Performing Arts

TELL ME A STORY: Joanie Leeds is one of two storytellers booked for the popular Milk & Cookies series presented online by State Theatre NJ. Milk & Cookies Series To Be Available Online

State Theatre New Jersey announces the return of the storytelling series Milk & Cookies for fall 2020. A popular State Theatre program for more than 10 years, the series will be available online.

Two programs are geared to children ages 3-10 and their families. The series begins Saturday, October 24, with storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston; followed by musician Joanie Leeds on November 14.

Alston has shared her African and African American tales with audiences from Cape Town to Carnegie Hall, at events ranging from concerts in Japan to the U.S. Presidential Inaugural festivities. For her original kids music, singer-song-

writer Leeds has won first place in the USA Songwriting Competition, the Independent Music Award, Gold Parents’ Choice Award, NAPPA Gold Award, and Family Choice Award. One of the top nationally-touring kindie rock singers today, Leeds recently released her ninth studio album, All the Ladies.

Patrons who donate will receive an email the day of the event at 10 a.m. with a link to watch the performance. The video can be viewed at any time and will be active from October 24 through December 23, 2020. To participate, a minimum donation of $10 per event is required and gives an entire household access to a Milk & Cookies show. To donate or for more information, visit STNJ.org.

Arts Ed NJ Launches Solo and Ensemble Festival

Arts Ed NJ, the statewide arts education policy and advocacy organization, has announced the inaugural New Jersey State Solo and Ensemble Festival (NJSEF) for the 2020/2021 school year to recognize student achievement in music education across the state.

The NJSEF Festival has five primary goals: improve students’ music performance; increase students’ understanding of music literature and music concepts; motivate students to continue their study of music; establish standards of excellence in music performance; and provide opportunities for students to understand the relationship of music experiences to other life experiences. Open to all public or private middle school and high school students, the event will be held virtually in 2021 with both regional and state festivals, to provide opportunities for scholastic music students to showcase their talents either individually or in an ensemble.

The festival will take place starting in February 2021. Students will submit their video performances online. Performances are adjudicated by judges, with each student performance receiving a rating. Students with the highest festival ratings will be invited to participate in the State Festival in April, 2021. A second regional festival will also take place in April.

“With all of the cancelations of activities and events for our students across the state we believed we need to create some platform for our music educators to be able to showcase their students’ talents and musical growth in spite of the COVID19 Pandemic”, said Bob Morrison, director of Arts Ed NJ. “Providing this virtual festival during the current school year will provide something for our students to look forward to right now and set the stage for an annual solo and ensemble experience for future students.”

Through the Solo and Ensemble experience, students learn the discipline of rehearsal, are challenged to advance their musical skills, perform for an adjudicator, and receive feedback on their performance. Students that perform at the highest level during the Regional Festival will be invited to advance to the State Solo and Ensemble Festival. Students may also perform for “comments only” from the adjudicators without receiving a rating. Through practice, performance, and in receiving the constructive feedback offered by adjudicators, students will be encouraged to develop socially, emotionally, and artistically.

The inaugural festival is being powered by the music education organization Music for All, which has provided the virtual platform and adjudication infrastructure. Additionally, the solo and ensemble repertoire list, comprised of more than 11,000 titles, has been made available through a cooperative arrangement with the Wisconsin School Music Association, which has more than 80 years of solo and ensemble festival experience.

The New Jersey State Solo and Ensemble Festival grew out of discussions between Arts Ed NJ and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and is modeled after best practices from around the nation. Arts Ed NJ is working to become the NFHS performing arts affiliate for 21 • TOWN TOPICS, PRINCETON, N.J., WE d the state of New Jersey and plans to work closely with NFHS on this and future endeavors for the benefit of New Jersey arts students. Music educator and administrator Dennis Argul has been appointed as the director of the New Jersey Solo and Ensemble Festival and will be coordinating with committees comprised of New Jersey music educators on the development of the Festival as the event evolves. NES day, OCTO b ER 21, 2020 Arts Ed NJ and the NJSEF are committed to equity. In order to make participation widely available to all students, regardless of circumstances, there is no membership requirement (for schools or the music educator). Any students in grades 6-12 attending a public or private school, or is home schooled, may participate. Additionally, through the Grunin Foundation’s generosity, educators will be able to request scholarships to cover the cost of participation for students with demonstrated need.

To learn more and to sign up for additional information, go to artsednj.org.

Annual Costume and Prop Sale Held by Shakespeare Theatre

Find costumes, props, crafts, and lots more at the The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s annual tag sale, being held Saturday, October 24 at the Thomas H. Kean Theatre Factory, 3 Vreeland Road in Florham Park. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The sale features bargains for costume-hunters, crafters, drama teachers, tag sale regulars, students, actors, artists, collectors, vinyl-lovers, furniture bargain-hunters, clothing mavens, and anyone looking for a deal. Among the items offered are props, shoes, gowns, knick knacks, lamps, jewelry, hats, masks, greeting cards, wigs, coats, artwork, flowers, belts, LP records, fabric, scenery, baskets, blankets, books, lights, frames, and more.

For more information, visit shakespearenj.org.

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Haley Milano Sales Associate, REALTOR® Terebey Relocation Team (908) 642-7803 cell (609) 683-8598 office Haley.Milano@foxroach.com

Princeton Welcomes Haley Milano

Lifelong NJ Resident specializing in Somerset, Mercer, Middlesex, Hunterdon, and Hudson Counties Background in social media, digital marketing, and project management Choreographer & dancer for Continuum Dance Company Volunteer for the Hoboken Historical Museum

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