2020-2021 Special Events
Coming soon!
Part 1
Stars from the Broadway stage, international opera houses and Dance Theatre of Harlem return to NJFO to present a unique musical experience to restart the artistic engines with a message of hope, rebirth and spiritual enrichment. This made-for-television special is the first of a two part series set to usher in new times ahead with warmth and cheer. Safely filmed at the Ward Mansion in Westfield, the virtual event captures all the magic of a live performance and promises a treat for the whole family.
A free virtual event – our gift to you!
HOW TO WATCH
Watch on YouTube
The video will post to our YouTube channel soon.
Watch on our website
Refresh your browser window right before the premiere time to watch on this page.
Concert and recording made possible through generous support from NJ State Council on the Arts, Jerome and Helene Dreskin and John and James Ward.
SUPPORT NJFO
Despite the current challenges and everything we have all encountered in the past year, we at NJFO remain committed to keeping us all connected through music. That is why we are offering New Beginnings as our gift to you.
Our hope is that you experience the pure joy that comes from this extraordinary event and will consider making a donation to the NJFO in the amount of $25.00 or more. This will help to cover some of the expenses and enable us to continue making great music free and accessible to all.
Produced by
Four/Ten Media and NJ Festival Orchestra
Directed by
Evan Chapman and Kevin Eikenberg | Four/Ten Media
Artists
David Wroe Conductor
Jeremy Bauner Tenor
Errin Brooks Tenor
Marissa McGowan Soprano
Dancers from Dance Theatre of Harlem
New Jersey Festival Orchestra
Program
Renowned tenor fare, dazzling dance classics and
Broadway favorites. LEARN MORE
MEET THE GUEST ARTISTS
JEREMY BAUNER
A finalist in the 2019 Metropolitan Opera National Council competition, Jeremy Brauner has a brassy rich, powerful and liquid flowing tenor. With a BFA in musical theatre from Montclair State University he began his opera career as a baritone. In 2016 he made his tenor debut as Alfredo (La traviata) with Dell’Arte Opera Ensemblé. He has since performed such roles as Mario Cavaradossi (Tosca), Ricardo (Un ballo in maschera), Calaf (Turandot). Most recently Jeremy performed the role of B.F. Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly) with Ceder Rapids Opera Theatre and The Duke of Mantua (Rigoletto) with Opera North. Plans are also in the works for the role of Arrigo (I vespri sicilliani) with New Amsterdam Opera when circumstances permit.
ERRIN DUANE BROOKS
Errin Duane Brooks is quickly gaining momentum worldwide as an American tenor from Detroit, Michigan. Most recently, he sang the title role in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde with Conneticut Lyric Opera in the fall of 2019 and made his Metropolitan Opera debut, singing the role of Mingo in Porgy and Bess in 2019 and 2020. Brooks has performed with many other companies including New Amsterdam Opera, Boheme Opera New Jersey, Lyric Opera Chicago, Michigan Opera Theater, New York City Opera, Teatro Petruzelli, Toledo Opera and Utah Festival Opera. He has also had success in competitions, most recently, winning the Giulio Gari Foundation International Voice Competition. Brooks is also scheduled to return to the Metropolitan Opera for Die Zauberflöte and Strauss' Die Frau ohne schatten. After receiving his Master's in Vocal Performance at Bowling Green State University, Brooks was a Young Artist/Diploma student at Chicago Opera Theater/Roosevelt University 2013-15. He currently resides in New York City.
MARISSA McGOWAN
Soprano Marissa McGowan has appeared on Broadway in A Little Night Music, Les Miserables where she performed both the roles of Eponine and Cosette, and Bonnie and Clyde. Marissa was chosen by Marvin Hamlisch to star in the world premier of his last musical "The Nutty Professor" directed by the legendary Jerry Lewis. She has extensive regional starring credits, has worked with numerous US orchestras including Baltimore and Houston Symphony Orchestras, and has recently been seen on television in Major Crimes (TNT), and Odd Mom Out (BRAVO).
DEREK BROCKINGTON | Dance Theatre of Harlem
Derek Brockington began his dance training the Dance Asylum in Holland, Michigan. He went on to train at the Grand Rapids Ballet under Patricia Barker, before attending Interlochen Arts Academy his junior and senior year. Brockington has attended summer intensives at The Pennsylvania Ballet and Ballet West, and in 2015 he competed in the Youth America Grand Prix semifinals, receiving First Place in Contemporary.
ALEXANDRA HUTCHINSON | Dance Theatre of Harlem
Alexandra Hutchinson is a member of Dance Theatre of Harlem. She trained at The Washington School of Ballet and Wilmington Academy of Dance and spent summers at The Ailey School, Alonzo King, Carolina Ballet, Ballet Chicago, and Nashville Ballet. She received a BS in Ballet from Indiana University and danced with Nashville Ballet before DTH. Hutchinson’s repertoire includes Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Western Symphony, Swan Lake, Concerto Barocco, and Giselle.
ANTHONY SANTOS | Dance Theatre of Harlem
Born in New York City, Anthony Santos trained at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from 2009-2013, working with Adrienne Hurd, Pedro Ruiz and Kristen McGrew among others. Anthony graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts under the direction of Susan Jaffe. While at UNCSA he performed works by Susan Jaffe, Doug Varone, Lucinda Childs, Brenda Daniels, Merce Cunningham, Twyla Tharp, and Sasha Janes. He has a background in musical theater, singing and acting. Has performed with Zest Collective, Caitlin Trainor Dance in NYC and Antonio Ciacci’s La Spezia Jazz Festival.
AMANDA SMITH | Dance Theatre of Harlem
Born in Orange County, California, Amanda studied at SUNY Purchase where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Amanda has performed works by George Balanchine, Helen Pickett and Nicolo Fonte, and studied abroad within the Dance New York International Dance Festival in Madrid and Burgos, Spain. In January of 2016 she began working with New York Theatre Ballet under the direction of Diana Byer. While with NYTB she danced works by Jerome Robbins, Antony Tudor, Antonia Franceschi, Keith Michaels and Jim Sutton. Ms. Smith also spent a few months freelancing, teaching, participating in projects with The Black Iris Project and choreographer; William Isaac. She was also featured in a national campaign for GAP in 2016.
PROGRAM
New Beginnings Part 1
Trepek
I Have Confidence
featuring Marissa McGowan
Addio, sogna di Gloria
featuring Jeremy Brauner
Arabian Dance
featuring Dance Theatre of Harlem
Waltz of the Flowers
featuring Dance Theatre of Harlem
Torna a Surriento
featuring Errin Brooks
Empress of the Pagodas
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Richard Rodgers and
Carlo Innocenzi
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Ernesto De Curtis
Maurice Ravel
Oscar Hammerstein
New Beginnings Part 2
Mamma
featuring Jeremy Brauner and Errin Brooks
Besame Mucho
featuring Jeremey Brauner and Dance Theatre of Harlem
The Light in the Piazza
featuring Marissa McGowan
Beauty and the Beast
featuring Dance Theatre of Harlem
La Donna e mobile
featuring Errin Brooks
Nessun Dorma
featuring Jeremy Brauner and Errin Brooks
Cesare Andrea Bixio
Consuelo Velazquez
Adam Guettel
Maurice Ravel
Giuseppe Verdi
Giacomo Puccini
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