The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is thrilled to welcome Seton Hall University (SHU) and the Seton Hall University Arts Council back to SOPAC for the eighteenth year in a row! Throughout this year, Seton Hall University will produce performances featuring professional Jazz and Classical musicians in conjunction with university students on SOPAC’s Mainstage. Each performance will be free and open to the public.
“Seton Hall University is a treasured longstanding partner to SOPAC, and the performances they’re bringing for the 2023-24 season are unique, varied, and absolutely unmissable,” says SOPAC Executive Director Stephen Beaudoin.
“The Seton Hall Arts Council has so much to celebrate this year, and we are ecstatic to be doing so with our programming at SOPAC,” says the SOPAC Board Seton Hall University Liaison Chris Aurilio. “With the creation of our new home base in SHU’s College of Human Development, Culture, and Media, we are excited to continue to offer diversified, admission-free programming that combines the showcasing of student work alongside that of professional guest artists in the performing arts world.”
Beaudoin continues, “From Opera and Chamber music to Jazz and live theatre, we applaud our friends at SHU for continuing to showcase the talent of their students, faculty, and special guests.”
Each year, SHU brings a diverse array of professional artists to SOPAC through the Jazz ‘n the Hall Concert Series and the Classical Concert Series.
The Jazz n’ the Hall Concert series seeks to bring renown Jazz ensembles and musicians to the Seton Hall community and beyond to give talented Seton Hall student musicians the opportunity to perform alongside world-class artists. This year’s Jazz ‘n the Hall performances include the return of the Grammy Award-winning Lionel Hampton Big Band on Tuesday, October 31 at 7:30PM and the United States Military Veterans All-Stars on Tuesday, November 14 at 7:30PM.
The Classical Concert Series presents internationally recognized soloists and ensembles. Blending education with artistry, the series regularly includes preconcert lectures and workshops free of charge to both SHU students and the public. This season, students in the Seton Hall University Chorus will perform alongside with professional Opera singers Laura Zahn, Jeremy Brauner, Daniel Sutin, Eugenia Forteza, and Ema Mitrović and the MidAtlantic Symphony Orchestra in a concert version of Cavalleria Rusticana, by Pietro Mascagni on Thursday, November 9 at 7:30PM. The Seton Hall Charles and Joan Alberto Italian Studies Institute is co-sponsoring this evening of romance and revenge with the Seton Hall University Arts Council.
All of the programming presented is selected in accordance with the Seton Hall University Arts Council’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion cultural programming theme of ‘Voices & Visibility’ and features work from and about groups that have been otherwise historically underrepresented.
“SOPAC praises Seton Hall University for providing high quality live arts programing to our regional community at an incredibly accessible price point: totally free!” says Beaudoin.
SHU also produces a number of performances featuring SHU students exclusively, including its Annual Winter Orchestra and Choral Concert, this year on Friday, December 8 at 7:30PM. Stay tuned for the dates of the Annual Spring Orchestra and Choral Concert and for information about the Annual Spring Musical!
“With the help and support of SOPAC’s amazing team,” says Aurilio, “we are able to expand our programming and opportunities for the SHU community beyond the campus.”
The entirety of SOPAC’s Staff, Board, and artistic community look forward to the Seton Hall’s performances this year, and for many years to come.
Explore SHU’s Upcoming Performances at SOPAC
Jazz ‘n the Hall
Lionel Hampton Big Band
TUE, OCT 31 at 7:30PM
The sensational, 2021 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winning Lionel Hampton Big Band will be featured in concert again this season by Jazz ‘n the Hall. In this concert, highly talented college-aged student Jazz musicians will perform alongside the Grammy award-winning members of the Lionel Hampton Big Band. The spirit and the energy with which the Band performs every selection is incredibly exciting and uplifting!
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Classical Concert Series
Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni
THU, NOV 9 at 7:30PM
Don’t miss Pietro Mascagni’s one-act opera following a young girl, Santuzza, as she looks for her lover, Turrido, after he betrayed her and returned to his former fiancée, Lola. Lola, meanwhile, had married the wealthy Alfio after he returned from the army. In an effort to win Turrido back, Santuzza tells Alfio about Lola and Turrido’s affair. Alfio provokes Turrido into a duel to exact his revenge
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Jazz ‘n the Hall
United States Military Veterans All-Stars
TUE, NOV 14 at 7:30PM
The United States Military Veterans All Stars will present a lively program of popular Jazz favorites and patriotic songs in an honorable tribute to veterans of all wars. Come and join the musical celebration!
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Seton Hall University Annual Winter Concert
FRI, DEC 8 at 7:30PM
A staple of the holiday season, the Seton Hall University Chorus, Concert Band and Chamber Choir present their annual winter concert.
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Stay tuned for information about the Annual Spring Concert and the Spring Musical!