Concordia Chorale announces the formation of a teaching division, The Concordia Vocal Academy (CVA). The CVA will provide classical vocal training for area students by placing them with professionally qualified area voice teachers. The CVA will also oversee the already operating Opera Lab, which provides operatic training for high school and college age students. The Opera Lab has three vacancies for the second semester, starting in January. The lab is under the direction of Concordia directors Cynthia Springsteen and John Balme. Inquiries for lessons and/or Opera Lab membership should be made to (732) 495-2066 or [email protected].
Auditions for two male roles in the upcoming production of “A Night at the Nutcracker” will be held Tuesday, Nov. 23, at 7 p.m. in the Brookdale Community College Performing Arts Center. Auditioning actors should bring a picture and a résumé, a song from the 1930s and be prepared to dance with the choreographer. Sides will be provided. Open roles are: Eddie, 20s, the love-interest role, requiring a comic actor to play “straight,” a legit tenor with a great voice and dance ability as he dances the role of the Prince in “The Nutcracker” in the play-within-the-play; Nikolai Rasputin, 30s, nonsinging role, an egocentric Russian ballet dancer with a hot temper. Ballet experience is required as is a Russian dialect. The Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore comedy will run Dec. 17-23. Rehearsals will be held weekday evenings and weekend days Dec. 1-16. For more information, call (732) 224-2411.
The International Center at Brookdale Community College will host a Friday, Nov. 19, screening of the German film, “Mostly Martha” at the Lincroft main campus. The free screening will be held at 7 p.m. in the NAS building, Room 100. The movie’s plot revolves around Martha, the chef at a small gourmet restaurant in Hamburg whose monotonous routine changes when her sister dies in an accident and she has to take in her 8-year-old niece, Lina.
The film is rated PG content, so families will be comfortable attending this free screening.
For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call (732) 224-2799.
The Monmouth Conservatory of Music, Red Bank, has awarded scholarships to local young people who demonstrate competence in and commitment to the study of music.
Scholarships awarded through the Monmouth Conservatory/Frank & Lydia Bergen Foundation Scholarship are: piano, Jeffrey Deleon, 11, Meghan Dougherty, 11, Katie Eckert, 13, Brian Register, 15, all Middletown, Lucia Marie Denk, 13, Brick, Shemeeka Greaves, 15, Ocean, Mariya Nagornaya, 16, Eatontown; cello, Rachel Waldman, 12, West Belmar; violin, Lily Androsiglio, 10, Shrewsbury; Laura Appello, 16, Long Branch; Lee-Anna Christian, 13, Matawan; Erinn Dorsey, 13, Neptune; Courtney Rotolo, 12, Middletown; voice, Matthew Krenz, 16, Lincroft; Chandler Moore, 16, Middletown. A scholarship for participation in MCM Youth Chorus was awarded to Kelly Fitzpatrick, 12, Jackson.
The Embroiderers’ Guild of America – Monmouth Chapter will meet Thursday, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, Phalanx Road in Colts Neck. Guest speaker is Victoria Adams Brown. Nonmembers, novices and experts are invited. For more information, call (732) 536-0609.
Arthur Schwartz, New York-based food expert, radio host and food critic, will be at Sickles Market on Harrison Avenue in Little Silver for a book signing on Saturday, Nov. 27, noon to 3 p.m. He will be signing copies of the newly released “Arthur Schwartz’s New York City Food,” which, in addition to recipes, features never-before-published photos of vintage restaurant menus, postcards and other food memorabilia that Schwartz has collected over the years. For more information, call Sallie Smith at (732) 741-9563.
Ever wonder why people decorate their homes with mistletoe and evergreens for the holidays? Why is the date of Christmas Dec. 25? Who is the historical figure that evolved into Santa Claus? Answers to how holiday traditions began will be available Dec. 5, 1-4 p.m., at the Craig House, a restored 18th-century farmhouse located on Route 9 south and Schibanoff Road in Freehold. For more information about the free event, call Monmouth Battlefield State Park at (732) 462-9616.