Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • March 30, 2011 Ridgewood This year, along with the Metropolitan Opera Guild, the music department at Ridgewood’s George Washing- Music students explore ‘Nixon in China’ ton Middle School continued a grant proposal that was once again accepted by the Brotherton Foundation. (Mr. Brotherton is a GWMS alumnus.) The program focuses on providing a world class opera experience for the eighth grade music students at George Washington, and includes a professional development workshop at GW for the music teachers, presentations/workshops by a MET Guild Teaching Artist for participating students and faculty, and a trip to New York City for students to attend rehearsals of the opera they study. This year’s production chosen for the eighth grade vocal students was John Adams’ “Nixon in China.” The opera follows the events of Richard Nixon’s historic trip to China and his interactions with Mao Tse-tung. During the months of December and January, the vocal students worked with Karlan Judd from the MET Opera Guild in a series of workshops. They studied the opera and created their own musical skits in the style of the opera. On Jan. 20, they went to the MET and saw a director’s rehearsal and had the opportunity to participate in a question and answer session with the Adams. The GW eighth grade vocal classes are under the direction of Laurie DeGroat. TIC TOC (To Introduce Culture To Our Children), a Bergen County charitable arts organization, celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a fun and educational gathering for volunteer docents and school representatives. The event, which took place on St. Patrick’s day morning at Ridgewood’s Art Institute on Oak Avenue, featured a number of topics including a presentation on Irish art, an art docent sample lesson and an overview of TIC TOC’s newly revised website. TIC TOC is celebrating its 50th year of presenting fine and performing arts experiences to students in Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Midland Park, Ho-Ho-Kus and the Radburn School in Fair Lawn. For more information, go to www.tictoc.org or call (201) 447-9110. Pictured: Midland Park Art Docent, Cindy Mahoney, and her daughter, Grace, show a letter and booklet received from artist, Faith Ringgold, to TIC TOC Co-President and Ridgewood resident, Linda Bradley. The letter and art booklet were sent in response to Mrs. Mahoney’s initial correspondence to the artist which included a poem her daughter’s kindergarten class wrote about Ringgold’s artwork “Dancing at The Louvre” (displayed in photo) which was presented by TIC TOC as a 50th anniversary gift to each participating school. TIC TOC clocks 50 years ���� ���� ����� ����� � ������������� ��� ���� ������� ��� ���� ���� ��� ���� ����� ��� ���� ������� SPECIALIZING IN: ����������� ��� � ���������� � ������ � ����� ������ � ������ ������ � ���������������� � �������������������� � ������ ������������ � ����� ������ � ������������� � �������� ����� � �������� ������ ���� � ������������������� ����� ��������� �� ������������ ��� ��������� ������������ ������� � ���� �� ������ � ��� ��� ����� � � ���� �� �� �� ���� ���� ��� ��������� �� ������� ��� ������ �� �������� ��� ������� ������� ����� ���� ����������� �� � ������������ ��� �������� ������� ��� ����� ����������� �� � ������������ ������������������������������� ������������� 3-16-11 Joan/Janine