presented by the Dr. John Grieco Scholarship Fund
Bergen Performing Arts Center, located at 30 N Van Brunt Street in Englewood, NJ announces the 11th Annual Englewood Idol. The show will be held on Friday, January 8, 2016 at 7:00PM on the bergenPAC main stage. Tickets to Englewood Idol can be purchased in the main offices of Dwight Morrow High School, the Academies@Englewood, and Janis E. Dismus Middle School. For more information: 201-294-0725, jaronson@epsd.org, or visit the student-created website www.englewoodidol.com.
Students once again hope to raise $5,000 through this event to benefit the Dr. John Grieco Scholarship Fund, which is expected to top the attendance record of more than 1,300 people at last year’s show.
“We are proud to continue our support of the local community with this wonderful event,” said Dominic Roncace, President and CEO of bergenPAC. “It is part of our non-profit mission to encourage students of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the live performing arts. Englewood Idol is the perfect opportunity for our community to learn all of the aspects of performing on a full-sized performing arts stage that bergenPAC provides in a fun and engaging way.”
Talented teen vocalists from Englewood and Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey will grace the main stage of bergenPAC. This year’s Englewood Idol will feature 10 contestants, all high school-age students. The performers hail from the city’s four high school programs: The Dwight-Englewood School (D-E), Dwight Morrow High School (DM), The Eagle Program (EAGLE), and the Academies @ Englewood (A@E). The judges panel will once again feature acclaimed judge of the TV hit show CUPCAKE WARS, Florian Bellanger, as well Music Producer Arejay Ella, the newest member, and Janis E. Dismus Middle School, Musical Director Christopher Tisdale.
More than 30 students auditioned and the talented semi-finalists were selected to perform: Genesis Capellan- Freshman (DMHS), Jakai Green-Sophomore (DMHS), Gamma Hammond- Junior (A@E), Rebekah Han-Senior (A@E), Amanda Haroutunian-Junior (D-E), Yume Murphy-Senior (A@E), Eric Lee-Junior (A@E), Bianca Orozco-Junior (DMHS), Lance Talton-Junior (EAGLE), and Maurice West-Mouzone-Senior (DMHS).
More than 75 students in the Dr. John Grieco Scholarship Fund Elective and Club, as well as 26 seniors on the Grieco Scholarship Board of Trustees, work together to organize Englewood Idol. The elective class focuses on teaching students all aspects of event management, such as creating a budget, designing a marketing plan, selling tickets, T-shirts, and program ads, editing and designing the show program, running the lighting and sound booth, and overall event production. The Musical Director for Englewood Idol will be Niaree Thomas, former first runner up of 2015 Englewood Idol. The Producer of Englewood Idol is, Social Studies teacher, Judy Aronson, the director of Englewood Idol is DMAE Language Arts teacher Mindy Rochman, and the Technical Director is DMAE Information Systems teacher Mitchell Ravitz.
"Students are really excited about this year's show because the theme they are performing is "Old Hollywood". They will be donning top hats, dressing up as celebrities, and don't be surprised if you see one or two people wearing tuxedos to the show. The kids are so excited to be planning a show that will be held at bergenPAC. It is such a beautiful theater and it is so elegant - it fits perfectly with the theme," said Judy Aronson, Director of Englewood Idol and Social Studies teacher in the Englewood Public Schools. "Students are going to feel like Hollywood for a night."
Generous support from sponsors has brought even more interest and attention to this year’s show. Platinum Sponsors of this year's show include Honda of Tenafly, Visions Credit Union, Health East Medical Center, C2 Education Center, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, NVE Bank, Benzel Busch Motor Car Corp., and TD Bank. The Community Chest serving Englewood, Tenafly and Englewood Cliffs is a longtime Emerald Sponsor of the Dr. John Grieco Scholarship Fund, along with the Northern NJ Community Foundation. bergenPAC is the presenting sponsor of the show, generously affording students and staff the opportunity to present Englewood Idol in one of the most beautiful performance venues in the state. The event’s sole Media Sponsor is the Suburbanite newspaper.
About the Dr. John Grieco Scholarship Fund
Englewood Idol is the largest annual fundraiser for students of the Dr. John Grieco Scholarship Fund, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit charity run by students at DMHS and A@E. The late Dr. John Grieco, for whom the Scholarship Fund was named, was the Englewood Public School Superintendent who spearheaded the creation of the Academies @ Englewood as well as other initiatives bringing educational reform and greater opportunities for students in the Englewood public schools. The Scholarship Fund named in his memory serves to continue his efforts to create a campus unifying the students of Dwight Morrow High School and the Academies @ Englewood. Students, parents and staff have view Englewood Idol as more than a musical competition; it is a way for Englewood’s high school students to connect with each other on a different level, outside of the classroom, doing something they love. Photo 2014 Englewood Idol Finalists: Courtesy of DMHS/A@E
About bergenPAC
Founded in 2003, the 1,367-seat Bergen Performing Arts Center, or bergenPAC, is the area’s cultural mecca. Housed in a historic Art Deco-style theater boasting one of the finest acoustic halls in the United States, bergenPAC attracts a stellar roster of world-class entertainment. The jewel in our crown is The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC – the innovative, educational performing arts initiative that reaches more than 30,000 students annually. The Performing Arts School provides community youth, age 2 months to 21 years, with unique, “hands-on” training in music, dance and theater by industry professionals. It is through the ongoing generosity of sponsors, donors, members, and patrons that the not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation bergenPAC and The Performing Arts School are able to thrive and enrich our community. For updates, “Like” bergenPAC on Facebook (facebook.com/#!/bergenpacfan) and follow bergenPAC on Twitter @bergenPAC
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