By Mabel Pais

“Despite the global pandemic, young musicians of Wharton Arts never stopped making music.  At our Virtual Winter Celebration, you will see and hear performances from over 450 young people, sharing messages of hope through their gifts of music.” – Helen H. Cha-Pyo, Artistic Director & Principal Conductor

The Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts (WIPA) welcomes everyone to  ring in the winter solstice by enjoying classical, pops, and holiday favorites with a weekend of virtual events December 18-20. Free online streaming for the Holiday Cabaret for the Arts, ‘Messengers of Hope Virtual Festival’, and ‘Salon Series’ is available at WhartonArts.tv. In the absence of live event experiences, audience members are invited to watch from the comfort of home and enjoy the gift of music from Wharton’s talented young artists. For full concert details, see schedule below or visit WhartonArts.org. “The Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts is continuing to make every effort in bringing the music from our students to your homes during these challenging times,” said Peter H. Gistelinck, Executive Director. “We are very appreciative and grateful for all of your support during this month of giving. Please do consider us for a donation by visiting WhartonArtsDonate.org so that we can continue the mission and vision of our educational programs.”

Wharton Arts Winter Celebration

All events take place at 7:00 p.m. EST on WhartonArts.tv unless otherwise indicated.

Friday, December 18 @ 6:00 p.m. EST on Facebook Live!

Holiday Cabaret for the Arts: The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey will join Performing Arts School students for an evening of art and pops favorites followed by a virtual holiday sing along.

 Saturday, December 19

Messengers of Hope Virtual Festival: Young musicians of the New Jersey Youth Symphony present a virtual compilation of works featuring nearly two dozen ensembles and orchestras

Sunday, December 20

Salon Series: Violinist Mikhail Kuchuk presents works for solo violin by J.S. Bach, Prokofiev, and Ysaÿe

The Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts’ mission is to provide the highest quality performing arts education to a wide range of students in a supportive and inclusive environment, where striving for personal excellence inspires and connects those we teach to the communities we serve. To learn more, visit www.WhartonArts.org

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NJSO – @ Home for the Holidays

Holiday videos premiere daily! New videos premiere daily at 5 pm!

NJSO musicians share festive favorites and holiday traditions, from ‘our homes to yours’.

Enjoy daily musician videos featuring performances, family recipes, holiday memories and more, starting December 9 (videos premiere at 5 pm). And tune in for a pair of can’t-miss features: a fun holiday special hosted by Mark Timmerman (Dec 17 at 7:30 pm) and performances of “And the Glory of the Lord” and “Hallelujah” Chorus from Handel’s “Messiah”, featuring friends in the Montclair State University Singers (Dec 18 at 7:30 pm).

Dec 17 at 7:30 pm: Holiday Special

Enjoy an evening of holiday music and fun, featuring solo and chamber performances by NJSO musicians, plus fun surprises, hosted by Mark Timmerman.

MARK TIMMERMAN host

Dec 18 at 7:30 pm:

The New Jersey Symphony Chamber Orchestra and Montclair State University Singers present “And the Glory of the Lord” and “Hallelujah” Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY SINGERS

Heather J. Buchanan, director

NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

These FREE virtual events are available:

NJSYMPHONY.org

NJSO YouTube channel—subscribe and enable notifications for the latest videos.

NJSO social media channels on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Follow the NJSO to get notifications to your feed!

To learn more about how to watch NJSO events, visit njsymphony.org/concerts-and-events/njso-virtual-20-21/how-to-watch

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NJPAC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT – “Where Do We Go From Here”

Film Screening FREE on Zoom – Mon Dec 14 @ 7PM

After everything that has happened in 2020, where do we go from here?

NJPAC True Diversity Film Series looks at the tumultuous events of this past year, and talks about what the way forward looks like — and what it ought to look like.

A screening of the film “Where Do We Go From Here,” will take place, a two-part series on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), which explores the extraordinary events of 2020 with a range of Black leaders, artists and journalists, including: Stacey Abrams, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Academy award-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay, journalist and Pulitzer prize-winning founder of the “1619 Project” Nikole Hannah-Jones, historian and author Ibram Kendi (“How to be an Anti-Racist”) and actor David Oyelowo (“Selma”), among many others.

This season, the films NJPAC will present through the True Diversity Film Series will focus on social and racial justice, in response to the uprisings against systemic racism that have spread around the globe in 2020. To continue these presentations safely during the pandemic, NJPAC has redesigned this series to work like a book club. After watching the selected films at home virtually, we come together on a Zoom video conference to discuss the film with panelists who can offer context and insight.

 

Everyone is encouraged to view “Where Do We Go From Here” and then join the teams for two virtual panel discussions.

Program – 1st Panel Discussion

The first panel discussion, at 7PM on Monday, December 14, will focus on the youth perspective on social justice, and what progress that has been made — and not made —  over the past year. Moderated by hip hop artist and NJPAC faculty lead Sheikia “Purple Haze” Norris, this panel will bring together high school and university students who are leaders in their communities to discuss the future of the Black Lives Matter movement, the push to defund the police, reparations and what role they believe governments can play in promoting equity.

To RSVP to Part 1, visit njpac.org/event/pseg-true-diversity-film-series-presents-where-do-we-go-from-here-part-1

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ARTS AND CULTURE

Free on Zoom – Wed, Dec 16 @ 7PM

Program – 2nd Panel Discussion

The second of these panels, at 7PM on Wednesday, December 16, will focus on how 2020 has affected artists and the arts. NJPAC’s own Donna Walker-Kuhne, the Arts Center’s Senior Advisor for Community Engagement — as well as the president of Walker International Communication Group, and an adjunct Professor at New York University, Columbia University and Bank Street College — will moderate the discussion with a panel of artists and arts administrators, exploring how artists will continue to produce new work and examine themes of social justice in the new year, and how the arts can be made sustainable in a country upended by a pandemic and economic instability. To RSVP to Part 2, visit

njpac.org/event/pseg-true-diversity-film-series-presents-where-do-we-go-from-here-part-2

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Kwanzaa Festival & Marketplace: Celebrate culture, community and creative expression at NJPAC’s annual event!

 

This year’s virtual Kwanzaa Festival runs through December 31, featuring online programs inspired by the seven principles of Kwanzaa (Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba and Imani). Don’t miss out on any of the fun!

Tune in for a panel discussion about storytelling with the elders, social justice and Black theater. Take an online class to explore West African dance, stepping, Zumba, drumming, capoeira, or Afrobeats. Watch a performance by Step Afrika! or a virtual arts and crafts lesson on-demand at njpac.org. Or stop by the community marketplace for some online shopping.

Get Social! Follow NJPAC Online:

Website:      njpac.org

Twitter:       @NJPAC

Hashtag:      #NJPAC

Facebook:     facebook.com/NJPAC

YouTube:        NJPACtv

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness)