Lynette Sheard lifts the Maplewood House Music Festival on August 1 in Memorial Park with her signature blend of jazzy house music, bringing warmth, soul, and community spirit to the celebration. Gregory Burrus Productions and NJPAC Community Engagement proudly join Community Music Enrichment Group in supporting this year’s festival, contributing artistic relationships, community connections, and cultural expertise that will hopefully help elevate the day’s entertainment.

Lynette Sheard is a gifted, versatile vocalist celebrated for her five‑octave range, perfect pitch, and the soul‑deep emotional power of her performances. Her work has been praised in the New York Times, Broadway World, The Star‑Ledger, The Record, Hot House, and The Chronicle, with critics noting that “her voice reaches deep into one’s soul and finds a soft spot.”

A dynamic performer across Jazz, Blues, R&B, Gospel, Soul, House and Pop, Lynette has appeared on major stages including NJPAC, SOPAC, Deer Head Inn, and Birdland Jazz, where her most recent appearance earned a standing ovation.

She is also an accomplished actor, producer, director, and vocal coach, with principal theater roles in Dream Girls, Smokey Joe’s Café, Ragtime, Swing, Aida, For Colored Girls, A Raisin in the Sun, and Avenue Q—where Broadway World declared she was “fabulous with a voice that shakes the rafters.”

A recognized figure in New Jersey’s cultural landscape, Lynette was inducted into the Encyclopedia of Newark Jazz in 2017 and is known for her long‑running achievement as the undefeated West Orange Idol for 15 years.

Her artistry blends technical mastery, theatrical depth, and heartfelt community engagement, making her a standout voice in every setting—from intimate jazz rooms to large festival stages.

Together with Community Music Enrichment, GBP and NJPAC CE stand as collaborative partners and strengthen the joyful, dance‑driven spirit that defines House Music in the Par