Development Blog by Elizabeth Piercey | May 2019

What a magical experience! The New Jersey Youth Symphony performed an incredible concert followed by a great 40th Anniversary Gala at NJPAC this past weekend. This was an important fundraiser for the organization and could not have been possible without our supporters:

McCarter & English Attorneys at Law
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
KPMG LLP
Nokia Bell Labs
Helen M. & Norman D. Kurtz Foundation
Bela and Alice Szigethy
Judith and Lennard Wharton
Ruth Zowader and Philip Anderson
Bedrosian Industries
Ruth Charos
Inside Edge Consulting
Peapack Gladstone Bank
Plastic Surgery Center of New Jersey at Summit Medical Group
Lynne and John Rathgeber
St. Joseph’s Health
Bass & Lemer LLP
The Albert Kaufman Group at Morgan Stanley
Longstreet Development
Otterstedt Insurance Agency
Park Avenue Club
Susan and Lloyd Peterson
PSE&G
Dr. Ralph Wharton

We also thank our many individual supporters, as well as our Honorees WBGO Jazz 88.3 and Paterson Mayor André Sayegh; the unwavering dedication of the NJYS student families; the six choirs who joined us this evening and their directors; our soloists–Mia Pafumi, soprano, Theron Cromer, tenor, and John-Andrew Fernandez, baritone; The Paterson Music Project; and our many volunteers.

Here’s to another 40 years of outstanding music-making in New Jersey!

Please contact Pamela Palumbo at Pamela.Palumbo@WhartonArts.org if you would like to make a gift to support NJYS’s 40th anniversary season!