BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
HAWORTH — Fourteen different musical groups made Haworth’s sixth annual Midsummer Night’s Jam on July 22 a “not to be missed” sensation. From 6-10 p.m., the acts, featuring several music genres, including classical, Broadway and rock, took to the stage at Memorial Field where over 150 people had gathered. Many brought their own food and others bought hot dogs and pizza on site.
The Midsummer Night’s Jam is hosted by the Haworth Arts Committee. Members of the committee at this year’s event were Tara Kohut, Janet Cohen, Alexandra Weiss, Vivian Stern and chairperson Claudia Gaard. Volunteers were also on hand, including a group of eighth grade students who received community service hours for their work selling tattoos, glow sticks and food.
Emcees Stephen Gaard and Keith Fries kept everything going at a lively pace and thanks to soundman David Lehner, the quality of the music was spectacular.
One of the things that make the Haworth Midsummer Night’s Jam unique is that every act has at least one local resident.
A very prominent volunteer helping at the Jam, manning the hot dog cart, was Haworth Mayor John Smart.
“We are a very close community and it is wonderful to have neighbors come here and see people with whom they attended school. Not everyone knows each other’s hobbies and talents, so it’s a great treat to mingle and see a different side of people,” he said.
The first performer of the evening was harpist Karen Stern who has played with the New Jersey Symphony for many years. Next came LoungeZotica 3000, a jazz trio that consisted of electric guitar, drum and bass guitar players, followed by Euphonious, whose members have regular engagements in the New York/New Jersey Metro area. Carol Kenny sang and played piano and she also accompanied several of the other musicians. Other performers included 16-year-old Haworth vocalist Ava DeCroce, Wendy Bain, Stephen and Claudia Gaard, Liam Cristello, The Village Green, Sofia Carvajal, Rebekah Zelman & Brittany Clarke, Maddy Cohen, Rockabilly Rumble and The Slacks.
Most of the performers were veteran professionals who love coming to the Midsummer Night’s Jam. Local bass guitarist Art Zo, who performed with both the LoungeZotica 3000 and Euphonious groups at the Jam, remarked, “It’s wonderful to perform for such an appreciative audience. It’s my pleasure to play music with friends for friends.”
The Midsummer Night’s Jam is funded by the town of Haworth and donations from residents and businesses: Haworth DPW, Councilman Mike Bain, Councilman Anthony Volpe, Margaret Celotto, Jason Timochko, Haworth Police Auxiliary, John and Jackie Buckley, Bill and Maria Buckley, Volpe Custom Homes, Tri Valley Landscaping, Haworth Handyman, Andiamo Restaurant, Closter Stop & Shop, The Sperenza Family and The Zwecher Family.
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Photos by Hillary Viders