(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- The Discovery Orchestra (the Orchestra) will mark its 31st season with Discover the Joy of Corelli, a concert and gala reception for patrons on Sunday, April 29, 2018. The concert will be held from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at the Concert Hall at Drew University and the gala reception will take place at the renowned Conservatory at The Madison Hotel in Morristown from 5:15pm to 7:45pm.
Concert audience members will enjoy a musical journey to 17th century Rome through a performance of Arcangelo Corelli’s Concerto Grosso, Op. 6, No. 4, one of the most joyous musical statements of the Baroque repertoire. In traditional Discovery Concert format, the Orchestra’s Artistic Director, Maestro George Marriner Maull, will use humor and narrative to interactively guide audiences through the musical details of Corelli’s concerto, creating an immersive listening experience.
The evening will honor Far Hills residents David and Ellen Williams with the annual Discovery Award that recognizes an individual or couple for their longtime support of the Orchestra’s music education mission and work. This year’s gala Event Chair is one of The Discovery Orchestra’s youngest Board of Trustees members, E.J. Harrison. E.J. is in his third year serving on the Board and at age twenty-five, is pioneering the Orchestra’s efforts to expand its connection to millennial and younger audiences.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate our thirty-first year of furthering our mission to provide innovative music education programs, performances and content,” said Virginia Johnston, Executive Director of The Discovery Orchestra. “We are incredibly fortunate for our community of support and are excited as we look to the future and our growing capability to touch more lives with the gift of being able to connect more deeply with music.”
“We’ve spent over three decades teaching people of all walks of life how to become better listeners and to savor the experience of exploring music at new depths,” said Maestro George Marriner Maull, Artistic Director of The Discovery Orchestra. “We look forward to this celebration of music and community with our beloved patrons and partners.”
Patrons of the gala reception will enjoy an elegant cocktail reception and three-course dinner. The evening will include “A Taste of New Jersey” fine dining raffle totaling $3,000 in value and a high-end wine pull. Guests will also take part in a silent auction to bid for a suite at a New York Giants football game and sailing lessons from Manhattan Sailing School. Proceeds from the gala will support the Orchestra’s community and educational outreach efforts for seniors, people with special needs and inner city student music groups to experience the Orchestra’s live concerts and interactive music listening presentations with Maestro Maull.
In addition to its community outreach fundraising efforts, the Orchestra has invited several dozen members of community groups to attend the concert celebration free of charge. Local NJ groups planning to attend include Friends of the Blind, Paterson Music Project, Warrenbrook Seniors and residents of The Chelsea at Warren.
Sponsors for this year’s gala celebration include Judy Musicant and Hugh Clark; Kim and Mike Johnston; Judy and Josh Weston; The Powers family; Glenmede; Sherman Wells Sylvester & Stamelman LLP; Ellen and David Williams; Rachel Weinberger and Ed McGann; Stephen Reynolds; Robin & Chris Willcox; Alan Yu; and Midnight Media Group. Event sponsorships are available from $1,000 to $10,000 and individual reception tickets are $250 per person with a young professional (35 & under) rate available for $125 each.
Tickets for the concert are available online. Tickets for the dinner and gala reception for patrons are available here.
The Madison Hotel is located at 1 Convent Rd in Morristown, New Jersey.
About The Discovery Orchestra - The Discovery Orchestra® (the Orchestra) is a nonprofit music education organization based in Warren, New Jersey, teaching the attentive listening skills that help people of all backgrounds better comprehend, experience and emotionally connect with classical music. Under the direction of Artistic Director, George Marriner Maull, the Orchestra uses a welcoming and humorous approach to make the appreciation of classical music accessible to the general public. Founded in 1987, the Orchestra engages audiences through live interactive concerts, intimate gatherings, community outreach events and television and digital content. The Orchestra’s award-winning media programs are available for purchase or streaming on Amazon, and its eight-part series Fall in Love with Music is currently airing nationwide on American Public Television. For more information on the Orchestra, visit www.discoveryorchestra.org, or connect with the Orchestra on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.
