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Education

NJPAC and Montclair State University Launch New All-Female Jazz Education Residency for Summer 2014

Source: Christine Saunders
April 17, 2014

Grammy-Nominated New Jersey Pianist Geri Allen to Serve as Artistic Director New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), in collaboration with Montclair State University will offer a new, All-Female Jazz Residency as part of NJPAC’s arts education offerings. The residency will be led by Grammy-nominated New Jersey pianist Geri Allen, who will serve as the program’s artistic director. Held on the campus of Montclair State University, the residency is a weeklong, program for students ages 14-22 from around the country. The ...

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Education

NJPAC's Brick City Jazz Orchestra debuts in Newark's Branch Brook Park

Source: Christine Saunders
April 15, 2014

Music blossomed in Newark when the Brick City Jazz Orchestra made its premiere under blue skies. With the opening notes of Kenny Dorham’s “Blue Bossa,” NJPAC’s Brick City Jazz Orchestra heralded its official debut in Newark’s Branch Brook Park. The sun was hot, but the student musicians were the epitome of cool. The park’s famed cherry blossoms weren’t totally in the pink yet for the annual Bloomfest (aka the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival), but the 20-piece orchestra was feeling ...

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Event

All Hail Jazz!

Source: Christine Saunders
March 31, 2014

“I’ll remember April, and I’ll smile,” sang Frank Sinatra, who would have made a great pitchman for New Jersey’s role in Jazz Appreciation Month. April brings good reason to smile in the State’s jazz circles, but the proud epicenter is Newark, which practically claims parental rights to many jazz royals. Jazz’s triple crown in the downtown are the expansive archives of the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers, WBGO Jazz 88.3FM – the country’s leading jazz station – and NJPAC, ...

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Event

NJPAC Celebrates Governor Brendan T. Byrne’s 90th Birthday With A Celebrity Comedy Roast Benefit Featuring Roastmaster Governor Chris Christie, Five Additional Former NJ Governors And Special Guest Comedians

Source: Christine Saunders
March 25, 2014

NEWARK, NJ – NJPAC will celebrate Governor Brendan T. Byrne’s 90th birthday on Tuesday, April 1 at 5:30pm with a Roast and toast of the former Governor by his predecessors in the New Jersey governor’s office, celebrity comedians and other New Jersey politicians. Held in NJPAC’s intimate Chase Room and benefiting the Arts Center’s education initiatives, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will act as Roastmaster and lead Tom Kean, James Florio, Donald DiFrancesco, Jim McGreevey, and Richard Codey, as well ...

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Performance / Tour

Acclaimed Hip-Hop/Classical String Duo Black Violin Makes Classical Music Cool At NJPAC

Source: Christine Saunders
February 19, 2014

Black Violin brings their much heralded version of classical music to NJPAC’s Victoria Theater, Saturday, February 22nd at 2pm and 7pm. They will also do a special performance for over 500 Newark area students in grades four through eight. A mixture of hip-hop, rock, R&B and bluegrass, Black Violin comprised of members Wilner “Wil B” Baptiste and Kevin “Kev Marcus” Sylvester have entertained audiences including President Obama at the inaugural ball and accompanied Alicia Keyes at the Billboard Awards. The ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz Meets Sports At NJPAC

Source: Christine Saunders
February 5, 2014

Why do jazz musicians share a longstanding affection and admiration with athletes and vice-versa? Besides having some obvious commonalities—great hand-eye coordination, for instance—it all points to high-octane performance. “Preparation, performance and the ability to change things up and make decisions and movements freely, on the spot,” says Doug Doyle, News and Sports Director at WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM, listing both professions’ mutual traits. Doyle is also the host of the award-winning SportsJam on WBGO, a weekly 30-minute conversation with artists ...

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Event

Dance Theatre Of Harlem To Headline NJPAC's Martin Luther King Celebration

Source: Christine Saunders
December 23, 2013

Join NJPAC as we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King with two very special events Dance Theatre of Harlem Friday, January 17th at 7:30PM At NJPAC’s Prudential Hall Performing arts workshops “Embodying the Dream” Saturday, January 18th from 10AM to 12 Noon Experience the poetry-in-motion of the legendary Dance Theatre of Harlem, as they headline NJPAC’s Martin Luther King celebration on Friday, January 17th in Prudential Hall. The renowned ballet ...

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Event

Lizz Wright And Savion Glover Light Up Ellington At Christmas

Source: Christine Saunders
November 28, 2013

AN ELLIGINTON CHRISTMAS: THE ELLINGTON NUTCRACKER A joyful holiday salute to the Duke’s “Nutcracker Suite” and “Sacred Music,” featuring tap master Savion Glover and the Dance Theater of Harlem School 48 member Arts High Advanced Choir will perform with the David Berger Jazz Orchestra Sunday, December 8th, 4:00pm NJPAC’s Prudential Hall NJPAC is proud to welcome Newark’s own virtuosic tap dancer Savion Glover for a special holiday presentation featuring the music of Duke Ellington on Sunday, December 8 ...

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