The Morris Choral Society has been nominated for the 2018 Discover Jersey Arts "People's Choice Award. Voting is underway now until February 20 in the New Jersey competition which pays tribute to the work of New Jersey's vital, vibrant, and diverse arts organizations. Ballots can be accessed at any time via www.JerseyArts.com/Vote.
"The Morris Choral Society is honored to be nominated for Favorite Choral Group," said Jason Tramm, Music Director of the Morris Choral Society. "We're pleased to be have won the recognition of our fellow colleagues, which is a prerequisite for nomination, and to be a part of such a strong arts community that drives one another to thrive. We hope our audience and patrons will cast their vote and support us - as well as our distinguished colleagues throughout the State who are competing in 18 distinct arts categories."
The Morris Choral Society and the other contenders in the 2018 People's Choice Awards were nominated by their peers within the Jersey Arts Marketers network, which is made up of hundreds of arts groups across the state. Now, 11 arts districts and 116 organizations will compete in 18 categories, including favorite symphony orchestra, small theatre, museum, ballet company and more.
"Fans of the N.J. arts scene are passionate and loyal, and for good reason," said Nick Paleologos, Executive Director of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. "This program has grown beyond our expectations, and that's a direct result of the distinctive, thriving arts industry in this state offering high quality experiences all year round."
Public voting runs through February 20, 2018 at www.JerseyArts.com/Vote - Last year, nearly 18,000 ballots were cast, and even more are expected during this milestone year. To review the ballot and vote for your favorite nominees in all categories, please visit www.JerseyArts.com/Vote.
"Our state is rich with cultural and artistic opportunities," said Adam Perle, President & CEO of ArtPride New Jersey, which cosponsors the Discover Jersey Arts program with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. "The People's Choice Awards provides an opportunity to showcase the abundance of creativity across N.J., celebrating both winners and nominees with spirit and passion."
The Morris Choral Society is pleased the nomination reflects well upon the public trust placed in them as evidenced by the longstanding support by the Arts Council of the Morris Area through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding has also been provided by the Arts Council of the Morris Area/Dodge Foundation Partnership.
ABOUT JERSEYARTS.COM AND DISCOVER JERSEY ARTS:
JerseyArts.com and Discover Jersey Arts JerseyArts.com is the official website of Discover Jersey Arts, a cosponsored project of the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and New Jersey State Council on the Arts dedicated to increasing the awareness of and participation in the arts in New Jersey. The site features a comprehensive cultural events calendar and arts directory; feature stories on Culture Vultures Arts Weekly and the Jersey Arts Podcast; details on Jersey Arts Membership, including discounts and exclusive member events; an online gallery of New Jersey artists; and other content about the state's cultural community.
ABOUT THE MORRIS CHORAL SOCIETY
The Morris Choral Society, now celebrating its 45th year is one of Northern New Jersey's oldest and most active and beloved not for profit arts organizations dedicated to enhancing community life by performing and presenting the highest quality classical choral repertoire from the last three centuries.
Since its founding in 1973 the Morris Choral Society (MCS) has dedicated itself to the residents of Morris County and has played a significant role in Northern New Jersey's artistic community. Traditionally each performance season includes two major concerts as well as several concert appearances at many of Morristown's annual celebrations: Independence Day, the historical Holly Walk, its popular Fall Festival on the Green, and First Night. Over the past 5 decades the MCS has assembled a vast and varied musical repertoire, the cornerstone of which is an impressive library of music from the Renaissance to the present. Since 2010 the Morris Choral Society sponsors an annual scholarship open to New Jersey residents or students currently attending a New Jersey school, age 19 or older who are pursuing a major or course of study in one of the following disciplines: vocal performance, vocal conducting, or music education with a major in voice.
MCS is home to the popular sextet, Express Male a lively, fun-filled sextet with a dazzling repertoire consisting of serious choral pieces, traditional gospel songs, Broadway favorites and a variety of popular tunes. Formed four years ago as an independent vocal ensemble within The Morris Choral Society, Express Male continues to entertain audiences at major MCS concerts and is featured in concerts throughout the region.
The MCS is funded in part by the Arts Council of the Morris Area through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding has also been provided by the Arts Council of the Morris Area/Dodge Foundation Partnership. To learn more about the Morris Choral Society and its programming visit www.morrischoralsociety.org.
Morris Choral Society's Music Director Jason Tramm is recognized as one of the most dynamic young conductors on the podium today. Appointed to the position in 2016 Tramm has led the MCS in two Holiday Spectacular concerts and has conducted the New Jersey premiere of Karl Jenkin's "The Peacemakers" in 2017. Tramm will conduct the upcoming MCS Spring Concert on May 12 at 8PM at the Morristown Methodist Church on the Green.
A frequent guest conductor, he has performed with orchestras in Romania, Albania, Hungary and most recently with the 2017 Narina Festival in Italy. In addition to his position with the Morris Choral Society Tramm serves as conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Adelphi Orchestra and Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the MidAtlantic Opera with whom he made his Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium) in 2015 and his 2017 NJPAC debut with the critically acclaimed "Prayer for Peace" concert. Currently in his 11th season as Director of Music, in Residence, of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association (OGCMA), Tramm leads the summer residency in choral, orchestral, and oratorio performances in the 6,500-seat historic Great Auditorium - home to the 64th Annual Ocean Grove Choir Festival, the largest sacred music festival on the East Coast.
An accomplished educator, Tramm serves on the faculty at Seton Hall University as Director of Choral Activities, where he leads the University Choir, Chamber Choir, Orchestra, and teaches voice and conducting. As Music Director/Principal Conductor of Teatro Lirico d'Europa, a professional opera touring company, Tramm will conduct the February 2018 productions of Madama Butterfly (Puccini), Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini), Rigoletto (Verdi) and Aida (Verdi) in theaters throughout Florida, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
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