Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • May 13, 2009 Ridgewood Students sing Verdi at Metropolitan Opera by John Koster Students from Ridgewood’s Benjamin Franklin Middle School studied “Il Trovatore” by Giuseppe Verdi, sang parts of it, and then held a dress rehearsal and spoke to some of the professional staff at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City as part of a project involving eighth grade vocal and instrumental students. The seminar by Deb Andrews of the Met, and the trip were sponsored by a Brotherton Foundation Grant. Students studied the plot, a melodramatic account of cruel Spanish noblemen, vengeful Gypsies, and thwarted love; learned and performed thematic melodies; and created and performed their own scenes based on the story line. The Ridgewood teachers involved were vocal teacher Laurie DeGroat, band teacher Brian Brown, and orchestra teacher Janelle Jacoby. After the dress rehearsal, the students had a backstage tour of the Met and had a question and answer session with the director, the choreographer, and the fight choreographer. “Trovatore,” is considered one of Verdi’s “Big Three” in his early years – the others were “Rigoletto,” inspired SPRING SALE, Get In Shape For Summer! Call me about VelaShapeTM A NEW Nonsurgical method of Fat reduction and body contouring • Non-invasive • No Anesthesia • No Downtime Beverly Dunn, MD Waldwick, NJ • 201-445-0032 Front row: Meghan McCarthy and Jenn Schablik. Back row: Regina Kendrick, Ms. Deb Andrews, music teacher Ms. Laurie Degroat and Maddy Maas. by a Victor Hugo store, “Le Roi S’Amuse,” and “La Traviata,” inspired by a story from the pen of Alexandre Dumas the Younger. The opera contains the famous West Side Presbyterian Church will host a New Member/Inquirer Program on Saturday, May 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church’s barn. The program affords an opportunity for those who are interested in joining or learning more about West Side Presbyterian to meet the Rev. Dr. Gareth Icenogle, the church’s new senior pastor, and other members of the congregation. Refreshments will be served. Babysitting is available. To participate, Church hosts new member program “Anvil Chorus” and several arias which were show-pieces for Maria Callas and for Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. contact Beverly Dempsey, interim associate pastor, at (201) 652-1966, extension 16 or email beverly@westside. org. The church is located at Varian Fry Way, 6 South Monroe Street in Ridgewood. Free parking is available in the lot directly across the street from the entrance to the sanctuary. For information on the church and its programs, go to www.westside.org. Feel Better Now! 5-13-09 Mike/Janine DrDunn2x3(5-13-09) 2x3” ����Muscle Activation Techniques ����������������������������������� • Speed muscle recovery • Increase joints’ range of motion • Eliminate compensatory patterns • Reduce risk of injury by insuring muscles function optimally • Improve athletic performance and execution of everyday activities �������� ������� ���������� ����� ���������������� ��������� �� YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER ���������������������� �������������������� ��������������� Ridgewood 201-488-4314 or 201-341-0183 ������������������������ Keane Fit & Wellness �����������������