(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- The Montclair Orchestra will make its debut performance on October 22 at St Luke's Episcopal Church in Montclair. In this inaugural concert, Music Director David Chan will introduce the audience to his roots at the Metropolitan Opera, presenting a program inspired by opera and song. Internationally acclaimed soprano Ying Fang joins the orchestra for the finale to Mahler's pastoral Symphony #4. The night features an extraordinary program that includes Verdi's powerful overture from La Forza del Destino, Mozart's melodic Symphony No. 29 leading up to Fang's finale.
The community is invited to celebrate with their orchestra of 80 musicians, including members of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, joining students from Montclair State University's Cali School of Music, Rutgers Mason-Gross School For The Arts, The Juilliard School, Mannes School of Music and Manhattan School of Music.
The Montclair Orchestra was established in 2016 to perform a diverse range of orchestral music in Montclair, New Jersey and the surrounding region. Music Director David Chan, who is also the concertmaster for the prestigious New York Metropolitan Opera, will lead the orchestra in it's inaugural 2017-2018 season.
The first Montclair Orchestra was established in 1922, through a collaboration with St Luke's Episcopal Church in Montclair, and offered its first performance at the Montclair Art Museum. After a successful start, the organization moved to Newark, and eventually became the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, now the largest orchestra in New Jersey.
The Montclair Orchestra aims to perform high level orchestral music at venues throughout Montclair, utilizing a core set of musicians including highly trained amateur and professionals, as well as incorporating select students from local conservatories and music schools. The resulting ensemble performs high level, challenging musical programs, while furthering opportunities for aspiring musicians at the regions music schools.
From Mozart to Milhaud, Strauss to Shchedrin, and Wagner to Wynton (Marsalis), the diversity of music on display during the Montclair Orchestra inaugural season is an exciting addition to the state's classical music landscape.
Additional Season Highlights:
December 12, 2017- Arvo Pärt 'Fratres (1983)' & Vivaldi's Four Seasons
February 25, 2018 - Wynton Marsalis 'A Fiddler's Tale'
March 25, 2018 - Shchedrin 'Carmen Suite' & Stravinsky 'Pulcinella"
May 12, 2018 - Milhaud film score 'Le boeuf sur le toit' & Ravel 'Le Tombeau de Couperin'
PHOTO: Ying Fang, Soprano
