Photo by Cherylynn Tsushima
(NEWARK, NJ) -- All tickets are on sale now for the New Jersey Symphony’s 2023–24 season including classical, movie and family concerts. Patrons can purchase tickets for individual concerts and can save through subscriptions and Compose Your Own series packages of three or more mainstage concerts.
Tickets are available online at njsymphony.org or by phone at 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) for Symphony concerts at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick, Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, Richardson Auditorium in Princeton, Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank and Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark.
The Symphony will be entering it’s 101st season, highlighting Music Director Xian Zhang’s ambitious vision to explore the musical heritage of the American orchestral works.
“One of the most refreshing features of the New Jersey Symphony’s 2023–24 season is our presentation of 12 pieces by 11 living composers, many of whom are women and people of color,” says Zhang. “We’ve commissioned new works from Jessie Montgomery, Daniel Bernard Roumain and Anna Clyne. Plus, we will finally premiere Tyshawn Sorey’s For Marcos Balter with Jennifer Koh, which was delayed due to the pandemic. We are also proud to feature music by Kevin Puts, Reena Esmail, Augusta Read Thomas, Gabriela Montero and David Ludwig, among others.”
The Symphony embarks on this ambitious lineup starting with Valerie Coleman’s Umoja, followed by a co-commissioned work by Jessie Montgomery. Time for Three will perform Kevin Puts’ Contact, which won a Grammy for Best Classical Composition. Daniel Bernard Roumain who returns with two pieces—i am a white person who__Black people and an untitled new work. Rob Kapilow will lead the Symphony with the world premiere of his We Came to America. The Symphony will also perform two highly anticipated co-commissions; Anna Clyne’s ATLAS, performed by Jeremy Denk and Tyshawn Sorey’s For Marco Balter performed with violinist Jennifer Koh. Xian will lead selections from Augusta Read Thomas’ Jubilee, which she premiered with the Juilliard Orchestra in 2010. Gabriela Montero performs her own piece Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin”. Returning to the stage is David Ludwig’s NightVision which the New Jersey Symphony premiered in 2000 when his career was launched. Reena Esmail’s wildly colorful RE|Member celebrates the regathering of musicians following the pandemic.
2023–24 Season Highlights
* Premieres & Commissions: Xian Zhang conducts the world premiere of a New Jersey Symphony commission from Resident Artistic Catalyst Daniel Bernard Roumain (June 7–9); Rob Kapilow conducts the world premiere of We Came to America, commissioned by the Thurnauer School of Music at the Kaplan Jewish Community Center on the Palisades (January 20–21); Joseph Young conducts Jessie Montgomery’s newest co-commission, Snapshots (October 19–22); Jun Märkl conducts the premiere of Tyshawn Sorey’s co-commission, For Marcos Balter (May 4–5); Markus Stenz conducts Anna Clyne’s Piano Concerto (May 17–19).
* Opening Weekend with Robert Spano and Aaron Diehl: Aaron Diehl performs Still’s Out of the Silence and is joined by his trio on Ellington’s New World A-Comin’ with Robert Spano at the podium. The Symphony opens the program with a performance of Valerie Coleman’s Umoja before closing with Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World” (October 14–15).
* Season Finale with Daniil Trifonov: Daniil Trifonov joins Xian Zhang and the Symphony for Gershwin’s Concerto in F. Zhang leads Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture and the world premiere of a new work by Resident Artistic Catalyst Daniel Bernard Roumain (June 7–9).
* Contemporary Voices: Alongside the commissions from Daniel Bernard Roumain and Rob Kapilow and co-commissions by Jessie Montgomery, Anna Clyne and Tyshawn Sorey, the season features music by living composers including Roumain (i am a white person who __ Black people, January 12–14), Coleman (Umoja, October 14–15), Kevin Puts (Contact, November 9–11), Reena Esmail (RE|Member, February 22–25), Augusta Read Thomas (Selections from Jubilee, March 3–5), David Ludwig (NightVision, March 14–17) and Gabriela Montero, with Montero performing her own piece alongside the Symphony (Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin”, May 30–June 2).
* Star Guest Conductors: Robert Spano (October 14–15) kicks off the New Jersey Symphony season, with Joseph Young (October 19–22), Ruth Reinhardt (November 9–11), Joshua Bell (November 30–December 2), Jun Märkl (May 4–5) and Markus Stenz (May 17–19) joining for select performances.
* World-Class Soloists: The season features performances by guest artists including Joshua Bell (Mendelssohn’s Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Violin Concerto and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4, November 30–December 3), Aaron Diehl (Still’s Out of the Silence, October 14–15), Sterling Elliott (R. Schumann’s Cello Concerto, October 19–22), Augustin Hadelich (Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, January 12–14), Gil Shaham (Chevalier de Saint-Georges’ Violin Concerto No. 9 and J.S. Bach’s Violin Concerto No. 1, March 22–24), Jennifer Koh (Tyshawn Sorey’s For Marcos Balter, May 4–5), Gabriela Montero (her own Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin”, May 30–June 2) and Daniil Trifonov (Gershwin’s Concerto in F, June 7–9).
* Collaborations: Choirs from longtime choral partner Montclair State University join the orchestra for Orff’s Carmina Burana (March 1–3) and Handel’s Messiah (December 15–17). The JCC Young People’s Chorus @ Thurnauer and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City® join forces to perform Rob Kapilow’s We Came to America with the orchestra (January 20–21). The Symphony welcomes the Aaron Diehl Trio for Ellington’s New World A-Comin’ (October 14–15) and classically trained string trio Time for Three for Kevin Puts’ Contact (November 9–12). The Newark Museum of Art will curate artwork during the Pictures at an Exhibition performances in Red Bank and Newark (January 13–14). And the Symphony returns as the performing orchestra for the New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker (the longest running original professional production in the state) in Morristown (December 15–27).
* Iconic Films Live: The Symphony performs Jurassic Park (October 27–29), Batman (March 2) and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (April 4–7). State Theatre New Jersey co-presents the October 29 and April 7 and NJPAC co-presents the March 2 performance.
* Cultural Celebrations & Family Concerts: The Symphony celebrates diverse traditions in family-friendly programs including the orchestra’s signature Lunar New Year Celebration (February 3). Family programs include a gospel music-inspired holiday extravaganza (December 9) and discovery of Beethoven’s “Eroica” (May 18).
* Statewide Performances: The New Jersey Symphony presents classical programming at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick, Richardson Auditorium in Princeton, Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown and Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank. The Symphony offers film concerts in Newark, New Brunswick, Red Bank and Morristown and presents family programs in Newark.
The New Jersey Symphony’s programs are made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, along with many other foundations, corporations and individual donors.
Tickets are available for purchase online at njsymphony.org or by phone at 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476). Tickets for most concerts start at $25; children’s tickets for family concerts are $10.
Subscriptions for classical concert series are available for purchase online at www.njsymphony.org/subscribe or by phone at 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476). Compose Your Own Series packages are also available, allowing patrons to select any classical, movie or family concert—at any venue—of three or more and save compared to purchasing single tickets. Full information is available at njsymphony.org/cyo.
The Emmy and Grammy Award-winning New Jersey Symphony is redefining what it means to be a nationally leading, relevant orchestra in the 21st century. We are renewing our deeply rooted commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion by championing new, and often local, artists; engaging audiences for whom the inspiring depth and breadth of classical music will be new; and incorporating the broadest possible representation in all aspects of our organization—all to better reflect and serve our vibrant communities. Since 2021, Music Director Xian Zhang has worked together with composer, violinist, educator and social-justice advocate Daniel Bernard Roumain, the orchestra’s Resident Artistic Catalyst, to offer programming that connects with diverse communities in Newark and throughout New Jersey.
Internationally renowned Chinese American conductor Xian Zhang began her tenure as the New Jersey Symphony’s current Music Director in 2016. Since her arrival at the New Jersey Symphony, Zhang has revitalized programming with an industry-leading commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in mainstage concerts. In it’s second century of bringing concerts to the people of New Jersey, the Symphony will present audience favorites and exciting new works including Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World,” Orff’s Carmina Burana, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, violinist Joshua Bell leading the Orchestra and performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, composer and pianist Gabriella Montero performing her own Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin,” pianist Daniil Trifonov playing Gershwin’s Concerto in F, and the “classically trained garage band” Time for Three performing composer Kevin Puts’ Contact. New Jersey Symphony co-commissions include works by internationally renowned living composers—Anna Clyne’s Piano Concerto, Jessie Montgomery’s New Work and Augusta Read Thomas’ Selection from Jubilee. Composers Rob Kapilow and Daniel Bernard Roumain will present world premieres on the season.
