EMC ARTS

02/26/2026

Sending positive vibes and lots of support to our student Taylor Bradford who is one of 12 students chosen from Bergen County to compete tonight at the BergenPac Idol!

So proud of you Taylor! We hope you have an amazing experience!

02/21/2026

🎶✨ We are absolutely THRILLED to welcome Mary Phillips to the EMC ARTS teaching staff! ✨🎶

Mary brings with her an extraordinary career at the highest levels of opera, Broadway, and concert performance. We are honored to have her joining our faculty and we are excited to offer our students the opportunity to work with such a distinguished artist and educator.

Mary Phillips – Mezzo-Soprano – Voice Instructor

Acclaimed American mezzo-soprano, Mary Phillips has had a distinguished career spanning Broadway, Opera, Oratorio, Chamber Music and Art
Song Recitals. Mary performed a role in the very first Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's 'Sweeney Todd' at Circle in the Square Theater.
She has been alto soloist in orchestral masterpieces by Beethoven, Mozart, Handel, Mahler, etc, performing with The New York Philharmonic, Los
Angeles Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Oratorio Society of NY at Carnegie Hall, Gulbenkian Orchestra in Lisbon; Atlanta
Symphony and Hong Kong Orchestras to name a few.
Mary often performs duet concerts with her twin sister, soprano Lori Phillips.
Last summer, 2025, Mary sang the Baroness in American composer Samuel Barber's 'VANESSA' with the acclaimed New York based company
Heartbeat Opera at the legendary Williamstown Theater Festival. She will reprise the role this May, in NYC, with Heartbeat.
In early 2022, she sang "Mama" in the world premiere of Ricky lan Gordan's 'The Garden of The Finzi-Continis', with NYC Opera and The National
Yiddish Theater. Ms. Phillips has sung varying mezzo-Soprano roles in Wagner's Der Ring DesNibelungen with The Met Opera, Canadian Opera;
Scottish Opera, Seattle Opera, Hawaii Opera and Dallas Opera.
Mary was a soloist on the Metropolitan Opera roster for 16 seasons and won a Grammy Award for her solo work in The Met Opera's 2012 recording
of The Ring Cycle.
Ms. Phillips joined the voice faculty at Sarah Lawrence College in 2019 and continues her part time teaching job there now.
Mary has a Master's Degree in Vocal Performance from Yale University School of Music and undergraduate degrees in Theater and Music from
Rhode Island College.

🎤 There are a limited number of lesson openings remaining in Mary’s schedule at EMC ARTS.
If you are interested in working with this incredible artist and teacher, please reach out soon before her schedule fills.

Welcome, Mary. We are so honored to have you. 💙🎶

02/14/2026

This Valentine’s Day, we are celebrating love in all its forms.
Love for creativity.
Love for community.
Love for the healing power of art, music, and movement.

We are grateful for every student, family, artist, and supporter who helps make EMC ARTS a place of connection and care.

Happy Valentine’s Day from our heart to yours. 💙

02/02/2026

✨ Reiki I & II Holy Fire® III Certification at EMC ARTS ✨
with Ina Cabrera

EMC ARTS is pleased to continue offering Holy Fire® III Reiki I and Reiki II certification trainings, which have become a consistent and established part of our holistic programming. These trainings are taught by Ina Cabrera, a seasoned practitioner and instructor with extensive experience in Reiki, yoga, meditation, and Tai Chi.

These immersive trainings are ideal for those seeking personal healing, spiritual growth, or professional Reiki certification in a supportive and intentional learning environment.

🌿 Reiki I – Holy Fire® III Certification
📅 Saturday, March 7th
🕙 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
📍 EMC ARTS, Dumont, NJ

🌿 Reiki II – Holy Fire® III Certification
📅 Saturday, March 21st
🕙 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
📍 EMC ARTS, Dumont, NJ

🌀 About the Instructor
Ina Cabrera offers instruction and practice across multiple healing disciplines, including:
• Reiki: Private and group healing sessions; Reiki I, II, and III trainings
• Yoga: Beginner through advanced, chair, restorative, Hatha, Bikram, Vinyasa Flow, hot, power, prenatal, and meditation
• Tai Chi: Beginner through advanced, Qi Gong exercises, chair Tai Chi, Cheng Man Ching Yang Short Form (37 postures), sword form, push hands, and Da Lu

🌀 What is included:
• Holy Fire® III Reiki I or II certification
• In-depth instruction and hands-on practice
• Energy placements and guided meditations
• Certificate of completion

💫 Tuition:
• $299 per level
• $500 for Reiki I and II when registered together

📩 Registration: Please email [email protected]
to reserve your space.

01/29/2026

Out of respect for the nationwide day of reflection taking place tomorrow, EMC ARTS will be closed for the day.

Tomorrow we are choosing not to operate as usual. Closing the studio is a small act, but we believe that meaningful change is built from many small, intentional choices made by individuals and communities.

Our organization is rooted in compassion, creativity, and care for the wider community. We support the right of individuals and families to pause their normal routines and stand in solidarity around issues that deeply affect people’s lives and well-being.

We hope this pause creates space for reflection, connection, care, and thoughtful action.

There will be no classes, rehearsals, or sessions held, and we will reopen with our regular schedule the following day.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support of our community.

01/19/2026

Happy Martin Luther King Day !

01/05/2026

🎒 School. Sit.
🎹 Music lesson. Sit.
📚 Homework. Sit.
🍽️ Dinner. Sit.

No wonder so many children are restless, disconnected, or resistant by the end of the day.
What if music lessons did not require more stillness?

At EMC ARTS, Erin offers weekly, by-appointment music lessons where children learn through movement, choice, and engagement.

Lessons where they have a voice in how they learn rhythm, how they learn to read music, and how they connect with instruments.

🥁 Piano
🎤 Singing
🎼 Movement
🎵 Composition
🔔 Sound

Movement is not a break from learning. It is how learning happens.
There is no pressure to perform and no homework beyond exploration in daily life.

This is the way Erin has been teaching for years.
She is simply offering it more intentionally now.

📩 Message us to discuss scheduling.

[email protected]
www.emcartsnj.org

12/29/2025

Carole Demas is one of our dear friends at EMC ARTS!!
Let’s show Carole some love and vote for her!! 🩷

🚨Calling all members of our Magic Garden Fam: Carole's been nominated for her show Firefly, and online voting is open to everyone!

🗳️Voting Link & Info here: 💫 Let's Vote Carole To Victory!

🎉Celebrating Carole's 85th year around the sun, Firefly made its debut at 54 Below, with special guest Paula, and Broadway World has nominated the show for its 2025 Cabaret Awards.

Voting only takes a few minutes so let's ensure Carole WINS! 🥰💛

12/25/2025

🎄Merry Christmas from EMC ARTS! Wishing all who celebrate a joyful holiday season filled with peace, creativity, and inspiration. Thank you for your continued support. ✨

12/16/2025

🕎 Happy Hanukkah from EMC ARTS! 🕎

From all of us at EMC ARTS, we send warm wishes to our community celebrating Hanukkah. May this season of light bring you joy, peace, and meaningful moments with the people you love. As you gather, celebrate traditions, and reflect on the blessings of the year, may your candles shine brightly and your hearts be full.

Chag Sameach!
May your days be filled with warmth, laughter, and hope.

12/06/2025

Here’s why learning a musical instrument is one of the most powerful things you can ever do for your brain: every time you play, your mind lights up like a network of stars. Musical practice activates multiple regions of the brain at once—memory, emotion, motor skills, creativity, and even problem-solving—forcing them to work together in perfect harmony. This intense neural workout builds new pathways, strengthens old ones, and forms deeper connections that make your brain faster, sharper, and more adaptable.

It’s not just about the notes you play; it’s about the transformation happening behind the scenes. Every chord, every rhythm, every tiny mistake, and every improvement rewires your brain to think clearer, learn faster, and stay mentally strong as you age.

So the next time you sit down to play—know this: you’re not just making music. You’re building a more powerful version of yourself. 🎶✨