By Mabel Pais

HONOREES: JOHN C. DEBNEY, ROBERT MORRISON & ARTS ED NJ

ANNUAL GALA

APRIL 22, 2021 @ 7 PM EDT, FREE

REPLAY AVAILABLE ON WHARTONARTS.TV

The Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts (WIPA) holds its 13th Annual Gala: “Messengers of Hope,” virtually on Thursday April 22, 2021 at 7 p.m. EDT. WIPA celebrates Wharton’s thriving, life-changing performing arts education programs featuring performances by the New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS), Paterson Music Project (PMP), and Performing Arts School (PAS). The theme of the gala recognizes Wharton’s dedicated young musicians who continue to share the gift of music and bring positivity to their communities despite the challenges faced during the global pandemic.

HONOREES 

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Honoree John C. Debney, the Academy Award-nominated composer, receives the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts Lifetime Achievement Award. This award distinguishes individuals who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the performing arts and represent a beacon of inspiration to Wharton Arts’ students.

EDUCATION AWARD

Robert B. Morrison and Arts Ed NJ receive the inaugural Education Award. Wharton Arts has established an inaugural annual Education Award that recognizes significant and important contributions to arts education in its communities as well as those who have shown exceptional commitment to the advancement of music education in general over their lifetimes. This inaugural award will honor Robert B. Morrison and Arts Ed NJ for their tireless advocacy of arts education in the Garden State of New Jersey.

 “On behalf of our Board of Trustees, I am so honored to announce that the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts will be honoring John Debney, one of Hollywood’s most prolific composers, with its 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Executive Director Peter H. Gistelinck. “It has been great to see the enthusiasm of our students in preparing to perform selections of his work and we can’t wait to hear and see the result at our Annual Gala.”

JOHN C DEBNEY

John C. Debney is considered one of the most successful composers in Hollywood. His unique ability to create memorable work across a variety of genres, as well as his reputation for being remarkably collaborative, have made him the first choice of top-level producers and directors. Debney combines his classical training and a strong knowledge of contemporary sounds to easily adapt to any assignment. Debney’s work includes “Hocus Pocus,” “Liar Liar,” “The Princess Diaries,” “Iron Man 2,” “Chicken Little,” “Bruce Almighty,” “Sin City,” “Elf,” “Passion of the Christ,” and most recently, “Jingle Jangle” and “Come Away” amongst many others. For more information visit JohnDebney.com.

BOB MORRISON

“Under the leadership of Bob Morrison, Arts Ed NJ has played an important role in making New Jersey the first state to provide universal access to arts education for all public-school students. Throughout the global pandemic, Bob and Arts Ed NJ have shown tremendous leadership in advocating for arts education, and we are honored to present both with the inaugural Wharton Arts Education Award,” remarked Helen H. Cha-Pyo, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor.

Robert B. Morrison has a long history as a supporter of music and arts education and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading researchers and advocates for arts education. Morrison is the founder and CEO of Quadrant Research, the nation’s preeminent arts education data analytics and market research firm. Morrison also serves as the Director of Arts Ed NJ, the statewide arts education policy group for the state of New Jersey. Through his amazing work, New Jersey has emerged as the leading state for arts education in the country. For more information about Morrison and Arts Ed NJ, visit artsednj.org.

TICKETS

To attend and support WIPA’s celebration of “Messengers of Hope,” visit WhartonArtsGala.org. Tickets for the event are free! If you cannot watch the gala live, you can still view the recording at WhartonArts.tv

WIPA

Wharton (WIPA) is New Jersey’s largest independent non-profit community performing arts education center serving over 1,500 students through a range of classes and ensembles including the 15 ensembles of the New Jersey Youth Symphony, which serve 500 students in grades 3 – 12 by audition. Beginning with Out of the Box Music and Pathways classes for young children, Wharton offers private lessons, group classes, and ensembles for all ages and all abilities at the Performing Arts School. Based in Paterson, New Jersey, the Paterson Music Project is an El Sistema-inspired program of the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts (WIPA) that uses music as a vehicle for social change by empowering and inspiring children through the community experience of ensemble learning and playing.

WIPA is located in Berkeley Heights, New Providence and Paterson, NJ and reaches students from 10 counties. All of Wharton’s extraordinary faculty members and conductors hold degrees in their teaching specialty and have been vetted and trained to enable Wharton’s students to achieve their personal best. To learn more, visit WhartonArts.org.

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New Jersey Youth Symphony

Video Auditions in 2021-22  

The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) is holding auditions by video submission for the 2021-22 season. Audition registration for New Jersey’s largest youth orchestra program, encompassing 15 ensembles including strings, winds, percussion, jazz, chamber music, and three full orchestras, is available online until April 30. For Audition requirements and more information, visit NJYS.org. Interested candidates with specific questions can also send an email to info@njys.org. Deadline for audition registration is Friday, April 30, 2021.

“Come join us! The New Jersey Youth Symphony is more committed than ever to inspire and challenge our young musicians to achieve personal excellence through music in a supportive and inclusive environment. We will continue to find innovative ways to offer exceptional learning and performance opportunities for our students,” said Helen H. Cha-Pyo, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor.

NJYS plans to return to a pre-pandemic season of in-person rehearsals and concerts with a continuation of its online offerings. Preparations are being made for the 2021-22 season encompassing exceptional performance opportunities, including a dozen public concerts by 15 ensembles; innovative educational experiences from online webinars and workshops to master classes by world-class guest artists; and service to the community through the gift of music. NJYS will continue to share the joy of music with older adult communities through its #StayHomeandPlay digital concert series as well as in-person live community concerts at local libraries, hospitals, and senior centers.

NJYS

The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS), founded in 1979, is now in its 41st season. The NJYS is a program of the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts. To learn more, visit whartonarts.org/njys

Wharton is New Jersey’s largest non-profit performing arts education organization serving over 1,500 students of all ages and abilities through a range of classes and ensembles. In addition to the New Jersey Youth Symphony, programs include the Paterson Music Project and Performing Arts School. To learn more, visit whartonarts.org

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness)