New Sussex Symphony celebrates its 50th season

Newton — The New Sussex Symphony’s Family Concert, celebrating the symphony’s fiftieth season, will be performed on Saturday, March 21 at 3 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church of Newton. (Snow date: March 22.) The concert will feature a musical version of “Sleeping Beauty” composed by one of its members, Michael DeMaio, of Blairstown. “Thornrose n The Sleeping Beauty,” is a musical fairy tale featuring Maria Alu, soprano soloist along with student singers from Sparta and Kittatinny Regional High Schools. DeMaio, who recently retired as the orchestra director and string instructor at North Warren Regional High School in Blairstown, composed both music and lyrics of the operetta in 2006, and it has been twice performed in Norway. Rounding out the afternoon will be John Rutter’s “Mass of the Children,” a joint performance by the Children’s Chorus of Sussex County, the Kittatinny Regional High School Chamber Choir, and the Vernon Township High School Meistersingers. The soloists will be Deborah and Joseph Mello, who lead two of the groups, respectively. Leading the ensemble will be Karen Pinoci, the music director and conductor of the New Sussex Symphony. The church is located at 54 High Street, in Newton. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors, and free admission for any child under 15 accompanied by an adult, thanks to sponsorship by Laurel Bolgiano. Tickets are available at Lou’s Music Center, at the door, or by calling 973-579-6465. Funding for this concert has been made possible in part with funds from the NJ State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as administered by the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council.