Zumba, Jazz Piano, at Watchung Arts Center This Weekend

Free Zumba Class on Saturday, Rio Clemente to perform Friday.

The Watchung Arts Center, at 18 Stirling Road in Watchung, has an active weekend coming up, to include a free Zumba dance session on Saturday morning and a performance by jazz piano player Rio Clemente to wrap up the center's "Jazz in the Gallery" series. Clemente, a Morristown native will present the ImpresaRIO Concert at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 16. When Clemente hits the stage, he brings fire and passion and with him talented musicians to tantalize jazz enthusiasts and music lovers alike, according to his fans. As a master pianist, educator, composer, arranger and recording artist, Clemente mixes a strong classical background with a rich knowledge of jazz history, then adds a sense of creativity and interpretation. Clemente has played jazz…

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Township Unveils Portrait of NFL's O'Hara

Player known for charitable efforts as much as gridiron successes sees portrait added to public gallery.

The visage of NFL Pro Bowler and Hillsborough High School alum Shaun O'Hara joined Hillsborough's public art gallery Friday as his portrait was unveiled at the opening of the Hillsborough Cultural Arts Commission's ninth Annual Fine Art and Photography Exhibit. The exhibit opened with a collection of works by area students and adults, which were judged by professional artists. Awards were presented for the judge's first, second and third place choices, as well as honorable mentions. But it was O'Hara's appearance that captivated the crowd. A player known as much for his off-the-field charitable efforts as his outstanding performance on the field as a center for the Super Bowl-winning New York Giants, O'Hara joked about only being in the …

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Slideshow: Faces at the Exhibition

Here's a look at what you'll see at the Hillsborough art show.

We've got lots to share from Friday's opening of the ninth annual Hillsborough Cultural Arts Commission art show at the municipal complex, which featured the unveiling of a new addition to the public gallery: a portrait of three-time NFL Pro Bowl Center Shaun O'Hara. The show is open through the weekend, so here's a little tease—the slideshow features the faces featured in all the artwork on display, from comical poses to serious self-portraits, galliant warriors and imaginative abstracts.

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Three Moms Take a Comic Look at Parenthood in 'Moms the Word'

Temple Beth-El to host special show May 4.

Submitted by Gail Solomon On May 4, enjoy Broadway-quality theater without enduring NYC traffic or paying NYC prices. “Mom’s the Word,” a cabaret-style musical comedy about the challenges of motherhood, will be performed at Temple Beth-El for one night only. This event, which makes a perfect pre-Mother’s Day gift, starts at 7 p.m. with a wine and cheese reception. Written by Dana Covey, Ellen Cohen and Erika Radin, three Moms who also star in the show, “Mom’s the Word” turns a comic eye on the ups and downs of parenthood. The show covers such topics as tantrums, finding a reliable babysitter, excessive whining, overscheduled extra-curricular activities, managing homework, puberty, sagging body parts and much more.  Based on real-life …

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Great Escape

Piano Player Adds Atmosphere at The Bernards Inn

You can slip into The Bernards Inn most Thursday evenings for a drink and a little jazz piano with John Bianculli.

Sometimes there's just not enough days to go around, but each week we'll give you an idea of something to do to relax, spend time with family and just take some time for yourself. This week, we let you know about a Great Escape that you can enjoy many times over. Almost any Thursday evening, you can head on over to The Bernards Inn in downtown Bernardsville to hear piano player John Bianculli play it again — or again — as you enjoy some dinner, a drink or just a quick nibble while you enjoy sophisticated music. Bianculli is a musician and a music teacher from New Jersey who last year was invited to perform at the Bernardsville Library as part of the Friends of the Bernardsville Library's Sunday at Three series. Bianculli performed that …

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Raritan Valley Symphonic Band Celebrating 30 Years

The band is bringing its concert to Bridgewater.

The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a concert April 21 in a new venue, the Bridgewater-Raritan High School. The concert will be held at 3 p.m., and admission is free and open to the public. The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band was founded in 1984 by Anthony Isch, former director of bands at The College of New Jersey. It is now recognized, according to a release, as one of the state’s premiere volunteer symphonic bands. The band currently has 100 members from central New Jersey and the surrounding area, and they play everything from classics to Broadway. In this 30th anniversary concert, the band will be performing “Anniversaries & Remembrances,” with songs including “Pineapple Poll,” Percy Grainger’s “…

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Temple Beth-El to Host Israeli Independence Concert

Temple cantor joins with special guests in April 20 performance.

On April 20, Cantor Emily Wigod Pincus of Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough, will join voices with Cantor Regina Lambert-Hayut and student cantor Vladimir Lapin in a joyous concert celebrating Israeli Independence Day. They will be accompanied by pianist Kathy Shankin and members of the Temple Beth-El Tefila Band. The concert will feature a broad range of musical styles—liturgical, Jewish secular, Israeli pop, and well-known folk songs, as well as Hebrew, Ladino and Yiddish music. It will be held at Temple Beth-El, 67 U.S. Highway 206 North. The evening opens at 7 p.m. with a reception featuring wine, cheese and Israeli foods. The concert begins at 8 p.m. with a traditional Havdalah service. A dessert reception follows the concert. Havdalah, …

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Music Students to Join Trans-Siberian Orchestra Violinist on Stage

Concert will feature Mark Wood's arrangements of Led Zeppelin, Beatles tunes.

International recording artist Mark Wood, an original member of the multiplatinum selling Trans-Siberian Orchestra and creator of the revolutionary Viper electric violin, SV Stingray, and Cobra cello, is bringing his groundbreaking music education program Electrify Your Strings! to Hillsborough High School. This exciting music education program includes a two-day workshop that culminates in a concert in which Mark Wood will perform with the Hillsborough High School orchestra as well as some members of the Hillsborough Middle School orchestra at 7 p.m. April 6 in the Hillsborough High School Auditorium. All profits from this concert will go to the school music programs. Tickets can be purchased at www.hhstheatre.org ($8) or at the door the …

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Raritan Valley Symphonic Band Concert to Mark 30th Anniversary

Featured soloists highlight concert celebrating band's growth from its Hillsborough origins.

The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band will present its 30th anniversary concert on at 3 p.m. April 21 at Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School with a concert titled, “Anniversaries & Remembrances."  Admission is free and open to the public. The Raritan Valley Symphonic Band has been bringing live, quality music to New Jersey residents for three decades. Founded in 1984 by Dr. Anthony Isch, former Director of Bands at The College of New Jersey, the RVSB has grown in both size and caliber to be recognized as one of the state’s premier volunteer symphonic bands.  Presently, the band has over 100 members drawn from central New Jersey and the surrounding areas. With a diverse repertoire, from classics to Broadway, the RVSB brings together …

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Township Opens Annual Art Show to County Entries

As many as 300 submissions expected for show offering $4,500 in prizes.

Hillsborough's burgeoning annual art show sponsored by the township's Cultural Arts Commission returns for a ninth season, adding entries from residents across the county.   “This Art Show is an excellent opportunity for Hillsborough residents to enjoy and admire the work of the very talented local artists," Committeewoman Gloria McCauley, liaison to the Cultural Arts Commission, said. "We are particularly excited to see the latest addition to the township’s public art collection." Each year, a portrait of a signifcant township person painted by a local artist is unveiled at the show—last year's addition was Olympian Joetta Clark Diggs, painted by Zoe Sylowski, and in 2011, a portrait of Doris Duke by Pat Fritz was presented.  Cultural Art…

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