The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
February 14,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, BFMS Orchestra Director Ms. Carol Sharar reports that six BF string players have won placement into the prestigious Region I Intermediate Orchestra for 2017. They are: Catherine Park (8th grade Violin) ; William Stewart (8th grade Bass); Ashley Kim (7th grade Violin); Isabella Harelick (7th grade Violin); Ludia Kim (7th grade Viola) and Karis Han (7th grade Viola).
Ridgewood NJ, 2016-2017 RHS Maroon & White Series Continues On Thursday, February 2, the Ridgewood High School Department of Fine and Applied Arts will present the third Maroon & White Music Recital and Art Exhibit for the 2016-17 school year. The third of five such events for this year, the concert will be held in the newly renovated RHS Learning Commons beginning at 3:45PM, followed immediately by a reception and gallery opening in the Carroll Art Gallery. Admission is free and open to the public.
The recital will feature four outstanding musicians, presenting a varied program and will begin with a performance by Jacqueline Johnson, a junior soprano vocalist who has performed as a member of the All State Choir, who will perform Tu lo sai by Giuseppe Torelli, Romance by Claude Debussy and The Sky Above the Roof by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Sophomore trombonist Nik Gambardella will continue the program with a performance of the Menuet from Johann Ernst Galliard’s Sonata No. IV. Isaac Peabody, also an All State Choir member in his junior year, will perform Stefano Donaudy’s Spirate pur, spirate, Franz Schubert’s Das Fischermädchen, and Sea Fever by John Ireland. Jonathan Negron, an accomplished All-Bergen County trumpet player in his junior year, will round out the recital by performing Preludio, Aria e Scherzo by Ennio Porrino, a transcription of Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, and Chet Baker’s I Can’t Get Started.
Following the concert, the February Maroon & White Art Exhibit will officially open in the Carroll Art Gallery. The exhibit will include original works by seven highly accomplished students in a variety of media. The work of senior Maxine Earl varies from realistic, abstract and illustration, all relating to her concentration on influenced emotion. Anna Koontz, a junior, experiments with many different media, with an emphasis on markers and oil pastels. Sophia Swanson, sophomore, creates whimsical illustrations and ethereal portraits using pencil, pen, and colored pencil and has experimented with chalk pastel and watercolor paint, while this exhibit’s other sophomore artist Sarah Taggart, specializes in ceramics. Senior Danielle Testa creates artwork that displays emotions and provokes thought using media from colored pencil to paints to photography, and Julia Yoon, junior, uses oil pastel and pencil drawing to express color and texture in her artwork.
The Maroon and White Recital Series began in 1964 as a means of highlighting outstanding Ridgewood High School musicians in a featured solo capacity. Over the past five decades, the series has expanded to include art exhibits as well as a recital featuring only dancers. Musicians and dancers are selected through competitive audition, while artists are chosen after an extensive portfolio revue. Past Maroon & White recitalists include Jonathan Spitz, principal cellist with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Elizabeth Ostling, associate principal flutist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the piano duo of Sarah and Susan Wang, renowned Broadway singer/dancer Ali Stroker, Stephanie Buesser, dancer with Ballet West, New York City choreographer Yael Nachajon, Broadway director Marc Bruni, jazz organist Jared Gold and many others. The list of past artists includes Lauren Roth of Lauren Roth Art, renowned illustrator Kyle McCullough, Giovanni Forlino, whose work can be seen on display at the Getty and Guggenheim museums, plus a host of professional freelance artists who work in a wide variety of visual art related fields.
Upcoming Maroon & White Recital/Exhibits will take place on March 9, April 6 (Dance) and April 27. All recitals are held in the RHS Learning Commons, with the exception of the dance recital, which takes place in the Little Theater. For more information, please contact the RHS Department of Fine and Applied Arts at 201-670-2800 x. 20542.
December 4,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Eleven RHS band students have been selected to perform in the 2017 All Bergen County Band. More than 300 students auditioned yesterday for 85 positions. Congratulations to: Katlyn Tagliabue, principal bassoon* (10); Joshua (Jaehyeok) Yang, clarinet (11); Tony (Jongyun) An, clarinet (9); Colleen Duffy, clarinet (12); Kieran Corcoran, tenor saxophone (9); Chris Morse, principal baritone saxophone* (10); Jonathan Negron, trumpet (11); Teddy Trent, trumpet (12); Stefanie Haas, trombone (9); and Ethan Glenning, principal euphonium* (12).The All County Band will perform in January.
In addition, two students have been selected to perform in All Eastern ensembles that will perform in April. These students have been recognized as among the top performers on their instrument for the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. Congratulations to: Maxwell Caine, guitar (All Eastern Jazz Ensemble) (12); and the other student, an oboe player (11), whose name is withheld pending media permission.
*highest score
November 18,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, For those who are new to TUBACHRISTMAS, it is an event that allows tuba and euphonium players of all ages and abilities to come together to play holiday music specifically arranged for their instruments. The first TUBACHRISTMAS took place at New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza Ice Rink on Sunday, December 22, 1974. Since then TUBACHRISTMAS events have been held all over the world.
This year’s event in conjunction with the second concert in the Ridgewood Concert Band’s (RCB)34th Season promises to be an exciting night of music for audience and musicians alike. TUBACHRISTMAS participants will rehearse and then will be invited to enjoy the RCB portion of the program, which will include Commando March (Barber), Yiddish Dances, and Nutcracker Suite (Tchaikovsky). Tuba soloist Mike Salzman will also be featured. The concert will conclude with the TUBACHRISTMAS performance of carols arranged for tuba and euphoniums.
4:00 pm – Registration Opens
5:00 pm – Rehearsal
6:30 pm – Dinner
7:30 pm RCB/NJWS Concert
Post Concert Tuba Christmas Performance
Cost to Participate: $10
What is Included:
-TubaChristmas 2016 Pin
-Participation in Rehearsal and Performance
-Complimentary entrance into RCB/NJWS Concert on December 9
What to Bring:
-Your Instrument
-TubaChristmas Carol Book (available for purchase at event)
-Music Stand
What to Wear:
-Festive Clothing
Registration:
-Pre-Register online: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BM5CK6X
-On-Site Registration will be available if capacity has not been reached in pre-registration.
Friday, December 9 at 4 PM – 9:30 PM
West Side Presbyterian Church Ridgewood, NJ
6 S Monroe St, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
Ridgewood NJ, Revel in the joyous music of the season as the New Jersey Choral Society presents its annual holiday concerts, “Magnificat,” Saturday, December 3 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, December 4 at 3:00 pm in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 30 North Fullerton Ave., Montclair. A third performance will be held on Tuesday, December 6 at 7:30 pm in the West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe St., Ridgewood.
The festive program, under the direction of Eric Dale Knapp, opens with three rousing sacred songs, “Keep Your Lamps,” “The First Song of Isaiah,” and “Een So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come,” followed by two traditional carols “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “Do You Hear
What I Hear.” An inspiring rendition of Monteverdi’s “Magnificat,” based on the Marian Vespers or evening prayers, concludes the first half.
Other program highlights include “O Nata Lux” by Morten Lauridsen, two English carols, “The First Noel” and “Nativity Carol” by John Rutter, and the uplifting “Hallelujah” from Handel’s “Messiah.” A new work entitled “Hannah Prays,” written and arranged by NJCS member and Ridgewood resident Rita Blacker, will also be performed.
Linda Sweetman-Waters will accompany NJCS on the organ and a Brass and Percussion Ensemble will also be featured. The NJCS Festival Youth Chorus, directed by Noelle Dachis, will join NJCS as well in this exciting performance Advance tickets are $25.00 for adults and $22.00 for students and seniors (Add $5.00 at the door). A 10% discount for groups of 10 or more is also available. Come one hour prior to performance time for The Inside Line, a complimentary lecture for all ticket holders that provides an intimate and entertaining preview of the music. For reservations or more information, visit
www.NJCS.org or call the New Jersey Choral Society at (201) 379-7719.
Established in 1980, the New Jersey Choral Society is one of the state’s most prestigious choral groups, well-known for presenting outstanding and unique programs. Under the direction of Eric Dale Knapp, NJCS performs three major concerts annually in Bergen and Essex counties. They have performed at Carnegie Hall and the White House and have toured internationally in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, China, Australia, England, France and next summer in Italy.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception and West Side Presbyterian Church are both wheelchair accessible. Funding has been made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
photos courtesy of the Ridgewood High School Band Facebook page
September 25,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood bog
Ridgewood NJ, The RHS band got off to a great start for the season with a very impressive showing at the
Northern Valley Old Tappan Invitational. Taking First Place over all, Best Color,Best Music,Best Overall Effect,
Best Visual,Best Percussion and an overall Score 80.050.
The Ridgewood High School Band Program is renowned as one of New Jersey’s top comprehensive music programs, and is Bergen County’s largest band program with over 200 students involved each year. The Impressive array of curricular and co-curricular ensembles is organized in a logical sequence of instruction, which helps each student develop his or her talent and ability while maintaining the highest standards of performance. Each of our performing ensembles and related groups has received superior ratings at festivals and competitions around the country in all areas of band performance, from concert band to jazz ensemble, and chamber music to marching band. Our reputation for quality music performances is second only to the reputation we enjoy for the outstanding quality of young adults who pass through our ensembles.
The band program enjoys a history nearly a century old. During the past decade, Ridgewood High School band students have performed in major venues ranging from Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, one of the worlds most prestigious concert halls, to the famed Jack Morton Auditorium in Washington DC and New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Our groups have appeared at colleges and universities including Harvard University, George Mason University, and the University of Southern California, and have worked with some of the music world’s greatest composers, conductors, and solo performers.
The Band Program is just one facet of the award winning music department at Ridgewood High School, which has been named a Grammy Arts School in 1998-1999 and again in 2003-2004. The Band Program is particularly proud to have played an important role in the Nation Association of Music Merchants decision to name Ridgewood one of the “Best communities for Music Education in America.” Other awards have included NJAJE Finalist status for both jazz ensembles, more than a dozen appearances at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Young Musicians Concert, and a return for the Marching Band to the top five at the USBands National Championships at MetLife Stadium. Individually, members of the Ridgewood High School Bands are chosen annually to perform in honors ensembles at the county, regional, and state level.
September 25,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Do you have your tickets to our 2016-2017 season yet? The “5 for 4” concert subscription ticket sale promotion has been extended to September 30th. Don’t miss out!
https://ridgewoodband.org/purchase/subscription.aspx
Its their 34th Season and there is a great line up of concerts for you. Act now to take advantage of our season ticket special to get tickets to all five concerts for the price of four!
Check out these soloists for the season!
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Our upcoming concert season “Musical Works of Art” will begin November 20 th with a 4:00 pm performance of Brahms’ beautiful Ein Deutsches Requiem. Our Summer Sing on August 15 and 29 featured this magnificent work, giving interested singers the chance to join their voices with Pro Arte and experience the joy of choral singing. Our March 26 th concert at 4:00 pm will feature a selection of Opera Choruses, which will include collaboration with a high school chorus. Our final concert, June 10 th at 8:00 pm will be an all-Bruckner program featuring 6 Motets and his Mass in E Minor. Interestingly, Bruckner is known mostly for his symphonies, but he was a church musician as well, and his music for the Roman Catholic liturgy is considered to be amongst the finest of the last 150 years. We are excited to present our 2016-2017 season and remain deeply grateful for the support we receive from our funders and audience members. We look forward to seeing you at our concerts and events!
The Pro Arte Chorale, a 50-member volunteer chorus based in Ridgewood, is committed to enriching the lives of its members and its audience by exploring many musical traditions. The Pro Arte Chorale welcomes voices in all sections. We will be hosting auditions throughout the season, starting in early September on Monday nights @7pm. Singers interested in auditioning will be asked to prepare a piece of music that best highlights their voice, and will also be tested for range and reading ability. To schedule an audition, please contact us via email (info@proartechorale.org) or via phone (201) 497-8400. We rehearse on Monday nights, 7:30 – 10:00pm at The Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ridgewood.
The Pro Arte Chorale is lead by Maestro Steven Fox. Maestro Fox is also the artistic director of Clarion Music Society in New York, and the music director for Musica Antiqua St. Petersburg in Russia which he founded in 2001 at the age of 21. He has a distinguished background in sacred music, having served as Acting Director of Music at historic Trinity Church, Wall Street from 2009-2010 and Cantorial
Soloist at the majestic Temple Emanuel in New York City from 2009-2013. Maestro Fox has given master classes and clinics at Dartmouth College, Julliard School and Yale University, where he served for two years as preparatory conductor of the Yale Schola Cantorum. He graduated a Senior Fellow with High Honors from Dartmouth College and with Distinction from the Royal Academy of Music, London, where, in 2010, he was named an Associate for ‘remarkable achievement in and contribution to his field in music’. Recognized as a leader in his generation of conductors, Steven has been called an “esteemed director” by The New Yorker, “visionary” by BBC Music Magazine, and ‘a conductor to watch’ by Seen and Heard International.
The Pro Arte Chorale is sponsored in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment of the Arts. All performances are held in ADA compliant venues with handicapped accessible parking, ramps, elevators and restrooms. Large print programs are available.
July 27,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The music shell on Veteran’s Field was erected and donated as a gift to the Village in member of Frank Kasschau, a widely recognized choral conductor, organist and teacher. The shell is dedicated to and accepted for use by the citizens of the Village of Ridgewood as a place where summer programs of fine music and related artistic and cultural endeavors may be presented to the community in a setting of natural beauty.
Bring your chair and blanket starts at 8:30pm.
Only three performances left ; July 28th TREBLE – Popular Rock , August 2nd Bishop of Jazz and His Abbotts (Rio Clemente) and August 4th Mack Brandon & The Connection – Popular Gospel .
July 16,2016
August 15, 2017 St Marks Episcopal Church, 188 Chadwick Rd, Teaneck
August 29, 2019 Bethelehem Lutheran Church, 155 Linwood Ave, Ridgewood
K A S S C H A U ME M O R I A L S H E L L 2016
July 3,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Fifty-Eight Years Free Summer Entertainment Under the Stars 8:30pm at the Band Shell Veterans Field, Ridgewood, N.J.
Behind the Ridgewood Public Library N. Maple Ave. Between Franklin and Linwood Aves. Please bring a chair or blanket. Please do not cross over the baseball field if a game is in progress.
Thursday, July 7 “The Kootz” – Classic 60’s through 90’s Rock, Pop and Blues Sponsors: Wostbrock Home & Design Fish Urban Dining
Tuesday, July 12 THUNDERHILL – Country & Western Sponsors: Boiling Springs Savings Bank Village of Ridgewood
Thursday, July 14 The McVey Family Sponsors: West Ridgewood Dental Professionals Tarvin Realtors
Tuesday, July 19 Bucky Pizzarelli Quartet Sponsors: Daily Treat Restaurant Valley National Bank Thursday, July 21 North Jersey Concert Band Sponsor: Care One at the Cupola and Care One at Ridgewood Avenue Tuesday, July 26 Andy Cooney & His Band – Irish Night Sponsors: Boiling Springs Savings Bank Feeney Funeral Home
Thursday, July 28 TREBLE – Popular Rock Sponsors: Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill The Valley Hospital.
Tuesday, August 2 Bishop of Jazz and His Abbotts (Rio Clemente) Sponsors: Columbia Bank The Village of Ridgewood
Thursday, August 4 Mack Brandon & The Connection – Popular Gospel Sponsors: One Shop Wireless, Inc. BRANDfog
Variety Staff
A group of radical Islamists attacked a listening party in Istanbul where Radiohead was holding a listening party for fans in support of their new album.
The men reportedly stormed the record store, Velvet Indieground, in Istanbul, Turkey, and used pipes to violently beat fans running away from the venue for drinking alcohol during the holy month of Ramadan.
“Our hearts go out to those attacked tonight at Velvet IndieGround in Istanbul,” Radiohead said in a statement. “We hope that someday we will be able to look back on such acts of violent intolerance as things of the ancient past. For now, we can only offer our fans in Istanbul our love and support.”
It’s unknown how many people were injured in the uproar or the severity of their injuries.
One of the store’s owners allegedly posted about the encounter on Reddit, saying, “I am the person that’s speaking in that video. I am the owner of that periscope account. They were determined to kill us. We were beaten by more than 20 men with pipes in their hands, beer bottles were broken on our heads. I don’t even know how we made it out. I will share the details later guys, just hoping that no one will die.”
The event was part of a global listening party in support of Radiohead’s new album, “A Moon Shaped Pool,” and included specially curated playlists, games, and limited-edition vinyls.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, On the first Friday of June, July & August from 6:30-9pm meet us on the sidewalk outside of Memorial Park on Van Neste Square local artists will sell their works (with 20% going to the Ridgewood Guild). Listen to live music, browse beautiful art, and enjoy the warm Friday night! It is also the 7th season of Music in the Night in downtown Ridgewood .
June 2,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Registration is open for the 2016 SUMMER MUSIC ACADEMY, which provides exciting performing opportunities and lesson groups for young musicians. Under the direction of BFMS Orchestras Director Carol Sharar, new offerings include guitar lessons and drum set lessons. Visit the Ridgewood Community School website for more information and a link to online registration: https://ridgewood.rcs.
RHS Bands Kick Off Kasschau Season on June 2
June 1,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, On Thursday, June 2, the RHS Symphonic Band, Concert Band and Wind Ensemble will officially open the Kasschau Memorial Shell’s 2016 Summer Season with “Tunes in June,” a concert of light and popular music. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. and will also feature a ceremony to honor graduating seniors from the band program. Click here for full details.
Enjoy music under the stars on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer. No fee. June 2nd 8pm all other programs start at 8:30 pm.
Find details in the following link:
Kasschau Memorial Shell – 2016 Summer Schedule
