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Explore Ocean County Arts... In 1955, a group of community-minded people founded the Garden State Philharmonic Symphony Society to provide quality symphonic music to the residents of the Jersey Shore. Today, the Garden State Philharmonic’s professional orchestra presents a rich season composed of a four- or five-concert subscription series; at least one holiday concert, alone or in partnership with other professional performers, such as the Atlantic City Ballet; a free Young People’s concert, which serves as the culmination to its Music for Young People School Residency Program; and a free Fourth of July Concert, all thanks to the ongoing support of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders, to name a few. In an endless list of guest artists featured in the GSP’s history, audiences have been serenaded by such illustrious talents as Schlomo Mintz, Joseph Carter Brey and Colin Carr. The GSP’s programs include classical compositions from throughout history, choral works, pops and other forms of classically inspired music. Committed to supporting not only the established masters but also the great composers of today, specialty programming includes new compositions like Patrick Ippolito’s “Mahler Grooves” and Michael Shapiro’s “Frankenstein,” a composition to complement the 1931 film of the same name. Recognizing another music void at the Jersey Shore, the GSP inaugurated the MasterWorks Chorus in 1984 to present repertoire 26 www.sparkexploreocean.com The Garden State Philharmonic Chorus and the Symphony Orchestra from back stage at The Strand Theater during performance. not offered by orchestras elsewhere and give community Chorus members the rare opportunity to work side-by-side with professional musicians. Over the past half century, the GSP has been recognized many times for its superlative artistic and educational programming. Among these recognitions are nominations for the 2011 and 2013 New Jersey People’s Choice Award for Favorite Orchestra/ Symphony and 2012 Ocean Happenings’ Best of the Jersey Shore in the category of music/bands. The GSP was the recipient of the 2014 Monmouth Ocean Development Council’s Silver Gull Award for Tourism. In addition to the respect earned as a direct result of voting fans, the GSP’s history has included recognitions by the National Endowment for the Arts for its contribution to the American Masterpieces Initiative, designed to acquaint Americans with the best of their cultural and artistic legacy. The GSP was also one of the first orchestras selected to participate in the creation and presentation of Ford Made in America, a collaboration of orchestras from across the nation. This experience allowed the GSP to play a pivotal role in the premiere of a new work by Joan Tower, Made in America, which has since earned multiple Grammy Awards. The Garden State Philharmonic’s home base is the Grunin Center for the Arts at Ocean County College. Photo courtesy of Garden State Philharmonic Garden State Philharmonic www.gardenstatephilharmonic.org


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