NJSO Celebrates Immigrant Composers at Winter Festival 2018
“This season, it (NJSO) celebrates the inspiration that is America, showcasing musical works by immigrants and foreign visitors…” Gabriel Van Aalst, President & CEO, NJSO
“These composers speak to me because their story is my own. While I had a wonderful musical education at the Conservatory in Beijing, I needed to come to the United States to follow my dream of becoming a conductor”. Xian Zhang, NJSO Music Conductor
“(Xian Zhang’s) conducting gestures reveal a passion, a precise knowledge of the score and a constant attention to detail. Her relationship with the musicians is producing great music and the orchestra members respond beautifully” …..The Asbury Park Press
By Mabel Pais
At the NJSO, January is always a busy month with the Winter Festival. “This season, it (NJSO) celebrates the inspiration that is America, showcasing musical works by immigrants and foreign visitors who drew their stimulation from America’s wide-ranging impacts” said Gabriel Van Aalst, President and CEO of the NJSO, who opened the Winter Festival on January 11.
The 2018 Winter Festival highlights the myriad ways America has inspired not only those who call it home but also those who have visited its welcoming shores. Leveraging the power of art to transcend differences, a series of NJSO Accents and special events further explore the immigrant experience and how foreign artists have illustrated American inspiration in their work.
Spanning three weekends, January 11–28, the Winter Festival includes orchestral performances at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick, Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, Richardson Auditorium in Princeton, Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown and Bergen PAC in Englewood.
The NJSO Chamber Players perform a special chamber music concert at St. George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church in Rumson and Calvary Episcopal Church in Summit.
Week I: America, Inspiring: Respighi & Prokofiev
Xian Zhang_Music-Conductor Photo credit Benjamin EalovegaXian Zhang-conducts-the-NJSO Photo credit Fred StuckerXian Zhang-at-NJPAC Photo credit Fred StuckerXian Zhang at NJPAC Photo credit Fred Stucker
Music Director Xian Zhang conducted NJSO premiere of Che Yi’s Ge Xu and Respighi’s Fountains of Rome. George Li performed Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto. Zhang, the orchestra’s 14th music director, is the first woman to hold the position.
In a nod to Zhang’s own journey to America and New Jersey, she led Respighi’s Pines of Rome—a work she conducted in her first-ever performances with the NJSO in 2010. Chinese pianist George Li, the 22-year-old silver medalist of the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition, performed Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto.
Performances took place on Thursday, January 11 at Bergen PAC in Englewood; Saturday, January 13 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark; and Sunday, January 14, at State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick.
WEEK II: America, Inspiring: Ravel & Rachmaninoff
George Li, Pianist Photo credit Simon FowlerTerrence Wilson, Pianist
Andrew Constantine, conductor
Terrence Wilson, piano
MARTINŮ Thunderbolt P-47 (NJSO Premiere)
RAVEL Piano Concerto in G Major
RACHMANINOFF Symphonic Dances
Fri, Jan 19, at 8 pm | Richardson Auditorium in Princeton
Sat, Jan 20, at 8 pm | State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick
Sun, Jan 21, at 3 pm | NJPAC in Newark
NJSO ACCENTS:
Panel Discussion—Fri, Jan 19, at 6:45 pm and Sun, Jan 21, at 1:45 pm
Host Naomi Lewin and a panel of experts discuss the political climate in Europe that drove so many of the Winter Festival’s composers to come to America.
Wine Tasting—Sat, Jan 20, before the concert
Join wine and music expert Ron Merlino in an exclusive tasting of wines made of old-world grapes in new-world soil. For reservation and tickets, visit www.njsymphony.org/grapes
Performance & Painting—Sun, Jan 21, after the concert
Watch creative inspiration in action as artist Ken Ahlering (www.ken-ahlering.com) paints in response to a performance by the NJSO Chamber Players.
Full concert information is available at www.njsymphony.org/events/detail/america-inspiring-ravel-rachmaninoff.
America, Inspiring: Special Chamber Music Concert
Violinist Eric Wyrick, Concertmaster of NJSO Photo credit Tristan CookViolinist Chloe Hanslip, international artist of distinction
Tue, Jan 23, at 3 pm | St. George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church in Rumson
Thu, Jan 25, at 7:30 pm | Calvary Episcopal Church in Summit
NJSO CHAMBER PLAYERS
Eric Wyrick, violin
Brennan Sweet, violin
David Blinn, viola
Na-Young Baek, cello
TAN DUN Eight Colors for String Quartet
BARTÓK String Quartet No. 2
DVOŘÁK String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, “American”
A free pre-concert reception begins at 2 pm on Jan 23.
Full concert information is available at www.njsymphony.org/events/detail/america-inspiring-special-chamber-music-concert.
MOCAAPI organized on December 2, a charity gala at Grand Marquis, Old Bridge NJ attended by a large number of community members and politicians. Former US Attorney SDNY Preet Bharara was the Chief Guest speaker.
Maharashtra Foundation (Social & Economic Justice for all) – 2017 Annual Fundraiser Banquet Event was organized on December 2nd, 2017 at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Community Center Banquet Facility in Carteret, NJ. Sam Pitroda, Chairman of Pitroda Group who is fondly remembered in India as architect of Telephony muscle of India was the keynote speaker.
A Beauty Pageant was organized at Royal Albert’s Palace in Fords, NJ.
The pageant included contest for Miss Bharat USA; Mrs. Bharat USA; Teen Bharat USA; and Grandma Bharat USA.
A Shiv Shakti Maha Pujan and Yagna was organized by India World Foundation & Global NRI Community for New India at Shri Sanatan Mandir, 16 Jean Terrace, Parsippany, NJ on December 3, 2017. The gathering included Mayor Elect of Parsippany, NJ Michael Soriano, besides organizers and community members.
Gagandeep Singh, a Sikh Youngman was invited to play mandolin at the National Anthem in NBA game of LA Clippers Vs Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center LA, on December 6.
Gagandeep and his family consider it a great honor.
Chitagam S Saluja, 24, doing graduation in Business Management at Nassau County
Community College, New York, on December 6, won First Place in Business Plan Competition.
A business plan competition for the Nassau Community College BUS 111 Entrepreneurship classes, similar to the show Shark Tank, was held on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 2 p.m.
One hundred fifty students attended the event and witnessed 12 contestants present their business plan idea before a panel of 12 judges, which were comprised of NCC professors and the President of the Adjunct Faculty Association (AFA), Stefan Krompier. This program is meant to bring out the best in the students to show their growth, creativity and application of the learning goals of the course.
The AFA awarded certificates and prizes to the top three presentations in the amount of $150 for first place, $100 for second place and $50 for third place. First place award was given to Chitagam Saluja of Hicksville, New York. Professor Phyllis Pace was the instructor and mentor for Chitagam’s Entrepreneurship class. This event offered NCC Business students the opportunity to progress in their future professional entrepreneurial venture.
Indian Cancer Congress, at its meeting held in Bengaluru from November 8 to 12, conferred the title of “Living Legend in Cancer Treatment” on New York based eminent Oncologist Padma Shri Dr. Dattatreya Nori.
India Cancer Congress is the largest society of oncologists in India Over 3000 oncologists from US, UK, India and Australia attended the meeting which is held
once in four years.
