Performer Jarden
- George Jarden came to Las Cruces in April, 1970. He soon “cut my teeth”, he says, in Hispanic culture, performing that December with “Los Pastores del Valle de Mesilla,” the annual Spanish-sung traditional mystery play, at Holy Cross Retreat. Here, he made lasting friendships with the area Hispanic community, which led to his forming the seventy-voice male chorus, “Voz Vaqueros, The Singing Men of Las Cruces” (LINK) which he led for forty years, until 2011
- In 2010, Jarden wrote and produced his one-man Gilbert & Sullivan show, “Gee 'n Ess & 'I' ” (www.4artsproductions.com) He played some thirty characters, both live and pre-videoed for on-stage projection; i.e., he played characters opposite each other on-stage. Performed at the Las Cruces Rio Grande Theatre, he also took the show to his home-town, in Wallingford, Pennsylvania in 2012.
- Played the roles “Curly” in The Las Cruces Community Theatre's “Oklahoma,” in the old Fountain Theatre in 1973; and, “Sir Joseph Porter” in the NMSU 1974 production of “Pinafore.”
- In 1971, formed the seventy-voice male chorus, LINK “Voz Vaqueros, The Singing Men of Las Cruces” which he led for forty years, until 2011
- (He had formed two prior men's choruses, first in his home town in Pennsylvania,
- and, in 1963, while serving as a Navy physician assigned to the U.S. Marines, in California, he formed The Camp Pendleleton Marine Corps chorus. This was the first Marine Corps chorus ever. Photo)
- Developed a show for Voz Vaqueros, called “Songs We Like To Sing” which was performed over the next forty years LINK KRWG-TV VOZ VAQUEROS; formed a Voz Vaqueros Children's Chorus; and Women's Chorus, “The Las Cruces Community Chorus;” created an Educational Grant program which over fifteen years awarded over eighty cash scholarships for young men to sing with Voz Vaqueros. (For full history of Voz Vaqueros, with photos, visit www.georgejardenshows.com)
- Produced, was music director, and conducted “The Animals' Christmas,” a cantata for children and adults, which he adapted from the cantata of the same name written by Jimmy Webb (“Up, Up, And Away”) and performed by Art Garfunkel (“Bridge Over Troubled Water”). He did this with Webb's permission; it was
- performed, under the auspices of Jarden's non-profit, “Four Arts Productions,” at
- NMSU's Hershel Zohn Theatre, for the benefit of the Arts in Las Cruces
- Elementary Schools.
- 1976, spearheaded and conducted Las Cruces' “American Bicentennial Pageant, 'Echoes of an Era',” at NMSU's Pan American Center.
- 1980, created “The Choral Festival of Southern New Mexico,” featuring high school and community singers, with orchestra for performances of “The Coronation Mass,” by Mozart; and “Songs We Like To Sing” concerts.
- His “The Song of America” interest was ignited when, in 1987, he conducted a full orchestra and Voz Vaqueros and his “Las Cruces Community Chorus in performances at NMSU's Atkinson Performaning Center, in celebration of the bicentennial of the signing of the United States Constitution.
- 1991, organized the “International Choral Festival,” and with Voz Vaqueros and The Las Cruces Community Chorus, hosted The Musicum Collegium Bremen and Chamber Orchestra, from Bremen, Germany. Performances at NMSU's Atkinson Performing Center included Haydn's “Mass St. Cecilia,” and Mendelssohn’s “Lauda Zion;” and the combined three choruses performed Jarden's “Songs We Like To Sing.”