OGCMA Presents Mendelssohn's ELIJAH

THE OCEAN GROVE CAMP MEETING ASSOCIATION (OGCMA) will present its annual Sacred Masterwork concert on Sunday, August 28th at 7:00pm at The Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. This year's free concert is Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio "Elijah." OCGMA's Director of Music Ministries, Jason C. Tramm, will conduct the Great Auditorium Choir and guest soloists Monica Ziglar (soprano), Martha Bartz (Mezzo-Soprano), Ronald Naldi (tenor) and Justin Beck (Bass-Baritone), accompanied by the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra and OGCMA's Gordon Turk, Organist-in-Residence. The Great Auditorium is located at 54 Pilgrim Pathway in Ocean Grove, NJ, and is handicapped-accessible.

"Elijah" premiered in 1846 at the Birmingham Festival and depicts the life of the Biblical prophet as portrayed in Books

1 Kings and 2 Kings of the Old Testament. The work is scored for four vocal soloists, full symphony orchestra and organ, and a large chorus. In the late 1830s, Mendelssohn discussed an oratorio based on Elijah with his friend Karl Klingemann, (who provided him with the libretto for his comic operetta, "Die Heimkehr aus der Fremde"), which resulted in a partial text Klingemann was unable to finish. Mendelssohn then turned to Julius Schubring (the librettist for Mendelssohn's oratorio "St. Paul"), who produced his own text combining the story of Elijah with Psalms. In 1845, the Birmingham Festival commissioned another oratorio from Mendelssohn (with Schubring), who composed his oratorio in German, then had it translated into English by William Bartholomew. The oratorio premiered in English.

Dr. Jason C. Tramm has had a special place in his heart for sacred music since performing as a six-year-old soprano soloist at St. Thomas Lutheran Church in West Nyack, NY. Now in his 10th season as Director of Music Ministries at OGCMA, Tramm is recognized as one of today's most dynamic young conductors. He has been hailed by critics and audiences alike for his work in the operatic, symphonic, and sacred music realms. His 2008 WNJN broadcast of Verdi's "Requiem," shot in The Great Auditorium, was nominated for an Emmy, and, he also appeared on two NPR broadcasts with Gordon Turk and a large orchestra. Dr. Tramm serves as Director of Choral Activities at Seton Hall University, where he directs two choirs, conducts the University Orchestra, and teaches classes in conducting and music education. He is frequently engaged as a guest conductor and has led operatic and symphonic performances here and abroad. He also serves as Artistic Director of the MidAtlantic Opera Company, with which he made his Carnegie Hall debut last October.

According to Tramm, "the Ocean Grove Auditorium Choir has a long history of performing the great oratorio masterworks that dates back to the first few years of the 20th century. We are proud to continue that tradition today. With a 150 voice chorus and the talented Adelphi Orchestra, this will be a fine performance in a magnificent and historic venue."

Dr. Gordon Turk is Organist-in-Residence at OGCMA, which houses one of the largest pipe organs in America. He directs one of the oldest on-going summer organ festivals in the U.S. (established 1908); performs twice-weekly concerts in the festival; and is also artistic director of OGCMA's successful chamber-music series, "Summer Stars," held in The Great Auditorium. Dr. Turk is a critically acclaimed concert organist who has performed throughout the U.S., Europe, Russia, the Ukraine, and Japan. His international tours have included recitals in concert halls, cathedrals, universities, and organ festivals. He has performed as organ soloist with orchestras here and abroad and frequently collaborates with other musicians in concerts, including principal players of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and others. In addition, he has appeared in concert with American folk singers Peter, Paul and Mary at Philadelphia's KimMel Center and, of course, at OGCMA's historic Great Auditorium. Dr. Turk has been awarded competition prizes for performances of J. S. Bach and also in the national improvisation competition of the American Guild of Organists. He is a graduate of the legendary Curtis Institute of Music (bachelor's degree) and the Manhattan School of Music, where he earned his masters and doctorate degrees. In addition, he studied composition and improvisation, working in a composer-apprenticeship. Lastly, Dr. Turk is the Organist-Choirmaster of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Wayne, PA, where he directs three choirs of volunteer and professional singers in a comprehensive program of choral music, including performances with orchestras.

The Adelphi Orchestra (AO) is a professional, non-profit orchestra offering symphonic, chamber, operatic, dance and educational programs in Northern New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area, presenting concerts with accomplished national and international guest soloists and distinguished conductors. Nominated by its peers for the 2016 Jersey Arts People's Choice Award in the Favorite Orchestra/Symphony Division, the Adelphi Orchestra is distinguished as northern New Jersey's longest continuously performing orchestra and has been a proud member of the New Jersey cultural community for 63 years. The AO has been a recipient of a Bergen County Arts Grant since 2006 and received a certificate of commendation in recognition of its constant commitment and dedication to the residents and communities in Bergen County. The orchestra is a member of the League of Orchestras. Visit adelphiorchestra.org for more information. Maestro Jason Tramm has served as a Conductor and Artistic Advisor to the Adelphi Orchestra since the 2015.

About the Soloists

Monica Rose Ziglar - Soprano
From recitals to the opera stage, Monica Rose Ziglar is known for "possessing a gift of transcending angelic high notes" (Tucson Citizen Press). Mrs. Ziglar studied music with Soprano/Professor Elizabeth Mosher at the University of Arizona and was known throughout the region for her opera and festival performances. In 1993 she went east to study at the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) in Philadelphia, PA. In March, 2009, she made her Carnegie Hall debut singing Mendelssohn's "Elijah." And in addition to performing lead roles in major opera productions worldwide, Mrs. Ziglar has been the soprano soloist and choral section leader for the past 20 years with OGCMA, where she performs both a secular and sacred repertoire. Under the direction of Gordon Turk and Jason Tramm, her passion for Sacred Oratorio is regularly expressed in such works as: Rossini's "Stabat Mater," Dubois' "Seven Last Words," Bach's "B Minor Mass" and several masses by Mozart. She is also currently in her 23rd season as soloist with St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Wayne, PA.

Martha Bartz - Mezzo Soprano
Martha Bartz is an accomplished, versatile, cross-over singer, performing regularly as a cabaret, classical concert, recitalist, and opera principal. She is renown nationally for her cabaret work and as a member of the Manhattan Chorale, a professional choral ensemble based in New York City. Ms. Bartz is one of four soloists at OGCMA each year, returning this summer for three recitals and two major concerts. Ms. Bartz was selected as the 2010 Classical Singer Convention winner of the Musical Theater competition in New York; won the New York City NATS competition; and was a finalist in the International Lotte Lehmann Cybersing competition. She has also been invited to perform in the National Art Song Festival in Cleveland and as a guest artist in Carnegie Hall, The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and The Gusman Hall in Miami, among others. She is an Adjunct Professor of Music at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC.

Ronald Naldi - Tenor
Ronald Naldi is an internationally acclaimed lyric tenor who has performed with The Metropolitan Opera, Verona Opera, Opera da Camera of Rome, L'Opera Francais, New Jersey State Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Salzburger Landestheater. With St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble he has sung over 200 performances of Haydn, Mozart, Offenbach, Rieti, Bakst, Fioravanti, and Rossini. He has performed with over 25 symphony orchestras and has an extensive repertoire of more than 30 oratorios. Mr. Naldi has worked under the baton of the world's most famous maestri and has been a colleague with such artists as Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. He studied with Charles Kullman, Margaret Harshaw, Licino Francardi, Luigi Ricci, Carol Bayard and William Riley; has a BM and MM in voice from Indiana University; and was a Fulbright scholar in Rome. He is the tenor soloist and artist-in-residence at OGCMA, where he is completing his 42nd consecutive season.

Justin Beck - Bass Baritone
Justin Beck has traveled a varied career path, both as an opera and concert soloist, as well as a choral singer and voice- over artist. He has had multiple performances at Carnegie Hall under the baton of notable conductors, including Robert Spano, with the Carnegie Hall Festival Chorus; Leon Botstein with the Bard Music Festival Chorus; and Steven Reineke with the New York Pops. He has also performed as a soloist with the Gregg Smith Singers. Beck performed for three seasons with the Opera Company of Middlebury Vermont, singing in productions of Massenet's "Thaïs," Puccini's "La Rondine," and Bizet's "The Pearl Fishers." Beck's other career highlights include performances with Opera Manhattan, and, he appeared as a young artist with the Austin Lyric Opera and the Opera Theater Center of the Aspen Music Festival.

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