D&R Greenway Land Trust, in partnership with VOICES, will “Celebrate the Green” with a St. Patrick’s Day Party and fundraiser on Friday, March 17, 7 p.m., at Music Together, 225 Hopewell-Pennington Road, Hopewell. Wear green and bring your dancing shoes! Enjoy wine, beer, hors d’oeuvres, a green silent auction and performances by VOICES, Rince O’ Chroi School of Irish Dance, Amy Zakar and Teamwork Dance. Money raised will benefit D&R Greenway and VOICES. Tickets cost $65. To purchase, please visit www.drgreenway.org or phone 609-924-4646.
This festive event is a chance for like-minded people who care about green landscapes and Irish music to join together to ensure that the lands around us stay green forever. “D&R Greenway Land Trust has preserved 20,000 acres of farms, rolling hills and verdant stream valleys in central New Jersey,” says D&R Greenway President & CEO Linda Mead. “This total area is three-quarters the size of Dublin, Ireland. These lands ensure local, healthy foods, fresh air and clean water.
“Ireland’s rolling hills are known for 40 shades of green,” Mead continues. “Your contribution and participation in this fun event will help us keep 40 shades of green in New Jersey!”
VOICES founder and Music Director Dr. Lyn Ransom is a long-time supporter of the mission of D&R Greenway. Her grandfather owned a farm and her father was the Executive Director of the American Camping Association, so Dr. Ransom and her sisters and grew up in fields, forests and camps. “Nature is what I seek for solace, adventure and enjoyment,” says Dr. Ransom. “I’m grateful for what I can do to help to preserve farms and wild lands for the health of the environment and for grandchildren to come. I am also grateful that the VOICES singers, VOICES board, and my husband and composer, Ken Guilmartin, join together periodically in support of D&R Greenway Land Trust.”
About the performers:
VOICES is a skilled group of semi-professional singers dedicated to performing choral masterworks and premieres by American composers. Concerts have taken place in Mercer and Bucks County, as well as New York, Philadelphia, Germany, Austria and Italy. VOICES sponsors a composition program for children ages 5-12 and regularly performs music of composers from the region. This is VOICES’ fourth collaboration with D&R Greenway.
Dr. Lyn Ransom, founder and music director, has led VOICES on three European concert tours and been a guest conductor in Russia, Germany, England and the eastern U.S. Teaching posts have included Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Iowa State University, and Westminster Conservatory of Music, Rider University. Dr. Ransom is coauthor of MusicTogether® Preschool, an early childhood music program. Dr. Ransom is has been a guest conductor for the Riverside Symphonia, New Jersey Chamber Singers, St. Petersburg, Russia, Conservatory Chorus, and the Princeton Society of Musical Amateurs.
She has been recognized as a Distinguished Artist by the Arts Council of Princeton, and was a Tribute to Women honoree by the Princeton YWCA.
Choreographer Mary Pat Robertson, born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, started dance studies there and performed with Tulsa Ballet. She continued her dance education while attending Wellesley College and Stanford University. She performed in modern dance companies in Palo Alto, Berkeley, San Francisco, New York City and on tour in France. Upon moving to Princeton from New York City in 1980, she founded Teamwork Dance and started teaching for Princeton Ballet School. Robertson recently retired after serving 30 years as Director of Princeton Ballet School. She now teaches at The Pennington Studio and writes on dance for U.S.1. She has enjoyed choreographing for many collaborations with musical organizations, such as Opera Festival, Opera NJ, Princeton Pro Musica, the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble, galas for the Princeton Festival and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, and especially VOICES.
Josh Wilson, VOICES pianist, graduated with honors in piano performance from Westminster Choir College. In addition to playing for the chorale and Sotto Voce, and teaching a music theory course for VOICES, he is adjunct professor of piano at Mercer County Community College and teaches piano privately.
Amy Zakar, violin, is a Princeton-based second-generation musician and teacher. She plays classical music as well as jazz, world and folk music, specializing in fiddling and klezmer. Zakar teaches violin and other instruments and performs with local groups including the Klez Dispensers and Princeton Country Dancers.
Teamwork Dance was incorporated as a not-for-profit arts organization in 1980, co-founded by Mary Pat Robertson and John Watson Stewart. Teamwork presented original choreography by Robertson, Stewart, founding member Janell Byrne, former Twyla Tharp dancer Katie Glasner, and many others. Major co-productions included “Carmina Burana” with Princeton Pro Musica, “Laud to the Nativity” with VOICES, and many opera productions, ranging from “The Magic Flute” and “The Marriage of Figaro” to Domenick Argento’s “Postcard from Morocco” and Samuel Barber’s “Vanessa.”
Founded in 2010, the mission of the Rince O’ Chroi School of Irish Dance (meaning “Dance from the Heart”) in Hamilton, New Jersey, is to provide a motivational atmosphere for students of all ages, while focusing on building confidence, health and structure. The school fosters a “second-family” relationship with the students and provides each the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Special thanks to venue sponsor Music Together, Riverhorse Brewery and Photographer Mary Michaels.
To learn more and to order tickets, please visit www.drgreenway.org.
