Two hundred students from the award-winning Paterson Music Project (PMP) performed winter concerts last week in their hometown of Paterson. Prelude 1, 2, and 3 Strings as well as the Concert Orchestra performed at School 26 (1 East 32nd Street, Paterson) on Tuesday, February 4 followed by the Prelude 1 and 3 Bands at Norman S. Weir Elementary School (152 College Boulevard, Paterson) on Thursday, February 6.
The concerts featured works spanning from classical to contemporary selections, including J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concert No.4 and Astor Piazzolla’s Libertango. PMP and its life-changing music education programs were invited to appear in their third annual performance at the Prudential Center (25 Lafayette Street, Newark) last night during the first intermission of the NJ Devils vs. Florida Panthers hockey game.
The Paterson Music Project empowers children to achieve their full potential through the joyful pursuit of musical excellence. Inspired by the global El Sistema movement, PMP uses music education as a vehicle for social change in its home city of Paterson.
Paterson Music Project is a program of the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts. Wharton is New Jersey’s largest non-profit performing arts education organization serving over 1,500 students of all ages and abilities through a range of classes and ensembles including the 15 ensembles of the New Jersey Youth Symphony which serve 500 students in grades 3 – 12. Beginning with early childhood music classes for toddlers, the Performing Arts School offers 500 private lessons and group classes each week, ensuring there is something for everyone of all ages and abilities.