Bergen Arts News Letter Fall 2009

Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs

John "Bucky" Pizzarelli and The Sutton Ensemble Performing at the 2009 Arts Grant Awards Breakfast, at the Club House, Valley Brook Golf Course in River Vale

From the Director

It is a glorious thing when the finest artistic achievement meets with nobility of character in one single human being. Internationally acclaimed jazz guitarist John "Bucky" Pizzzarelli of Saddle River is New Jersey's native son and a joy to celebrate on any day for the magnitude of his contributions to American music. For more than 50 years, Mr. Pizzarelli has distinguished himself as one of jazz's foremost rhythm guitarists while at the same time extending the best kind of fellowship and support to colleagues in our regional arts community. High points of his career include playing for years with Benny Goodman and recording and performing with Frank Sinatra, Stephane Grapelli, Joe Venuti, Charlie Byrd, Zoot Sims and Benny Carter. At ABC and NBC he worked with Mitch Miller, Skitch Henderson and Doc Severinson on the Tonight Show. Mr. Pizzarelli has appeared twice at the White House, holds two honorary doctorates and is Music Professor Emeritus at William Paterson University. Recently Mr. Pizzarelli was presented the first Bergen County Distinguished Artist Award by County Executive Dennis McNerney to affirm the importance of Bergen's notable artists and draw community attention to the fact that our county is a premiere destination for artists and culture in New Jersey.

Elaine Sutin and the Sutton Ensemble, Arts Grant Award recipients, were chosen by Mr. Pizzarelli as fellow performers at the Arts Awards Breakfast that honored him. Ms. Sutin, founder and director of the Sutton Ensemble, is Bergen's treasured virtuoso violinist. A native of Cleveland, Ohio and a graduate of Juilliard, she has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestra member with many of the metropolitan area's finest orchestras and ensembles, including the New York Pops, the Staten Island Symphony and the orchestras at Lincoln Center, including the Metropolitan Opera. The astonishing young violinist Aaron Weinstein joined the artists as together they created resoundingly beautiful music that will always be remembered by those fortunate enough to be present.

Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra Has 70th Anniversary,
New Artistic Director and Conductor, Arkady Leytush

The Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra is a regional, all- volunteer intergenerational orchestra located in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Supported by the surrounding communities and friends in neighboring areas, the orchestra serves the Northern New Jersey region with many musical and educational activities. These include the outstanding Festival Strings Youth Orchestra, which provides a unique opportunity for young string players to benefit from the experience of playing in an orchestral setting. This 70th anniversary season, The Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra welcomes a new artistic director and conductor, Arkady Leytush. For more detailed information about Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra and its new season schedule, visit www.ridgewoodsymphony.org.

New Artistic Directer and Conductor of
Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra,
Arkady Leytush

35th Anniversary of the Art School
At Old Church in Demarest

The Art School at Old Church is a non-profit, nonsectarian organization that was established in 1974 to meet the need for a community-based art enrichment center. Over a six-month period, four artists, supported by local residents, transformed an abandoned building into a functional art center. Within a few months, 280 students were enrolled in classes with a strong faculty of teaching artists. Today, the Art School at Old Church is thriving and is serving an average of 700 students each semester with classes in painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry/metalsmithing, glass, collage, printmaking and fiber art. The school continues its thirty-five year tradition of serving the public by offering high-quality educational experiences in the form of classes and workshops, free gallery exhibitions, cultural events and specialized outreach programs.

Mentor programs are available for one-on-one instruction. A one-week Blast of Art experience for children is offered each summer. Open studios are also available for students to hone their skills in a studio environment. For more information about the school and its offerings, please call 201-767-7160 or visit www.tasoc.org.

Students visiting the Mikhail Zakin Gallery, named in honor of one of the founders of the school, at The Art School at Old Church in Demarest.

Evan Cooper
Bergen County's
Teen Arts Administrator

The Division is pleased to welcome Evan Cooper as the new Teen Arts Administrator, taking over the immense responsibilities of the annual Bergen County Teen Arts Festival from Bill Romano, who retired in August, 2008 after serving for 14 years. Mr. Cooper served for 37 years in the New Jersey public school system-first as director of instrumental music at Northern Valley Regional High School in Demarest, his alma mater, and later as Supervisor of Related Arts for the Northern Valley Regional High School District. He is currently the coordinator for both the North Jersey Band Festival Association and the Music Educators of Bergen County High School Band and Chorus Festival. Mr. Cooper holds both Bachelors and Masters of Music Education Degrees from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. He resides in Closter with his wife Claudia.

Americans for the ARTS Embraces President Obama's
New Initiative for Volunteering, United We Serve

This summer, President Obama launched a national initiative called United We Serve to encourage local volunteerism. Inspired by President Obama's initiative, Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts, launched a new Web portal dedicated to promoting community service opportunities for arts groups, arts volunteers and artists nationwide. The website at serve.artusa.org is a place for volunteers in the arts to share stories and upload photos and videos related to their volunteer experiences. "I encourage everyone in the arts to say yes to President Obama and commit to telling their story about the services they do for America. Collectively we can let America know how valuable the arts are for the creation of a better child, a better town, a better country and a better world," said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts.
Arts groups around the country have signed on to become national partners for United We Serve: ARTSusa, is a campaign to inspire and celebrate community service through the arts. There are numerous opportunities for arts volunteerism for people of all ages. A searchable database of volunteer opportunities is available by logging on to serve.artsusa.org.

Division Director Carol Messer, Edgewater Mayor Nancy Merce, Edgewater Arts Council Founder and President Neda Rose and winner of Best Photograph in the Hudson River Art Photo Competition, Hank Gans, of Edgewater.

College-Wide Dual Enrollment Program at Center
For Modern Dance Education (CMDE), of Hackensack

Starting this fall, students enrolled in the College-Wide Dual Enrollment Program at Bergen Community College can receive high school and college credits for dance classes taken at the Center for Modern Dance Education CMDE), in Hackensack. The program started with CMDE's Thursday night ballet class. Students who enrolled in Bergen Community College-Wide Dual Program and the ballet class will receive college credit through Bergen Community College after fulfilling certain attendance and learning goals. Please call Bergen Community College at 201) 447-7195.

Arts Horizons' New Acting Executive Director, Elizabeth Halverstam

Year 2009 is a momentous one for Arts Horizons, an Englewood arts-in-education organization that has brought the joy and vitality of the arts to over eight million chidren since 1978. After 31 years, Arts Horizons' President and Executive Director, John Devol, has stepped down to devote himself entirely to the task of bringing essential resources to the organization. Starting July 1, 2009 Deputy Director Elizabeth Halverstam, who has worked for Arts Horizons for 23 years, became the organization's Acting Executive Director. Elizabeth joined Arts Horizons in 1986. At that time there were ten assembly programs serving schools in New Jersey, but John, a visionary in arts education, recognized the trends emerging in the field and Elizabeth helped him expand the organization throughout the metropolitan area to provide school children preK-12, including youth-at-risk and those with special needs, with artists-in-residence, professional development and family programs. Today Arts Horizons reaches more than 300,000 children, teachers and parents per year with creative and instructional programs featuring music, dance, theatre, creative writing, the visual arts and new media. The organization works to transform schools into vibrant, exciting places where children gain appreciation for the arts, fulfill their need to create and use the arts to improve their proficiency in reading, writing and math. Special projects include Creative Alternatives for Youth-at-Risk (CAYR), a unique safe-haven after-school program, the Special Education Artists Academy for children with Autism and Art Teacher Institute (ATI), a summer immersion program for teachers and artists. The Division wishes Elizabeth and John success in their new roles to ensure that Arts Horizons continues to impact the lives of children of the 21st century.

Elizabeth Halverstam and Arts Horizons' retiring visionary founder, John Devol

Dennis McNerney, County Executive's
4th Annual Cabbage Night Family Fun Festival

Continuing the Bergen County tradition, Sunday, October 25th, the James A. McFaul Environmental Center, Crescent Avenue, Wyckoff, will be the site for the Cabbage Night Family Fun Festival, rain or shine. From 1:00 -5:00 p.m. events and activities for young and old will be available including, hay rides, pony rides, pumpkin painting, face painting, bouncy houses and historic re-enactors giving demonstrations Musical entertainment will add to the excitement and be performed by Margot Leverett and the Klezmer Mountain Boys Quartet. They will cleverly combine a mix of Klezmer and Bluegrass music. The target age is 10 years and under, and all children must be accompanied by an adult. For more detailed information please call the James. A. McFaul Environmental Center at (201) 891-5571.

Pumpkin painting, one of the most popular events at Cabbage Night Family Fun Festival, at James A. McFaul Environmental Center in Wyckoff.

~The Calendar of Events ~

www.co.bergen.nj.us.

Simply scroll down the B.C. Home Page and click on Cultural Event Calendar to view a comprehensive listing of arts events throughout Bergen County.