(CLARK, NJ) -- The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation will kick off the 57th annual Summer Arts Festival Concert Series at Oak Ridge Park in Clark on Friday, June 23 at 7:30pm with a performance by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO).
The Orchestra, conducted by Sameer Patel, presents classical, pops and family programs. The Orchestra welcomes new Music Director Xian Zhang for this season, and has been named “a vital, artistically significant musical organization” by the Wall Street Journal, and embodies that vitality through its statewide presence and critically acclaimed performances, education partnerships and unparalleled access to music and the Orchestra’s superb musicians.
This year’s performance will take the audience on a “Road Trip Across the USA,” NJSO-style. Travel from our New Jersey home through the heartland with John Williams’ moving score to Lincoln, to the Wild West and Copland’s iconic Rodeo, all the way to the Magic Kingdom with favorite music from Beauty and the Beast. It’s fun for the whole family on this memorable musical trip.
The show is free, and visitors are urged to pack a picnic basket, bring lawn chairs or blankets. Refreshments and snacks will also be available from vendors. In the event of rain the concert will be moved indoors to Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, located at 667 Westfield Road in Scotch Plains.
And returning this summer at all festival concerts will be the popular Union County Get Fit Yoga program beginning at 6:30 p.m. Bring a mat or beach towel and participate in the healthy activities for the entire family. The opening week’s program will be conducted by Crunch of Garwood, New Jersey.
“The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra is one of the state’s cultural treasures and we are excited to feature them as our opening act for our Summer Arts Festival,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “We encourage our residents to enjoy the music under the stars, and a memorable night of classical entertainment.”
PHOTO BY FRED STUCKER
The other free concerts in the Union County Summer Arts Festival series are scheduled for Wednesday nights throughout July in Echo Lake and then in August at Oak Ridge Park in Clark:
Oak Ridge Park, Clark
June 23th New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Echo Lake Park, Mountainside
July 5th Pat Dinizio of The Smithereens
July 12th Tusk (Fleetwood Mac Tribute)
July 19th The Vinny’s
July 26th Hudson River Rats
Oak Ridge Park, Clark
August 2nd Dead Space (The Grateful Dead Experience
August 9th American Rapture
August 16th Black Dog (The Led Zeppelin Tribute
August 23th New York State of Mind (Tribute to Billy Joel)
