featured events
Metuchen High School Senior Awarded First FOMA Scholarship
Congratulations to Emily Grosso, recipient of this year’s Friends of Metuchen Arts Graduating High School Scholarship! This fall, Emily will attend Elon University, where she will pursue a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography.
Emily is a 2026 graduate of Metuchen High School and a proud alumna of Metuchen Dance Centre, where she spent fifteen years honing her craft. During her time at Metuchen Dance Centre, Emily was a member of Dance Reflections, the Pre-Professional Dance Company of Theatre Arts Conservatory. She served as Senior Captain during the 2025–2026 season, Senior Co-Captain during the 2024–2025 season, and Junior Captain during the 2021–2022 season.
Emily’s accomplishments at Metuchen Dance Centre include receiving the 2021 Exemplary Dancer Award, the 2023 Outstanding Dedication Award, and the 2025–2026 Rose Pedone Maloney Dance Reflections Scholarship.
A line that stood out to us from her application:
“Through training and encouragement from people who believed in me, my confidence has grown in ways I never dreamed possible. I now understand that artistic growth is not a destination but a continuous practice, and I embrace that.”
We’re wishing her all the best as she begins study at Elon!
Call for Art: Celebrating the Colors of India
A juried art exhibition
Calling all artists! As we welcome the vibrant festival of Diwali, we invite you to participate in a juried art exhibition celebrating the rich artistic heritage and cultural diversity of India. We welcome original works inspired by the many folk art traditions from various regions of India, as well as paintings, portraits, and slice-of-life photographs that beautifully capture the people, landscapes, traditions, and everyday life of India. Artists may submit up to five (5) entries for consideration. Selected works will be chosen through a jury process based on artistic excellence, creativity, and alignment with the exhibition's theme. Join us in honoring the colors, stories, and spirit of India through art.
Dates:
Entries due by Sunday 9/20/26
Notification of acceptance status approximately 9/23-24
Drop-off Sunday 10/4/26
Exhibit opening Sunday 10/11/26, 1-3pm
Artist pick-up Sunday 12/13/26, 3-5pm
Reflections - A World Premiere
August 30 at 4pm
What does a 240-year-old piano sound like when paired with a brand-new masterpiece?
Rise Up Community Arts invites you to experience "Reflections"—an unforgettable concert bridging centuries of storytelling, brilliant music, and living history.
At the center of this performance is Ignatius Sancho: an 18th-century composer, writer, and former enslaved man who became the first known Black Briton to vote in a parliamentary election. His vibrant music and letters captured the spirit of an era—and now, his story takes on new life on our stage.Here is what makes this evening unmissable:A World Premiere: Acclaimed composer Trevor Weston brings Sancho’s powerful prose directly to life in "Reflections," a captivating new song cycle written specifically for this program.Stunning Vocal Performance: Fan-favorite soprano Sonya Headlam returns to Rise Up to lend her expressive, soaring voice to both 18th-century classics and Weston’s modern premiere.A Rare Historical Treasure: Keyboards researcher and performer Rebecca Cypess and The Raritan Players will perform on a rare square piano built in 1780—the exact year of Sancho’s death—and meticulously restored in 1993 by Tim Hamilton.Event Details for this fabulous and inspiring concert:
DATE: Sunday, August 30thTIME: 4:00pm - 6:00pm
LOCATION: Neve Shalom, 250 Grove Avenue, Metuchen, NJ
TICKET $25/Adults, $23/Seniors, Under 17/Free
Whether you are a lifelong classical fan or simply love great stories and extraordinary live performances, "Reflections" offers a rare chance to hear history speak, sing, and resonate today.Get your tickets at the link below.We can’t wait to share this remarkable evening with you!In a partnership between Rise Up Community Arts and the American Musicological Society, this world-premiere performance is part of AMS’s “Many Musics of America” project in conjunction with America 250. Additional sponsorship for this performance is from the Middlesex County Board of Commissioners and the Friends of Metuchen Arts.
Book Launch - Beyond Supervision by Sonia Toledo
Wednesday, September 2, 6 pm
Friends of Metuchen Arts Gallery
315A Main Street, Metuchen
You are invited to the book launch of Beyond Supervision, the new book by Dr. Sonia M. Toledo. Beyond Supervision is a practical guide for after-school and youth program leaders who want to create emotionally safe, inclusive spaces where every young person can grow. Join us for an evening of conversation about what it takes to build the skills that support executive function and keep children emotionally safe.
Book Launch: Model Citizens: The Wings of Change by Nicholas Gray
Sunday, September 20, 1-3pm
Friends of Metuchen Arts
315A Main Street
You are invited to the book launch of the debut novel Model Citizens: The Wings of Change, by local author Nicholas Gray. More than an adventure story, Model Citizens is a fast-paced, heartfelt novel about friendship, courage, mentorship, and the extraordinary things that can happen when two generations come together with a common purpose. As five young friends discover a hidden hangar and an unexpected group of retired veterans, pilots, and mechanics, they learn life lessons that reach far beyond aviation.
Join us in celebrating a story that reminds readers of all ages that wisdom is meant to be shared, imagination still matters, and every generation has something to teach the next.
Middlesex County Jazz Festival 2026
September 23-26
Now in its 4th year! FREE!
Come see live jazz in a different town each night:
9/23—Woodbridge, 7-9:30 pm at Parker Press Park (rain location: Acacia Youth Center)
9/24—New Brunswick 5:30-8:30 pm at Liberty Square Park
9/25—Carteret 7:00-8:45 pm at the Performing Arts Center
9/26—Metuchen 5:30-9:45 pm at Metuchen High School
Mingus Big Band is our Metuchen Festival Headliner! The lineup:
Mingus Big Band (yes, for real!)
Dave Schumacher & Cubeye (7 piece Latin Jazz Band)
Metuchen High School (MHS) Jazz Ensemble (big band)
MHS Orchestra
Metuchen Dance Center—jazz and tap
MMEDO opens the snack bar at 4:30 pm and closes at the beginning of the last event.
No need to register! Just show up!
A Performance of Traditional Indian Dance-Theatre (Kuchipudi)
Mignolo Arts
272 Lake Avenue, Metuchen
Performance by Ms. Neelima Raju (NJ State Heritage Fellow FY 2026) and her students.
The program explores the choreographic techniques/proces used in the traditional repertoire and new approaches used for enhancing the communicative process.
Tickets: $20/person
September 27 at 11am
Ginko Haiku Poetry Walk Series by Spencer Soletto
Join art facilitator and seasoned haiku poet Spencer Soletto June 28th 11am for a poetry walk along the unpaved path of the Middlesex Greenway Metuchen NJ . Starting at our hosted location Basecamp Studio & Gallery, we will explore haiku, a Japanese short form of poetry, and learn how it fosters an appreciation for our local natural and urban environments. This event is accessible to those without any experience of writing, and still explorative enough for established writers, walkers, and environmentalists. Participants will be guided with a short lesson, a walk for poetic inspiration, and a community writing session.
Grant funding has been provided by Friends of Metuchen Arts, a 501(c)(3)
This free event is open to the public.
Save the date for future poetry walks:
Fall: September 27, 2026
Winter: January 3, 2027
Spring: April 4, 2027
October 3rd, 2026
Metuchen PorchFest 2026 – A Celebration of Community & Live Music!
Metuchen PorchFest is back for another incredible year of music, community, and fun! This much-anticipated annual event transforms front porches and yards across Metuchen into lively stages where local musicians showcase their talents.
Metuchen PorchFest is a free, family-friendly music festival where porches throughout the town become performance spaces. Stroll from house to house, enjoy music, and experience the unique charm of Metuchen’s artistic community.
Why You’ll Love Metuchen PorchFest:
✅ Live music all afternoon – Enjoy a mix of genres, from rock and folk to jazz and blues.
✅ Support local artists – Celebrate and uplift the town’s talented musicians.
✅ Community spirit at its best – Meet neighbors, make new friends, and enjoy a day filled with music and fun.
Saturday, October 3, 7:30pm
The Lonesome Pines: PorchFest After Party
Local favorite band "The Lonesome Pines" bring their original music to the Old Franklin Schoolhouse in Metuchen on October 3 at 7:30pm.
At The Old Franklin Schoolhouse
491 Middlesex Ave., Metuchen, NJ
Doors open 7:00 p.m. / Show starts 7:30 p.m.
Tickets $15 in advance / $20 at the door
(includes refreshments – BYO drinks)
Rain or Shine
The Lonesome Pines blend rock, country, roots, and traditional Americana into a sound that is familiar, surprising, and unmistakably their own. Their songs move from gritty alt-country and driving rock to heartfelt ballads, pairing personal stories with vivid themes of love, loss, the power of nature, and resilience.
Available on Spotify, Apple Music, and most major streaming platforms, TLP’s music is punchy, well-crafted, and rooted in tradition while always delivering a twist.
To hear the music, follow upcoming releases, and stay connected with the band, visit www.thelonesomepines.com and join the mailing list.
This performance follows Metuchen Porchfest - A Celebration of Community and Live Music in Metuchen, NJ
Metuchen PorchFest is a free, family-friendly music festival where porches throughout the town become performance spaces. Stroll from house to house, enjoy music, and experience the unique charm of Metuchen’s artistic community. For more information on Metuchen Porchfest, please visit: https://metuchennj.org/porchfest
October 10 from 1-4pm
Empty Bowls: A fundraiser for First Presbyterian Church Food Pantry
Your $50 ticket includes First Presbyterian Church’s famous soup, salad and bread, a hand-crafted ceramic bowl to keep, and live entertainment. Plus, explore a wide selection of artwork available for purchase to support the arts.
Sunday, Nov. 1 from 3–5pm
Book Launch Party at the Parlor at Hailey’s
Come celebrate the debut short story collection of Metuchen author Alyson Mosquera Dutemple with a Brainy Boro Bash featuring books, music, snacks, swag, and prizes!
The Parlor at Hailey’s
15 Station Place, Metuchen, NJ
3-5 pm
Sunday, Nov. 1st
Tickets are very limited. Please order early.
All Around the World
Classical Concert with the NJ Symphony Players
Sunday, November 15
First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen Auditorium
720 Woodbridge Avenue
FREE
Generously sponosred by Westerhoff School of Music and Art
Brass instruments have played an important role in the music of many different cultures. Celebrations, remembrances, tributes and dances of all types rely on the versatility of the trumpet, horn and trombone. At some point in our lives, we have all had a personal experience with the feelings evoked by an Olympic fanfare, a military revelry call or a processional. Why can brass instruments make us feel so triumphant, melancholy, sly or reverent? Find out in this interactive experience with members of the New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players!
Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund. For information on events, go to MiddlesexCountyCulture.com.
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