In their first-ever public Plainsboro performance, the Singer Circle of New Jersey Opera Theater will present a free concert, “Holiday-Fare,” on Friday, December 19, at 7 p.m. at the Plainsboro Municipal Building, 641 Plainsboro Road. “The concert is very family-oriented with half a dozen pieces with audience participation,” says Scott Altman, artistic director and co-founder of the company with his wife, Lisa, who is executive director. The Altmans and their 22-month old son, Zackary, live in Plainsboro.
The Singer Circle presents a mix of songs through the ages to represent Kwanzaa, Chanukah, and Christmas — from madrigals to popular favorites like “Dreidle, Dreidle, Dreidle,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” Music director, Steven Mosteller, a principal conductor with the New York City Opera, accompanies the group. A meet the artists reception will follow the performance.
The 14-member group (11 members are performing “Holiday-Fare”) is comprised of apprentice artists who are studying opera. Three members with local connections include Matthew Markham, baritone, who lives in Lawrenceville and graduated from Westminster Choir College; Ivan Rivera de Beltran, tenor, a graduate of Westminster Choir College; and Emily Samson Tepe, soprano, a graduate of Princeton University with honors in music and vocal performance who is currently a master of music candidate at Manhattan School of Music.
Lisa Altman says the group is looking forward to performing in Plainsboro and continuing “a great partnership” that began when Plainsboro provided rehearsal space to NJOT for its children’s production of Mozart’s `The Magic Flute,’ which was presented at the Millstone River School in Plainsboro.
For information visit www.njot.org or call 609-919-1767.
