Freehold Young People Spend a Week with Arts Professionals

On Friday, June 25, 2021, a performance took place at the Reformed Church of Freehold, featuring very young and talented members of the Freehold community. From music performances including bucket drumming, marching skills, and percussion instrument demonstrations instructed by Freehold’s own Dan McMillan, to displays of drawings and speeches expressing “I AM,” taught by Broadway wardrobe supervisor, Joby Horrigan, the first full week of Summer Arts Camp presented by the Community Arts Center of Freehold, came to a dramatic conclusion.

The 2021 Summer Arts Camp was offered as a free service to young people from kindergarten through grade eight. The majority of students attending the camp were registered through Freehold Area Open Door Food Pantry, spearheaded by Executive Director Geralyn Fraggetta-Drury. The newly formed Community Arts Center of Freehold is a partnership between Freehold Open Door Food Pantry, Gramercy Brass Orchestra of NY, and the Reformed Church of Freehold.

“We are so delighted that Rev. David Groeneveld has graciously opened the doors of the church to this new and exciting music and arts education project,” says John Henry Lambert, Founder and Music Director of the award-winning Gramercy Brass Orchestra of NY. “This week, our students had the opportunity to work with several professional musicians and a skilled Broadway wardrobe supervisor,” Lambert says, “resulting in an arts education program of the highest quality. Our mission is to inspire and motivate young people at risk, through the years of experience we can bring them, showing them what is possible when you make an effort and work hard.”

Gramercy Brass Orchestra of NY is a renowned concert, recording, and touring ensemble of professional musicians from Broadway and all aspects of the performing arts world in the NY/NJ area. Celebrating 40 years of service in 2022, Gramercy Brass Orchestra of NY began an ongoing relationship with the Reformed Church of Freehold in 2017 and has presented numerous concerts to grateful and growing audiences since that time.

Moving forward, Gramercy Brass Orchestra and its two partner nonprofit organizations hope to present ongoing professional-level concert performances and educational programs such as summer arts camps, clinics, masterclasses, recitals, instrumental instruction, and more through its newly formed Community Arts Center of Freehold. For more information, please contact Lee Lambert at musicatfreehold@gmail.com.