September 25, 2024
MAN WITH A HORN: Chris Botti, Grammy-winning trumpeter, comes to State Theatre New Jersey on October 12 at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, October 12 at 8 p.m., trumpeter Chris Botti will appear at the State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue. Botti performs with a group of renowned fellow musicians including violinist Joshua Bell and Israeli guitarist Gilad Hekselman. Tickets range from $29-$69.
During the past three decades, Botti has collaborated with Sting, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Steven Tyler, Andrea Bocelli, Herbie Hancock, Yo-Yo Ma, and others. He has topped the jazz charts with numerous albums, earned multiple Gold and Platinum records, and performed with symphony orchestras and on stages from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl to the Sydney Opera House. more
AN ALL-NEW SERIES: The Signum Quartet are among the ensembles taking part in the Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s four-concert chamber series this season at Trinity Church. (Photo by Irene Zandel)
The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) has announced the opening of its all-new, four-concert chamber music series at Trinity Church. The first event is on Thursday October 10 at 7 p.m., featuring music composed for piano trio. Players are violinist Emma Richman, cellist Wangshu Xiang, and pianist Yoon Lee.
Additional concerts showcase a rare instrument of the viol family, a string trio, and string quartet, successively. General admission tickets are $45 per person, per concert with a 50 percent discount for children 5-17. more
RAPT AUDIENCE: Young listeners and their families are the focus of “CMS Kids: Tuneful Travels,” a special program taking place in the Lee Rehearsal Room of the Lewis Arts Complex on Saturday, October 19 at 1 and 3 p.m.
Princeton University Concerts welcomes back the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) for the first family program of the season on Saturday, October 19 at 1 and 3 p.m.
Rami Vamos hosts these events in the Lee Rehearsal Room of the Lewis Arts Complex. “CMS Kids: Tuneful Travels” is curated for kids ages 3-6 and their families. Vamos and the professional musicians of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will guide audiences through a magical journey where music for piano, violin, and bassoon becomes an expression of joy and movement.
The concert is adapted for neurodiverse audiences, including children with autism and other special needs. The performance is less formal than traditional concerts and more supportive of sensory, communication, movement, and learning needs. more
On October 4-6 and 25-27, Roxey Ballet presents “The C Word,” a celebration in dance, music, and spoken word of the strength and resilience of breast cancer survivors. The performances, which are in person and virtual, take place at Mill Ballet, 46 North Sugan Road, New Hope, Pa.
Choreographed by Mark Roxey, the multimedia production tells the personal stories of women who have overcome breast cancer. Funded by a grant from New Music USA, it is a tribute to the human spirit. Roxey has collaborated with composers Robert Maggio and Matthew Hardy to bring these stories to life. more
FALL EXHIBITIONS: Solo exhibitions by Angela Pilgrim, whose work is shown at left, and Barbara Wallace, right. will be on view at The Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster September 27 through December 8. An opening reception is on September 27 from 6 to 8 p.m.
The Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster has announced two fall solo exhibitions on view September 27 through December 8. The opening reception will be held on Friday, September 27 from 6 to 8 p.m., and is free and open to the public.
“Angela Pilgrim: New Growth” presents the work of Angela Pilgrim, whose studio is in Newark. She said, “My work explores the Black female gaze through figurative imagery of the body. Utilizing portraiture, printmaking, pattern making and mixed media, I investigate themes of beauty, spirituality and reflection. By creating visual stories that invoke critical thinking processes regarding interiority, my work aims to reverse and rebuild how Black women see themselves, both within their communities and expanded to a much larger world view.” more
“LAVENDER HORIZON”: This work by Elizabeth Grimaldi is featured in “Reciprocal Inspiration and a Cranbury School Legacy: Elizabeth Grimaldi and Elaina Phillips,” on view October 2 through October 30 at the Gourgaud Gallery in Cranbury
The Gourgaud Gallery in Cranbury will present “Reciprocal Inspiration and a Cranbury School Legacy: Elizabeth Grimaldi and Elaina Phillips” October 2 through October 30.
In the exhibition, Elizabeth Grimaldi, a retired Cranbury School teacher and administrator, will exhibit her original paintings. Additionally, works by Elaina Philips, her former student, will be on display. more
OPEN STUDIO: Sculptor Don Campbell is among the local artists who will open their studio doors to the public for the 17th Annual Hopewell Tour des Arts on September 28 and 29.
During the 17th Annual Hopewell Tour des Arts on September 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and September 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., more than 60 local artists will open their studio doors to the public. Among stops on this year’s tour is the studio of sculptor Don Campbell.
Nestled in the heart of Hopewell, Campbell’s barn studio offers a unique opportunity to explore the world of narrative sculpture. Campbell, a master storyteller in clay, is known for his ability to capture emotion, form, and narrative in his absract, portrait, and figurative works. His pieces, deeply inspired by the realms of consciousness and nature, invite viewers to engage with the unfolding stories embedded within each sculpture. more
The 2024 New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show opens on Saturday, October 5 at Meadow Lakes Senior Living, 300 Meadow Lakes, East Windsor, and will remain on display and open to the public through Wednesday, October 30. This is the 58th annual State Senior Citizen Art Show, and features more than 250 works of art by artists over the age of 60, representing 20 of the state’s 21 counties.
The work — by both professional and non-professional artists in 11 categories (acrylic, craft, digital arts, mixed media, oil, pastels, photography, print, sculpture, watercolor, and works on paper) — will be reviewed by a three-person panel of professional artists. After careful review, the judges will select first, second, and third place winners and honorable mentions in each category. more
OFF AND RUNNING: Princeton University football running back John Volker heads upfield in a 2023 game. Last Saturday, senior Volker scored on a three-yard touchdown run in a losing cause as Princeton fell 35-20 to Lehigh in its season opener. The Tigers will look to get on the winning track as they host Howard (2-2) on September 28 in its home opener. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
Opening its 2024 season last Saturday by facing a rugged Lehigh squad that already had three games under its belt, the Princeton University football team got off to a rough start.
Princeton trailed 21-7 at halftime, getting outscored 14-0 in the second quarter as it struggled on both sides of the ball. more
AMAZING GRACE: Princeton University field hockey player Grace Schulze controls the ball in a game earlier this season. Last Sunday, senior forward Schulze scored all three goals for No. 18 Princeton as it edged No. 13 Rutgers 3-2. The Tigers, now 4-2 overall and 1-0 Ivy League, play at Columbia on September 27 before hosting No. 1 Northwestern on September 29. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Justin Feil
Grace Schulze found the perfect way to end her frustration.
The senior forward scored all three goals in No. 18 Princeton University field hockey team’s 3-2 comeback win at No. 13 Rutgers on Sunday.
“It definitely was a great feeling,” said Schulze. “I think when we play Rutgers, there’s always a lot of emotion. They’re obviously our in-state rivals, so being able to get the comeback win was huge and I think I’ve been struggling with getting goals and getting shots, so I think for me it was a good way to start my scoring for the season.” more
CENTURY CLUB: Princeton High girls’ soccer goalie Julia Zaldarriaga boots the ball last Saturday against the Hun School. Sophomore star Zaldarriaga earned a shutout and made her 100th career save in the process as the local foes battled to a 0-0 draw. PHS, which moved to 1-2-2 with the tie, hosts WW/P-North on September 26 and Hopewell Valley on September 28 before playing at Notre Dame on October 1. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
Julia Zaldarriaga is only a sophomore but she has already hit a special milestone for the Princeton High girls’ soccer team.
Last Saturday, sophomore goalie Zaldarriaga recorded the 100th save of her career, helping PHS play to a 0-0 draw with crosstown rival Hun School. more
DUAL THREAT: Aspen Swanson scoops up the ball in action last spring for the Hun School girls’ lacrosse team. This fall, junior Swanson has been stepping up for the Hun field hockey team. Last Wednesday, Swanson scored the lone goal for the Raiders as they fell 2-1 to Pennington in overtime. Hun, which lost 3-2 to Penn Charter (Pa.) last Friday to move to 2-3, plays at the Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) on September 28 before hosting Stuart County Day School on October 1. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
Her left thigh was heavily taped, but Aspen Swanson kept racing up the field as the Hun School field hockey team battled Pennington last Wednesday.
With Hun trailing the Red Hawks 1-0 in the fourth quarter, Swanson was moved from her usual defender spot into the Raider attack and ended up scoring a goal with 1:42 left in regulation. more
HEADY PLAY: Princeton Day School boys’ soccer player Todd Devin heads the ball in a game earlier this season. Senior midfielder Devin scored the lone goal for PDS as it fell 5-1 to Lawrence High last Thursday. The Panthers, who lost 3-1 to Steinert last Saturday to move to 3-3, play at Hamilton West on September 26 before hosting Hopewell Valley on October 1. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
With the Princeton Day School boys’ soccer team bringing a 3-1 record into its game against Lawrence High last Thursday, Todd Devin and his Panther teammates were looking to build on the progress they have made since enduring a rough 3-16-1 season last fall.
“We have improved a lot from last year, we didn’t score a goal until well past halfway of the season,” said senior midfielder Devin. “Last year, we didn’t have an identity. This year we are creating our identity and we are learning. In the past two years, we didn’t have a lot of the ball so we know how to play without the ball. With coach [Gary] Roberts coming in, we are getting an identity with the ball. We are working on getting the ball off of our feet quicker with more patterns of play and ways to create chances on goal.” more
By Bill Alden
Having scaled down its match schedule this fall, the Princeton Day School girls’ tennis team is hoping that extra training time will lead to some high level play as the season unfolds.
“This is our second year in the conference (the Colonial Valley Conference), we have reduced the number of matches from what we played last year,” said PDS head coach Michael Augsberger. “That will give us a little more time to work on things we need to improve on in practice. I think that we are in a good position to compete for the sectional, just like in the last couple of years.”
The Panthers showed some improvement as they nearly toppled perennial CVC powerhouse WW/P-South on September 12, falling 3-2 to the Pirates. more
MAY DAY: Stuart Country Day School field hockey Maya Dev dribbles the ball in recent action. Senior co-captain Dev has helped lead the Stuart back line as the Tartans have gotten off to a promising 4-3 start. Stuart will be playing at the Hun School on October 1. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
Maya Dev is paying forward some support she received as an underclassman in taking a leading role on the back line for the Stuart Country Day School field hockey team this fall in her senior campaign.
“The seniors that I had when I was a freshman and a sophomore were good at communicating,” said co-captain Dev. “That is something I want to be for the team. When I was a freshman, I was playing on defense and I wasn’t really sure where to go. Having someone there to help guide you is really important. It helps you behold your confidence because you know that there is someone there to help you.” more
September 18, 2024
Reenactors march past observers on Sunday at the annual day of history-themed activities at Princeton Battlefield State Park, hosted by the Princeton Battlefield Society. Attendees share what they learned at the event in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Sarah Teo)
By Donald Gilpin
Ratcheting up their search for a permanent leader, the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE) Search Committee was set to meet on Wednesday, September 18 with two lead search consultants from School Leadership LLC, a Long Island-based firm hired last week.
Four firms were interviewed by an ad hoc BOE committee, and the BOE noted that School Leadership, which has led many superintendent searches for school districts in the New York metropolitan area over the past 20 years, “had the best combination of search experience as well as familiarity with the Princeton Public Schools.”
One of the lead consultants, Martin Brooks, who has served as superintendent in several Long Island communities, led the Tri-State Consortium, an alliance of public school districts of which Princeton is a member, for 16 years, and in that time he visited Princeton five times. more
By Donald Gilpin
About 35 local residents, seeking to sharpen the community’s focus on civil rights, have founded a new organization called Civil Rights Princeton (CRP).
“Civil Rights Princeton is a citizens advocacy group intending to serve the cause of civil rights in Princeton, as a sounding board and information source, and, when needed, an advocate and mediator for victims of discrimination in our community,” wrote Walter Bliss, a member of the group and a longtime local resident.
So far the committee has been meeting monthly with an agenda generated mostly by questions brought up by members of the group.
“We’re brand new,” said Lew Maltby, CRP chair and chief organizer. “Nobody knows we’re here. We think that once people know we’re here, they’ll bring complaints to us.” Individuals with concerns, questions or complaints should contact CRP at maltbyadr@gmail.com, he added. more
By Anne Levin
Noom, the digital health and wellness company known for its psychology-based weight loss program, has moved into a 9,000-square-foot space at 1 Palmer Square. The company also has offices at 5 Penn Plaza in New York City.
Last Thursday, September 12, was move-in day for the company, coinciding with its introduction of Noom GLP-1 Rx, which combines an injectable weight loss drug with a way to taper off of it.
The program “addresses the biggest real-world problems with GLP-1s: poor persistence and lean muscle mass loss,” said Chief Executive Officer Geoff Cook in a press release. “Evidence demonstrates the vast majority of people, six out of seven, are not on these medications forever. They lose lean muscle mass and regain the weight, risking conditions like sarcopenic obesity, leaving them potentially worse off than before they started the medication. People need affordable access to these important medications, and then they need an offramp off of them. We designed Noom to be that offramp. Our goal is not to sell more medications; it’s to achieve sustainable, lasting weight loss for our members.” more
FOR THE JOY OF SINGING: Members of the Princeton Society of Musical Amateurs gather each month to sing choral works under the batons of area conductors. There are no rehearsals or auditions, and all are welcome to sing or just listen.
By Anne Levin
At its founding in 1935, the Princeton Society of Musical Amateurs (PSMA) was a small club, hosted by Princeton University’s Music Department. At informal Sunday afternoon meetings, about 20 people gathered to sing selections of choral literature. Accompaniment was by a single pianist.
These days, the PSMA boasts 266 members. An invited orchestra accompanies most works, which span the choral repertoire to include requiem masses by Brahms, Mozart, and Faure; Handel’s Messiah; and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, to name a few. Guest conductors from local choruses and choirs lead each gathering. A programming committee plans each season. more
HISTORY AT ITS HEART: The 17 informational markers along the 20-mile Lawrence Hopewell Trail help tell the story of Mercer County. Four new markers — two in Lawrence, two in Hopewell — were recently added.
By Anne Levin
Whenever the members of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corporation’s (LHTC) Saturday Morning Walking Club come upon one of the informational markers placed in key spots along the way, the walk halts for a moment as participants stop to take in the history of the area they are passing.
“The signs are important. People love them,” said David Sandahl, chair of the LHTC’s board of trustees. “They always want to stop and read them, and find out what happened there in the past.”
With four more signs, created by Trenton-based Hunter Research, recently added to the 20-mile trail, the tally is up to 17. More are anticipated for next year.
By Donald Gilpin
“Access” and “opportunity” are the goals for five different Princeton University summer programs, which this year served about 400 high school, public college, first-generation, lower-income, and transfer students.
Targeting Princeton University students as well as non-Princeton students, the University’s aptly-named Emma Bloomberg Center for Access and Opportunity (EBCAO) this past summer sponsored the following programs: Aspiring Scholars and Professionals (ASAP), Freshman Scholars Institute (FSI), Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP), Princeton University Preparatory Program (PUPP), and Transfer Scholars Initiative (TSI). more
By Stuart Mitchner
So the lawyers suggested going around the globe and get someone completely opposite from J.D. Salinger. Not a novelist but a journalist, not a white guy but a Black guy, and that’s how I lucked out and got the role.
—James Earl Jones (1931-2024)
The feature attraction at this weekend’s Friends and Foundation Princeton Public Library Book Sale is a collection of rare African American literature donated by Rutgers Professor Donald Gibson, who died at 90 on January 3. During his four decades as a teacher, Gibson helped establish the study of Black literature as a legitimate university course. Among his numerous books, essays, and lectures is the introduction to The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois, which is available among the titles in the library’s non-fiction book group.
The Common Factor
Gibson presents Du Bois’s book as “a very personal document” in which the soul is “a common factor, exclusive of considerations of race, class, or religious affiliation, education or social status.” Gibson suggests that the “I am a person and you are a person” principle underlying The Souls of Black Folk shares the “whatever belongs to me as well belongs to you” spirit of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass.
Whitman’s famous mantra also expresses the foundational spirit behind secondhand books and the sales that keep them moving from reader to reader. That said, book sale patrons will still have to pay the stated cost for each volume, as well as the admission charges at Friday’s 9 a.m.-noon Preview Sale. As a longtime Princeton resident, Gibson no doubt attended his share of these sales, presumably finding treasures like those that will be on view in the Community Room from Friday, September 20 through half-price day on Sunday, September 22. more
By Nancy Plum
Princeton Symphony Orchestra opened its 2024-25 classical series this past weekend with two performances at Richardson Auditorium. Led by Orchestra Music Director Rossen Milanov, the ensemble presented music of two 19th-century compositional giants, as well as a contemporary piece with a Princeton connection.
Saturday night’s performance (the concert was repeated Sunday afternoon) opened with an unusual work by New Zealand composer Gemma Peacocke, currently a Ph.D. fellow in composition at Princeton University. Peacocke has been commissioned by ensembles worldwide, including New Zealand’s Orchestra Wellington and Arohanui Strings. These two organizations commissioned Peacocke in 2023 to create the one-movement Manta, a musical description of the oceanic manta rays which migrate to the seas around Peacocke’s native Aotearoa region. Perceived as solitary creatures, manta rays are in reality quite active, demonstrating acrobatic movements which would translate well to musical composition. more