American Prize Awarded to BONJ

In July 2011, The American Prize named The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey one of the top three community orchestras in the United States. Artists are judged on artistic quality, based on the full breadth of possible criteria, including the overall effect of the performance, musicality, rhythmic incisiveness, ensemble tone quality, accuracy, intonation, knowledge of style.

The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey was founded in 1996 to explore the music of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.As the orchestra developed as an ensemble and as a dynamic artistic community presence, repertoire and offerings expanded. Working with New Jersey’s top singers, BONJ became New Jersey’s leading opera orchestras. Working with New Jersey’s top soloists, BONJ explored the concertos of Beethoven, Brahms and Grieg as well as those of Bach and Mozart. Working with leading New Jersey composers, BONJ became a leader in presenting contemporary composition.

In addition to performing the widest repertoire in New Jersey at the highest possible level, BONJ is committed to being part of the community beyond the concert hall. Ranging in size from a dozen musicians to full symphonic dimensions, BONJ has appeared at fairs and festivals across the state, as well as presenting programs in libraries and retirement communities. In December 2010, BONJ began a successful relationship with St Joseph’s Medical Foundation of Paterson, performing the annual Christmas Concert at The Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Franklin Lakes. BONJ has appeared regularly at Rotary Festivals, Town Fairs, and other special events. BONJ’s appearance at the 2010 Rotary Family Festival in Florham Park was recognized in a news clip created by New Jersey Arts News and part of a broadcast on NJN.

2011 marks the second consecutive year that BONJ was recognized for its artistic excellence by The American Prize.