{"id":2470603,"date":"2026-06-22T15:00:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T15:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2470603"},"modified":"2026-06-22T15:00:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T15:00:35","slug":"giralda-festival-reinvents-itself-indoors-as-new-jersey-symphony-brings-music-art-to-saint-elizabeth-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/giralda-festival-reinvents-itself-indoors-as-new-jersey-symphony-brings-music-art-to-saint-elizabeth-university\/","title":{"rendered":"Giralda Festival reinvents itself indoors as New Jersey Symphony brings music, art to Saint Elizabeth University"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Projection above NJSO shows Serena Bocchino painting the symphony’s performance at Morris Arts Giralda festival,Saint Elizabeth University, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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Saturday\u2019s 42nd annual Giralda Music and Arts Festival<\/em> <\/strong>was dubbed \u201cGiralda, An Evening of Pure Imagination.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

A more apt title might have been \u201cAn Evening of Pure Invention \u2014 of Necessity.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

In a perfect world, Morris Arts<\/strong><\/a> would have welcomed hundreds of picnickers to Madison\u2019s bucolic Giralda Farms for a concert by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra<\/strong><\/a> on this spectacular June afternoon.<\/p>\n

But circumstances prompted a shift indoors, to the Annunciation Center of Saint Elizabeth University<\/strong> in nearby Morris Township.<\/p>\n

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NJSO Guest Conductor Kyle Ritenauer, Giralda festival, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The NJSO\u2019s hoary mobile bandshell caught fire after a concert at Liberty State Park last summer and has not yet been replaced. No bandshell = no outdoor concerts, Morris Arts officials say they were told a few weeks ago.<\/p>\n

Patti French<\/strong>, who became executive director of the nonprofit just last month<\/strong><\/a>, had to move fast to salvage this signature fundraiser.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t know until six weeks ago if this was going to happen at all,\u201d French said on Saturday. \u201cWe decided we really couldn\u2019t do Giralda as it had always been done. We were really disappointed, so we decided to create it a little bit differently.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Morris Arts Executive Director Patti French welcomes patrons to the Giralda festival at Dolan Hall, Saint Elizabeth University, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
AN INTIMATE AFFAIR<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The result was an intimate affair. Combined, the 60-piece orchestra, Morris Arts board members, and featured artists appeared to outnumber guests, who paid $125 for tickets that cost $25 last year. Absent were families that used to compete for prizes for best-themed food tents at Giralda Farms.<\/p>\n

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Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society member George Attisano performs at Giralda festival, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Those who did attend were treated to crudit\u00e9s<\/em> and extra music, with the superior acoustics of the Annunciation Center\u2019s modern Dolan Hall.<\/p>\n

Ecuadorian guitarists Carlos Chong<\/strong> and Lenin Pazmi\u00f1o<\/strong> and George Attisano<\/strong> of the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society provided atmosphere. BLUES People,\u00a0<\/strong>a favorite act at the Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival, packed some punch.<\/p>\n

Led by guest conductor Kyle Ritenauer<\/strong>, the NJSO delivered rousing works by Bernstein, Copland, Ellington, Sousa and Stravinsky, plus a lively tribute to pandemic healthcare workers, Susan Coleman\u2019s Seven O\u2019Clock Shout.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Ritenauer and the orchestra also made a compelling case for John Williams\u2019 place among immortal composers: His Star Wars<\/em> theme was as instantly recognizable as Beethoven\u2019s Fifth.<\/em><\/p>\n

And the set came with a visual twist. Artist\u00a0Serena Bocchino\u00a0<\/strong>has synesthesia<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, a phenomenon that enables her to \u201csee\u201d sounds. Imagine a conductor\u2019s baton spewing vibrant colors and patterns. That\u2019s what Bocchino\u2019s brushes did, swirling acrylic paint onto a translucent canvas, projected behind the musicians.<\/p>\n

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Somerset County artist Serena Bocchino, whose synesthesia enables her to translate sound into color and form, prepares to paint NJSO performance at Giralda festival, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just very progressive and organic that I just suddenly see things in the atmosphere,\u201d said the Somerset County artist.<\/p>\n

She grew up thinking everyone experienced music this way.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d go to a concert and say, \u2018Oh my God, wasn\u2019t that amazing? Couldn\u2019t you see all the things?\u2019 I didn\u2019t think it was unique.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Serena Bocchino, far right, paints to the music of the NJSO, Giralda festival, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
NO BUG SPRAY OR SUNSCREEN NEEDED<\/strong><\/h5>\n
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Rob Bradshaw, NJSO director of orchestral operations, said outdoor concerts may return next summer. June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This wasn\u2019t Giralda\u2019s first foray indoors. A stormy forecast once pushed the daylong festival into a Parsippany mega-church; another year, the venue was a hockey rink.\u00a0Like the weather, the event\u2019s future is up in the air.<\/p>\n

Rob Bradshaw<\/strong>, NJSO director of orchestral operations, said the symphony hopes to resume outdoor shows next summer with a new $1 million mobile bandshell. But planned development at Giralda Farms could cloud that picture, according to Morris Arts.<\/p>\n

Anya Kumar,\u00a0<\/strong>a 24-year-old consultant from Short Hills, found a lot to like at the Annunciation Center.<\/p>\n

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Quincy Clew and Anya Kumar said they liked the re-imagined, air conditioned Giralda festival, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nice to have air conditioning and less bugs, and\u2026 since there\u2019s so much art, it\u2019s nice to see it with kind of stable lighting,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

And the campus at Saint Elizabeth University is pretty bucolic, too. (Picnickers enjoyed many summers of\u00a0 Shakespearean productions at its amphitheater.)<\/p>\n

Morris Arts President Merle Johnson\u00a0<\/strong>floated the idea of a hybrid festival \u2014 inside and<\/em> outside, maybe spanning two days.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019re going to try to do a combination,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe certainly do not want to give up on outdoor events. That\u2019s what we do \u2014 we do outdoor events for the community \u2014 but I think having an indoor option is also a great way to go\u2026 so check back with me in six months; I\u2019ll be able to tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The Giralda festival as it used to be, at Giralda Farms in Madison. Photo: Morris Arts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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THE VIEW FROM INSIDE: Annunciation Center, Saint Elizabeth University, during Giralda festival, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Visitors peruse artworks at the Giralda festival, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Rebbecca Axler receives Morris Arts\u2019 Eugenie Coladarci Scholarship for her music and theater studies, Giralda festival, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Brian and Roz Lynch, retirees from Mine Hill, made their first visit to the Giralda festival, June 20, 2026. They said they enjoyed the indoor experience. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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ACRYLIC ON ACRYLIC: Serena Bocchino paints in time to the music of the NJSO, Giralda festival, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A guest gazes at a Serena Bocchino painting, Giralda festival, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Morris Arts President Merle Johnson, left, and new CEO Patti Friench address patrons at the Giralda festival, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Patti Kaufman exhibits her abstract paintings at the Giralda festival, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Morristown artist Josh Rockland exhibits his works, Giralda festival, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Artist Joshua Ronco of Chester exhibits for the first time at the Giralda festival, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source morristowngreen.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Projection above NJSO shows Serena Bocchino painting the symphony’s performance at Morris Arts Giralda festival,Saint Elizabeth University, June 20, 2026. Photo by Kevin Coughlin \u00a0 Saturday\u2019s 42nd annual Giralda Music and Arts Festival was dubbed \u201cGiralda, An Evening of Pure Imagination.\u201d A more apt title might have been \u201cAn Evening of Pure Invention \u2014 of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2470604,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[486156,486157,473381,486158],"class_list":["post-2470603","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","tag-giralda-concert-2026","tag-morris-arts","tag-morris-township","tag-saint-elizabeth-university"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Giralda-Festival-reinvents-itself-indoors-as-New-Jersey-Symphony-brings.webp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470603","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2470603"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470603\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2470605,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470603\/revisions\/2470605"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2470604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2470603"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2470603"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2470603"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}