JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop announced today that the City of Jersey City will partner with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra to host a series of free community concerts through a partnership with the PSEG Foundation, as the Fulop administration continues to introduce new cultural events to the City, increase events for families and residents, and grow Jersey City as a destination.

The first New Jersey Symphony Orchestra performance will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 11th, as Mayor Fulop narrates a woodwind quintet in a special arrangement of Sergei Prokofievâ€s “Peter and the Wolf” in City Hall Council Chambers. 

“‘Peter and the Wolf†is a timeless masterpiece that will introduce people of all ages to the world of classical music,” said Mayor Fulop. “I am honored to perform with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and look forward to creating even more opportunities for Jersey City residents to enjoy this incredible composition right here in our community.”

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will also present a Brass Quintet Performance at Hamilton Park on Sunday, July 19, at 3 p.m.

The summer concert series is only one of many events the Fulop Administration has supported, including numerous sporting events, the Golden Gloves Finals, an expanded SummerFest Concert Series, Movies in the Park, a Halloween event for children, Project: Eats, and the return and expansion of Jersey Cityâ€s annual Fourth of July event in Liberty State Park, now in its second year.  Jersey City was also the site of the 2013 Barclays Golf Tournament and will host the 2017 Presidents Cup at Liberty National, and in November will host the Tri-State 2015 Tough Mudder event in Liberty State Park.

The Fulop administration has also focused on supporting the small business community by making improvements to the Business Department, which has led to more than 60 new restaurants opening in the past two years, creating a vibrant dining and cultural scene in Jersey City. Last week, more than 50 licenses were issued for new food truck operators, adding to Jersey Cityâ€s attractiveness as a destination and event site.  The Fulop Administration is also set to launch later this year a bike share program with 350 initial bikes located at docking stations throughout the city and which links directly with the NYC bike share program.

Following the implementation of the $1.2 million branding campaign,  “Jersey City: Make it Yours,” the NJSO concerts continue to contribute to the administrationâ€s efforts to increase public interest, celebrate diversity, and the development of Jersey City as a world class destination.

“The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and PSEG Foundation share a strong commitment to providing unique and meaningful cultural experiences for our diverse communities, and we are excited to work with Jersey City to bring its residents high-quality musical programs right at home,” said James Roe-President & CEO, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. “We are especially proud that Mayor Fulop will join our musicians to narrate Peter and the Wolf – his desire to participate further underscores the passion and commitment Jersey Cityâ€s leaders have for a flourishing artistic culture in one of our stateâ€s most vibrant cities.”

The two-year partnership between the NJSO and the PSEG Foundation will also foster and celebrate diversity within communities by connecting families through cultural events. As a part of their partnershipâ€s diversity and inclusion initiative, the NJSO Chamber Players will perform free community concerts at City Hall and Hamilton Park in Jersey City.

“Bringing experiences like the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra to communities in which we serve is just one way the PSEG Foundation supports celebrating diversity,” said Ellen Lambert, President of the PSEG Foundation. “We are excited to be a part of this event with Mayor Fulop and the NJSO as we work together to serve as a catalyst for strengthening community ties.”

All performances are free and open to the public. No prior registration is required. For more information on the free concert series, please visit http://www.njsymphony.org/concerts-events/promotions/free-chamber-concerts-in-jersey-city-and-plainfield

ABOUT THE NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA:

Named “a vital, artistically significant musical organization” by The Wall Street Journal, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra embodies that vitality through its statewide presence and critically acclaimed performances, education partnerships and unparalleled access to music and the Orchestraâ€s superb musicians.

Under the bold leadership of Music Director Jacques Lacombe, the NJSO presents classical, pops and family programs, as well as outdoor summer concerts and special events. Embracing its legacy as a statewide orchestra, the NJSO is the resident orchestra of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark and partnerships with New Jersey arts organizations, universities and civic organizations remain a key element of the Orchestraâ€s statewide identity.

The NJSO presents a suite of education and community engagement promoting multiple offerings and reaching as many as 17,000 people in nearly all of New Jerseyâ€s 21 counties.

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestraâ€s programs are made possible in part by The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, along with many other foundations, corporations and individual donors. United is the official airline of the NJSO.

 ABOUT THE PSEG FOUNDATION:

The PSEG Foundation (501c3) is the philanthropic arm of Public Service Enterprise Group

(NYSE:PEG). The Foundation generally supports and invests in programs in three areas:

community and the environment, education and safety. The Foundation provides grants to

organizations in communities served by PSEG and its subsidiaries. PSEG (NYSE: PEG) is a diversified energy company based in Newark, NJ. PSEG has three main subsidiaries: PSE&G, NJâ€s largest and oldest combined gas and electric delivery company, PSEG Power, a merchant power generation company, and PSEG Long Island, operator of the Long Island Power Authorityâ€s transmission and distribution system.

For more information about the NJSO, visit www.njsymphony.org or email information@njsymphony.org. Tickets are available for purchase by phone 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) or on the Orchestraâ€s website.

All media inquiries should be directed to Jennifer Morrill, Press Secretary to Mayor Steven M. Fulop at 201-547-4836 or 201-376-0699. 

The post City of Jersey City Announces Partnership with New Jersey Symphony Orchestra first appeared on River View Observer.

The Garden State music festival, celebrating its 10^th anniversary, also features headliners Blink 182 and Foo Fighters and will be the band’s second appearance in as many years

 (Bayonne, N.J.)— Mike Deverin (bass), Dan Sullivan (drums and percussion) and Bayonne native Anthony Celi (lead guitar and vocals) are Audio Insight.

 Considered among the top unsigned acts in the tri-state area, though the rock trio credits Woodbridge as the Audio Insightâ€s birthplace, Celi always credits Bayonne as his hometown.

 “I lived in Bayonne from the time I was a toddler until about fifth grade,” Celi recalls. “I grew up moving all over that town; the overwhelming majority of my family still there. It’s just one of those towns where everybody knows your name.”

 Though Celi moved to Woodbridge before his middle school years, heâ€s always returned to his roots to spend time with family. In between semesters at Montclair State University, where Celi is a sophomore, last summer Audio Insightâ€s leader singer and guitarist spent his weekdays back Bayonne working at IMTT.

 This summer, Celi and his band will find themselves gracing the stage at the 2012 Bamboozle Music Festival alongside Garden State rock legends Bon Jovi, as well as additional headliners Foo Fighters and Blink 182. The appearance is Audio Insightâ€s second in as many years.

 This yearâ€s Bamboozle Music Festival will serve as a three-day-long, oceanfront celebration of the eventâ€s 10 year history, all taking place on Asbury Parkâ€s North Beach from May 18-20. In all, seven stages will showcase the festivalâ€s headliners and supporting acts that include The All American Rejects, Brand New, Jimmy Eat World, Incubus, Mac Miller and Skrillex among others.

 “Last year we were pretty excited to be added to such a big festival,” Celi says. “When youâ€re up there on stage at Bamboozle and just look around, there are thousands of people there. It was pretty awesome and I canâ€t even imagine what it will be like to be a part such an important anniversary. One thing I know for sure is that after everything weâ€ve done since our appearance last year, our band deserved to be at Bamboozle 2012. ”

 From bookend to bookend, Celi and the bandâ€s journey from festival newcomer in 2011, to a returning act in 2012, has been a wild ride.

 Following three regional tour dates, on Sunday, April 1st, the progressive rock/post-hardcore trio returned home to the Garden State and rocked The Stone Pony in Asbury Park as a handpicked-participant of The Break Invitational. After an announcement appeared on the showcaseâ€s website the following evening, Audio Insight learned they were among the eventâ€s winners and were added to the 2012 Bamboozle Music Festivalâ€s lineup.

 “The 24 hours we spent waiting to find out if weâ€d made it or not were quite nerve racking,” Deverin, the bandâ€s bassist and Celiâ€s college roommate shares. “We stayed after our set on Sunday to watch and support all of the other acts. Then on Monday, we sat glued to our laptops and phones, consistently refreshing screens until the results were finally posted. Needless to say, 6 p.m. on Monday, April 2 was one of the best moments of our lives.”

 Audio Insightâ€s set, which included several songs off their debut album Dimensions, as well as a new track that remains untitled, didnâ€t disappoint.

 “The band gave a great performance and it’s our pleasure to have them play the ten year anniversary of Bamboozle,” David Smith, Marketing Manager of The Break Contest and Vice President of LincStar Artist Development, says. “We look forward to seeing their improved progress and development in the years to come.”

 Celi agrees.

 “We played the music that best represents what we’re trying to accomplish as a band,” he adds. “Audio Insight blurrs the boundary between the genres of progressive metal and post-hardcore music and that’s what we portrayed at The Break Invitational. We played with nothing but passion and did our best to leave it all on the stage; they liked us last year and apparently they loved us this year.”

 Sponsored by LincStar, Live Nation, The Aquarian Weekly and Madison Marquette, The Break Invitational showcased a select collection of the areaâ€s top unsigned acts and unlike The Break Contest, a several month-long battle of the bands consisting of hundreds of bands competing across the tri-state area, The Break Invitational was a one-night-only event. In all, 10 bands competed for several open spots on the lineup for Bamboozle 2012.

 “Itâ€s very rewarding to know youâ€re considered among the best in the state, especially by people like the team behind The Break Contest and Bamboozle,” Sullivan, the bandâ€s drummer, says. “Going into the competition, I knew we had built a good resume since our trip to Bamboozle last year; but whatâ€s on paper isnâ€t enough. The bands that went through and were awarded slots at this yearâ€s festival won it on stage. I canâ€t describe to you how glad I was to know our hard work was rewarded and our talent recognized. Playing this event is an extreme honor for our band.”

 The winning performance was Audio Insightâ€s first in Asbury Park since being crowned regional winners of The Break Contest last year, a feat which earned them a slot during the 2011 Bamboozle Music Festival at the New Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford.

 Prior to their performance at The Break Invitational, Celi and Audio Insight kicked off a busy 2012 by opening for Just Like Vinyl, a band fronted by former Fall of Troy lead-singer Tom Erak, and A Lot Like Birds (Doghouse Records) at Crocodile Rock Café in Allentown, PA. In addition, a show at The Mr. Roboto Project in Pittsburgh and an opening set for A Great Big Pile of Leaves (Topshelf Records) at The Loft in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. followed.

 In the weeks leading up to The Break Invitational, the band also launched their new website www.audioinsightmusic.com.

 Following the release of their debut album Dimensions in late 2010, last year saw Audio Insight voted as one of the Top 12 Unsigned Acts in the tri-state area, perform at Bamboozle 2011 and the Mall of America, open for Scale the Summit (Prosthetic Records), gain commercial and college radio features as well as air-play across the country, play numerous shows in both New Jersey and New York, obtain critically acclaimed reviews and release their cover of Rushâ€s ‘The Spirit of Radio†which debuted on November 13^th during 105.5 FM WDHA’s popular free-form show ‘Anything Anythingâ€. Later that week, Audio Insightâ€s new cover also aired in Chicago on IndieOnAir! as well as on top college radio station 89.5 FM WSOU during their specialty show ‘Under the Stars’. The station is credited with breaking the band.

 “Playing last yearâ€s Bamboozle Festival was a spark for us; it set a lot of things in motion,” Celi shares. “Last year was an awesome experience but I donâ€t think itâ€ll even come close to what weâ€ve set our minds to for 2012. Now, weâ€re a lot better as musicians and performers. We know what we want and we’re working that much harder to get it. This year’s Bamboozle set will bring an energy nobody has seen from us yet.”

 The trioâ€s fan base continues to grow both in and outside the country. As of Tuesday, April 3^rd, Audio Insightâ€s Facebook page had over 2,020 fans from 20 different countries including the U.S.

 Though based in Woodbridge, Audio Insight is no stranger to Hudson County.

 Following the bandâ€s addition to the Bamboozle 2012 lineup, on Friday April 6, Celi and Audio Insight visited his hometown to play alongside fellow Bayonne rockers Arctic Flame for a celebratory show at McFaddenâ€s Pub. Last July, following their trip to rock the Mall of America Celi and the band held their first headlining show at Maxwellâ€s in Hoboken.

 Details regarding the time, date and location of the bandâ€s Bamboozle 2012 performance are yet to be finalized.

 To download several free tracks or find out more information on the band and their Bamboozle 2012 performace, visit www.audioinsightmusic.com

 For those wishing to obtain photos or videos of Audio Insight, or interview the band, please contact Jeremiah Sullivan at 732-754-3772 or jerry@frameworkmediastrategies.com.

The post Along with top unsigned act, Bayonne native will play alongside New Jersey rock legend Bon Jovi and more at the 2012 Bamboozle Music Festival first appeared on River View Observer.