(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS), a program of Wharton Arts, announced that Conductor Michelle Hatcher will retire at the end of the 2024-25 season after a distinguished career leading two NJYS ensembles, Primo Strings and Concertino Strings, for thirteen years.

Said Hatcher, “The many experiences I have had, the music we have made, the many things I have learned, the love I have received, the incredible colleagues I have worked with, and the satisfaction to know that I have played a role in the musical journey of many young musicians, is carrying me on to my next musical adventures. At the end of this season, I will pass the baton on to make room for what comes next. My time with NJYS and the many families who have entrusted me with their young musicians will forever be a highlight of my own musical journey.”

Said Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Helen H. Cha-Pyo, “Miki Hatcher has been the heart of our youngest ensembles at NJYS, inspiring generations of students with her perfect balance of discipline, joy, and compassion. To honor her incredible legacy, the families of Primo Strings, Concertino Strings, and Sinfonia, along with NJYS staff and colleagues, have commissioned composer David Rimelis, Miki’s longtime friend, to write Starburst Fiesta, a new work for three string orchestras of varying levels with percussion. Over 130 students will come together under Miki’s baton to premiere this special piece at her final concert on May 4, a tribute to her remarkable impact on our community.”

Starburst Fiesta, written for three string orchestras with percussion, has strong Latin influences and explores salsa; clave, both an instrument as well as a rhythm; calypso; and tango styles.

Tickets to the NJYS Strings concert on Sunday, May 4, 2025 at New Jersey City University (2039 John F. Kennedy Boulevard) in Jersey City are $20 for Adults and $15 for Students and Seniors. Tickets are available for purchase online. Showtime is 1:00pm.

“Even though I’ve only known Miki Hatcher for a short time, she’s made a lasting impression on me,” said Wharton Arts Executive Director Gina Caruso. “Her warmth, her energy, and the way she lights up around her colleagues, students, and families is something special. She brings delight, empathy, and a real sense of wonder to every rehearsal and concert. Her positivity and deep love for the children, who clearly adore her, shine through in everything she does. Miki shows her students that music is not only a source of fun and exhilaration but also a powerful tool for easing anxiety and exploring new worlds. Her impact on the Wharton Arts community is truly immeasurable. She is a singular talent and will be deeply missed by all of us.”

Said Rimelis, “I would like to thank the wonderful NJYS musicians for all of their work on this piece; the Latin syncopations are not easy and they give a very authentic interpretation. I also want to acknowledge my good friend and colleague, Michele Hatcher, for all of the wonderful work she has done with these musicians and so many others over the years. I feel honored to be able to create this piece to celebrate her distinguished career.”

David Rimelis’ music has been performed by orchestras nationally and internationally, including the Boston Pops, National Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Saint Louis Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Western Australia Symphony, Minnesota Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Nashville Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the New York pops, and the New Jersey pops. He has been a featured artist with the Colorado Symphony, Eugene Oregon Symphony, Waco Texas Symphony, Concordia Orchestra, Plainfield Symphony (NJ), and many others.

In 2007, Rimelis was commissioned by the Louisiana Philharmonic to compose a piece dedicated to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and in 2010, he was commissioned by the Baltimore Symphony to compose an anthem for their Orchkids Program. In 2015, he won the Alabama All-State Orchestra commission contest for his piece, My Not So Ordinary Day At School. In 2016, the Madison String Quartet released a collection of his chamber music. The following year, the Slapin Solomon Duo released a collection of his viola duets. His music is featured in the 2022 film, The Conductor. Rimelis holds a position as artist-in-residence for the New Jersey State Council on The Arts and teaches jazz at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Wharton Arts’ mission is to offer accessible, high quality performing arts education that sparks personal growth and builds inclusive communities. Wharton Arts’ vision is for a transformative performing arts education in an inclusive community to be accessible for everyone.

Wharton Arts is New Jersey’s largest independent non-profit community performing arts education center serving over 2,000 students through a range of classes and ensembles. The 5 ensembles of the New Jersey Youth Chorus, an auditioned choral ensemble program for students in grades 3–12, encourage a love and appreciation of choral music while nurturing personal growth and creative development. The 15 ensembles of the New Jersey Youth Symphony, which serve nearly 600 students in grades 3–12 by audition, inspire young people to achieve musical excellence through high-level ensemble training and performance opportunities. Based in Paterson, the Paterson Music Project is an El Sistema-inspired program of Wharton Arts that uses music education as a vehicle for social action by empowering and inspiring young people to achieve their full potential through the community experience of ensemble learning and playing. From Pathways classes for young children to Lifelong Learning programs for adults, the Wharton Performing Arts School has a robust musical theater and drama program and offers both private and group classes for instruments and voice for all ages and all abilities. With the belief in the positive and unifying influence of music and that performing arts education should be accessible to all people regardless of their ability to pay, Wharton Arts offers need-based scholarships.

Wharton Arts is located in Berkeley Heights, New Providence, and Paterson, NJ and reaches students from 12 counties. All of Wharton Arts’ extraordinary teaching artists, faculty members, and conductors hold degrees in their teaching specialty and have been vetted and trained to enable our students to achieve their personal best.