Save the Date: Concerts at the College

Love the opera, but can't get to the Met as often as you'd like?

There's a well-kept secret on the campus of Caldwell College that all area fans of opera–as well as jazz and classical music–should be let in on.

The Caldwell College Concert Series, now in its 15th season, starts next Wednesday and will feature the college's two ensemble-groups-in-residence, the Gramercy Brass Orchestra of New York and the Garden State Opera, in October.

The series kicks off with the "Principals of the Gramercy Brass Play American Music" on Wednesday, Oct. 6. The performance will take place in the 240-seat Alumni Theatre, at 8 p.m., and will feature selections by American composers, such as Williams, Brubeck, Morden and Sacchi.

"I would love for more people in Caldwell to take advantage of this," said Music Department Chair and Concert Series Director Laura Greenwald, who founded the concert series.

The Gramercy Brass Orchestra of New York, led by founder and music director John Henry Lambert, is a 28-member, award-winning professional concert brass orchestra and resident ensemble at Caldwell College.  Orchestra members perform and teach at Caldwell College and lead a world-class summer institute, the Gramercy Brass Band Camp, which is attended by brass and percussion students from around the country.

The series continues with the Garden State Opera–the college's other in-residence-ensemble group–performing Il Tabarro by Puccini and the world premiere of Il Negozio by Francesco Santelli. Both operas will be sung in Italian with English supertitles and will take place in the Student Center Auditorium, which seats more than 600.

Il Negozio is an original one-act opera set in a small village store outside of Rome composed by Garden State Opera founder and director Francesco Santelli.

"This year, Santelli composed an opera as a vehicle for two of our seniors," said Greenwald. The performers, seniors Cara Pernas and Cristal Boniché, are both music majors at Caldwell College who are student teaching this year.

Greenwald said that middle school and high school teachers of Italian and music from throughout the area are invited to come with their classes to the performance. Pre-registration is required.

The first half of the season will also include pianist Frank Pavese performing Barber Celebration, a tribute to American composer Samuel Barber, and a Christmas Spectacular featuring the Caldwell College choir and Wind Ensemble.  The Barber tribute, marking 100 years since his birth, will take place on Nov. 11, at 8 p.m., with a pre-concert talk at 7:15 p.m., in the Alumni Theatre. The holiday show will take place on Friday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m., in the Student Center Auditorium.

Wind Ensemble Director Rebecca Vega will be auditioning high school students in grades 10 through 12 to participate in an Honor Band that will perform at the Christmas Spectacular.

"She had so many [students] last year, that she has to have an audition this year," said Greenwald.

The holiday concert will conclude with an annual carol sing along, under the direction of Greenwald and Vega.

Tickets for performances in the Caldwell College Concert Series are $20 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors.  Christmas Spectacular tickets are $10. Subscription and group discounts are also available.  For more information and to view the rest of the concert schedule, contact Laura Greenwald at 973-618-3520 or visit www.caldwell.edu.