MetroWest announces a multi-faceted selection of arts and cultural programing for 2019. Building upon their already successful New Jersey Jewish Film Festival, popular youth theater programs and art gallery exhibitions the coming season will include a Conservatory Chamber Music Concert Series, authors and concerts for children and families and will play host to Jewish authors.  The Gaelen Center for the Arts at JCC MetroWest is located at 760 Northfield Avenue in West Orange, NJ. 

2019 finds The Gaelen Center for the Arts at JCC MeroWest teaming up with four music conservatories across the nation to bring talented music students to the stage.  Kicking off the Conservatory Chamber Music Series on January 17th will be The Vera Quartet from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, PA. The Curtis Institute of Music educates and trains exceptionally gifted young musicians to engage a local and global community through the highest level of artistry.   Additional chamber concerts include Trio Umani from The Julliard School in New York City on March 3rd, The Landon String Quartet from Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, TX on March 24th and The Mount Vernon Virtuosi String Orchestra from Peabody Institute of The John Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD on June 13th.

Authors and speakers will be a big part of the 2019 season featuring a wide range of talent that will appeal to adults and families.  One not to miss this month is The Simpsons’ longest-serving writer and producer Mike Reiss who will offer a humorous look at the writing and making of the legendary Fox series on January 24th.  Jamie Bernstein, author of Famous Father Girl: A Memoir of Growing Up Bernstein will give a rare look at her father Leonard Bernstein on March 14th.  Martin Fletcher, author of Promised Land: A Novel of Israel will speak on April 11th and Ariel Berger, who chronicles the intimate conversations between himself and Elie Wiesel over decades in his book Witness: Lessons From Eli Wiesel’s Classroom,  will bring those stories to J on May 2nd.  In President Carter: The White House Years, Stuart E. Eizenstat presents a comprehensive history of the Carter Administration, demonstrating that Carter was the most impactful, consequential, modern-era one-term U.S. President. Eizenstat will be the guest speaker on June 12th.

“From award-winning authors sharing their stories to the next generation of virtuosos and ensembles we’re thrilled to be able to offer this diverse range of programming to our community,” says JCC MetroWest CEO Stuart Raynor.  “There really is something for everyone and we look forward to being the home that attracts great talent we as a community can come together and experience.”

For a complete list of Gaelen Center For The Arts 2019 events, and to purchase tickets, visit https://jccmetrowest.org/programs/gaelen/#overview

JCC MetroWest has been a pillar of the community for over 140 years. Nearly 2,000 people come to the J for educational, social, cultural and fitness programs every day. The Leon & Toby Cooperman JCC in West Orange and the day-camp, Camp Deeny Riback, serve an area that covers 400 square miles – from New York City to the east in Essex County and extending to the outlying suburbs of Morris County to the west. Through classes, theater events, the fitness center, summer camps and community-wide festivals JCC MetroWest touches approximately 50,000 people each year. In keeping with Jewish heritage and values, JCC MetroWest is an inclusive community of communities.  The J is open to and appreciates people of all ages, genders, races, religions, nationalities, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations, education, socioeconomic levels, and political perspectives. The J’s mission is to strengthen the community and add meaning to the lives of those served by connecting them to—and through—shared Jewish experiences.