By Shen Shellenberger, JerseyArts.com
originally published: 12/13/2017
Each year, an abundance of prompts appears to remind us that the winter holiday season is approaching. The stores start decorating before trick-or-treaters have finished consuming their bounty of candy. Sunday newspaper editions bulge with advertisements. And every online site you visit has a holiday-themed banner inviting you to find the perfect gift.
For me, though, the season officially begins with the first playing of my favorite seasonal selection, Liona Boyd’s “A Guitar for Christmas.” Many (many) years ago, a dear friend gave me this record and I fell instantly in love. The LP is now unplayable, but the CD version still brings the magic. I feel a sense of peace and serenity when I hear Boyd’s renditions of hymns like “What Child is This?” and “Away in a Manger, ” a masterwork like J. S. Bach’s “Sheep May Safely Graze,” and the opening track, “Christmas Overture,” a masterful medley of sacred songs. And, that sensation is often strong enough to dispel any bah-humbug-ish tendencies I might be harboring.
Music has power – to spark a memory and bring a smile, to soothe your soul and to take your mind to a place where beauty reigns. And if you are seeking a special musical experience such as this to plump up your heart this holiday season, I have a great suggestion to pass along.
This Sunday, December 17, at 4:00 p.m. at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, the Monmouth Civic Choruspresents their Christmas concert, “Joy to the World.” The concert will feature a suite of holiday favorites, together with music by J. S. Bach and selections from Handel’s “Messiah.” And this year, the New Jersey Youth Chorus will perform, too.
“Dr. Brandau has been working on new arrangements for some of the traditional pieces,” Monmouth Civic Chorus Marketing Director, James Scavone, said, “and that makes it fun and exciting for the singers and the audience.”
He also commented on the addition of the children’s chorus this year. “The New Jersey Youth Chorus will sing on the suite with our group and also do parts on their own. It’s a great new collaboration.”
Monmouth Civic Chorus, as their website and Facebook page explain, is a “volunteer community of singers dedicated to artistic excellence.” And Scavone emphasized the two key aspects of this statement.
“We are a community chorus that performs at a professional level,” he said.
Both he and I agree that the perception of a community chorus is sometimes inaccurate. People tend to think a group must have a hefty staff and a deep-pocket budget to produce high-quality work. But the MCC dispels those myths.
“We have been fortunate over the past 30+ years,” Scavone said, “to have extraordinary artistic directors.”
For example, when the MCC was asked to perform at Carnegie Hall in November with the prestigious Canterbury Choral Society, the invitation came by way of their current artistic director.
“Dr. Brandau (who has been Artistic Director since the 2012-13 season) has an incredible reputation,” Scavone told me. “The people from Canterbury Chorus knew of his excellent work and reached out.”
MCC is also recognized for its creativity and originality in programming. And that, too, is not by chance. “Our previous Artistic Director, Mark Shapiro, was very innovative; it was a specialty of his,” Scavone said. “Dr. Brandau has certainly continued on that path.”
In fact, in 2008, MCC won The Chorus America/ASCAP Alice Parker Award for Innovative Programming for its world premiere of Jorge Martin’s “Stronger Than Darkness,” a Cuban-American opera in concert. The award was established in 2003 to recognize a chorus for programming recently composed music that expands the mission of the chorus and challenges the audience in new ways.
In accepting the award, Shapiro remarked, “This award acknowledges the passion and commitment of MCC’s dedicated singers, hard-working board, loyal supporters, and fearless audience.”
So, let’s talk about some of those people.
“My professional background is in nonprofit and arts management,” Scavone said, “and this organization – run strictly by volunteers – is quite unique.”
Not only do MCC volunteers handle nearly every role (only the job of Artistic Director is a paid position) but many – if not most – are singers in the chorus. (When you have a moment, I encourage you to find out more about them by visiting the MCC website and clicking on the Member Profiles page. I think you will be surprised not only by the level, but also the longevity, of many members’ involvement.)
And, last, but hardly least, is the audience Shapiro referred to.
MCC is based in Red Bank, and, for a while, the audience was also somewhat Red Bank-centric. But things are changing.
“Now we get people from surrounding counties,” Scavone said, “and we are reaching out further.”
Scavone cites a few reasons for this. One is that the singers who are coming to the chorus are trending younger.
“One thing that is heartening,” he said, “is that we seem to be attracting a somewhat younger crowd to our auditions.”
Scavone also points to a greater awareness of local and regional arts organizations. In our conversation, I mentioned that MCC has a quality website and a strong social media presence, both factors in more widespread visibility.
And, of course, concerts at Carnegie Hall and other national and international appearances don’t hurt.
Finally, I asked why the Christmas concert is held at the Count Basie Theater, a grand, landmark building that can hold more than 1,500 people.
“For as long as I have been with the chorus, almost 15 years now, and for long before that, the Christmas concert has been held there,” he said. “It is a remarkable venue and one of the few in Monmouth County large enough to accommodate the chorus, an orchestra and the audience.”
“Plus,” he added, “it’s a holiday tradition.”
Griffin House
Friday, November 13, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ“If you are looking to be blown away by raw talent, then look no further than Griffin House.” —American Songwriter
Floyd Pink - Celebrating The Music Of Pink Floyd
Saturday, November 14, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJFLOYD PINK is a Pink Floyd tribute band from the New York metro area, celebrating the music of Pink Floyd.
Geoff Tate’s Operation: Mindcrime
Saturday, November 14, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJMulti-platinum selling, Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Geoff Tate is best known for his 30-plus years as the creative and driving force behind the progressive metal band Queensryche. Since its inception with Geoff at the helm, Queensryche has sold over 20 million albums worldwide and has performed in upwards of fifty countries. Geoff is regarded as one of the most skilled vocalists in the genre with hundreds of modern, popular artists citing him and his former band as a major influence. Combining social consciousness and expertly crafted lyrics with high-energy, melodically complex music, Queensryche with Geoff Tate at the forefront became internationally recognized as the thinking man’s rock band. The band’s first three albums — their self-titled EP (1983), The Warning (1984) and Rage for Order (1986) — all hit gold status selling over 500,000 units each.
Jesse Cook
Saturday, November 14, 2026 @ 8:00pm
NJPAC - Victoria Theater
1 Center Street, Newark, NJA global artist in every sense of the term, Jesse Cook redefines music’s power to connect people across cultures and continents. The Paris-born, Toronto-raised master of the Spanish guitar weaves together flamenco, samba, jazz and world folk traditions into something spellbinding and uniquely his own. On stage, Cook radiates infectious energy — collaborating with his band to craft immersive experiences celebrated for their warmth, precision and emotional depth. With over a billion streams and views across platforms, his sound remains as relevant as it is revered.
Don Mclean & Lee Greenwood
Sunday, November 15, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJTwo iconic singers perform their hits and celebrate America’s 250 birthday! Singer/songwriter Don McLean is best known for the classic hit “American Pie,” as well as “Vincent” and “Castles in the Air.” Country superstar Lee Greenwood has seven top charting singles, including “I.O.U,” “It Turns Me Inside Out,” and the patriotic favorite, “God Bless the U.S.A.”
EVENT PREVIEWS
NJPAC presents Gregory Porter with special guests Madeleine Peyroux and Catherine Russell
(NEWARK, NJ) -- With a voice that can fill a concert hall and make every listener feel personally embraced, Gregory Porter has become one of the most beloved artists in contemporary jazz. On Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm, the two-time GRAMMY® winner returns to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) with special guests Madeleine Peyroux and Catherine Russell for an evening of soulful expression, exquisite storytelling and remarkable vocal artistry, presented as part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival.
Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House on Friday
(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 7:30pm. Griffin House is an American singer-songwriter and storyteller who has been making records for over 20 years.
KANSAS to perform at Scottish Rite Auditorium on Friday
(COLLINGSWOOD, NJ) -- One of classic rock's most iconic bands, KANSAS, will perform at the Scottish Rite Auditorium on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm. This "garage band" from Topeka released their debut album in 1974 after being discovered by Wally Gold, who worked for Don Kirshner, and have gone on to sell more than 30 million albums worldwide. A limited number of tickets remain.
NJPAC presents Jesse Cook on Saturday
(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents Jesse Cook on Saturday, November 14, 2026 in the Victoria Theater at 8:00pm. A global artist in every sense of the term, Jesse Cook redefines music's power to connect people across cultures and continents.
Forte Piano Music Company presents Exquisite Contrasts: Haydn & Schubert Piano Trios
(PARAMUS, NJ) -- The Forte Piano Music Company presents a Piano Trio Concert - "Exquisite Contrasts" - Haydn & Schubert on Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 2:30pm. This program brings together two landmarks of the piano trio repertoire, revealing the evolution of the genre from the Classical era to early Romanticism.
Mahwah Museum Hosts "Les Paul from Start to Finish" with Jim Wysocki
(MAHWAH, NJ) -- Come to the Mahwah Museum on Sunday, November 15, 2026 for a discussion of a 29-year friendship, rare memorabilia, and the story behind Les Paul's home with Mahwah Mayor Jim Wysocki from his nearly three-decade friendship with legendary musician and inventor Les Paul. The event begins at 2:00pm.
Atlantic City Punk Rock Flea Market - Holiday Edition to take place on Sunday
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- You can get your holiday shopping done on Sunday, November 15, 2026 when Anchor Rock Club hosts the Atlantic City Punk Rock Flea Market - Holiday Edition. The event runs from noon to 6:00pm.
Song of the Meadowlark takes place on Sunday in Hopewell
(HOPEWELL, NJ) -- Song of the Meadowlark takes place Sunday, November 15, 2026 at Highland Design Farm. This is a meditative rock odyssey weaving reimagined contemporary songs, stream-of-consciousness poetry, and live painting. Doors are at 2:00pm, showtime is 2:30pm.
Avenel Performing Arts Center presents Chris Smither
(AVENEL, NJ) -- Chris Smither will perform at the Avenel Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 7:30pm. Born in Miami, during World War II, Chris Smither grew up in New Orleans where he first started playing music as a child. The son of a Tulane University professor, he was taught the rudiments of instrumentation by his uncle on his mother's ukulele.
Rufus Wainwright to Perform with Princeton "Super-Orchestra" at McCarter Theatre
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- On Thursday, November 19, 2026 at 7:30pm, GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright takes the McCarter stage for one night only with the Princeton Playhouse Sinfonia, a dynamic new collaborative ensemble created specifically for this concert.
