Newark School of the Arts Celebrates 50th Anniversary April 10 at NJPAC
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media contacts:
Carmen Santos-Robson carmen@newarkschoolofthearts.org 973.642.0133,
or Helen Paxton ahpassoc@gmail.com 973.714.0776
for immediate release
Newark School of the Arts Celebrates 50th Anniversary April 10 at NJPAC
Performance to Feature NSA Alumnus Savion Glover
A half century of “changing lives through the power of the arts” in Newark will be celebrated at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Tues., April 10, when supporters, friends, alumni, faculty and current students gather to mark Newark School of the Arts’ (NSA) milestone anniversary.
World renowned tap dancer and NSA alumnus Savion Glover, whose dance lessons began at the school at age seven, headlines the presentation at NJPAC’s Victoria Theater. He will be joined by other dancers, musicians and performers, many of them NSA alumni, for a variety showcase.
“I love the Newark School of the Arts and what it does for our city’s young people,” said Glover, who has made it a priority throughout his career to nurture the talents of young dancers and musicians. High quality, affordable instruction and opportunities for Newark students in visual and performing arts have been the core mission of the school since its founding in 1968.
In addition to Glover, featured performers include vocalists Frankie Negrón, A-Larenee Davis, Carolyn Braga, and Gabriel De Los Santos; pianist-composer and NSA Conservatory Director Patricio Molina; pianists Jeffrey Swann (current NSA artist-in-residence) , Nadine Herman (NSA music director) and Alan Broadbent; New Jersey Symphony Orchestra principal instrumentalists Erick Wyrick and Jonathan Spitz; and NSA board trustee, bass Kevin Maynor, who will perform a work by Pulitzer-prize winning New Jersey composer George Walker.
The performances will be preceded by a cocktail reception and auction of distinguished wines and followed by a formal dinner. Proceeds from the event will be used to strengthen the organizational capacity of the school and support expanded initiatives. Those initiatives include building upgrades for the school’s home at 89 Lincoln Park and the NSA Conservatory Division, a new full-day Saturday pre-college division.
NSA supporters Kathy Grier and her husband Mark Grier, vice chairman of Prudential Financial, Inc. and member of its Board of Directors, are gala co-chairs. During the evening, the NSA’s success will be celebrated with stories of many of the school’s distinguished and successful alumni. Among them are internationally-acclaimed opera singer, countertenor Derek Lee Ragin; 2017 MacArthur “genius” award winner, composer Tyshawn Sorey; concert pianist Hsing Ay-Hsu; jazz vocalist Cynthia Holiday; stage, film and television actress Kim Hawthorne; and salsa singer Frankie Negrón.
NSA currently offers individual, group and online classes, attended each week by 800 students of all ages. NSA’s distinguished faculty teaches comprehensive courses in instrumental and vocal music, theory and composition, music production, theatre, dance, graphic and fine arts.
Students come primarily from the city of Newark, but also from surrounding communities. NSA offers substantial scholarship assistance for more than half of its current students.
“We are immensely excited about showcasing the very best of what NSA offers our community,” noted Curtis Johnson, board chair of NSA, “and we are deeply indebted to the many sponsors who have made our 50th anniversary event possible.” In addition to Prudential Financial, Inc. as the Lead Sponsor, major supporters include Inter-Atlantic Management Services, LLC; Kathy and Mark Grier, Cognizant, and PwC.
Tickets for the stage performance are available at $54 and $29 and for the entire event at $500; they are available for purchase at www.njpac.org. Information on full event tickets is available by contacting NSA Development Director Sherrie Thaler at 973.642.0133. Media inquiries should be directed to Carmen Santos-Robson at 973.642.0133 or Helen Paxton at 973.714.0776.
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