Mason Chu, Concerto Competition Winner
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS), a program of Wharton Arts, presents its signature spring concert, Voices of the North: Nordic & Baltic Soundscapes, on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at the Nicholas Music Center at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Showtime is 7:00pm.
Led by Artistic Director and Conductor Helen H. Cha-Pyo, the NJYS Youth Symphony will transport audiences through the sweeping musical landscapes of Northern Europe. The program features the driving rhythmic energy of Estonian composer Veljo Tormis's Overture No. 2, a newly commissioned work entitled Electric Beauty by Quinn Mason, and the lush, expansive sounds of American composer Howard Hanson's Symphony No. 1 ("Nordic"), inspired by his Scandinavian heritage.
A highlight of the evening will be a performance by Mason Chu, the 2026 NJYS Concerto Competition Winner and a violinist in the NJYS Youth Symphony. A resident of Chatham, NJ, who attends Delbarton School, Chu will take center stage as soloist in Pablo de Sarasate's virtuosic Carmen Fantasy, a dazzling showpiece based on themes from Bizet's beloved opera.
Said Chu, "NJYS has been an important part of my life for a long time, and I have known many of its members for over 4 years. I am really excited to be playing one of my favorite pieces, Carmen Fantasy, with them. Being so connected to the orchestra makes this performance even more meaningful and inspires me to give my all."
Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors, available at NJYS.org. Nicholas Music Center is located at 85 George Street in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
"I am so proud of Mason, not only for his extraordinary artistry, but also for his leadership within the Youth Symphony and the way he has represented NJYS in the media and throughout our communities, sharing his music as both a soloist and chamber musician. He is a wonderful example of how a young person can use music to bring hope and joy to the world," said Cha-Pyo. "This program also reflects our commitment to presenting repertoire that audiences may not often hear yet is both relevant and meaningful. The NJYS Youth Symphony students and I are excited to share this program, and we hope you'll join us for this special performance."
This concert also serves as a preview of the ensemble's Summer 2026 international tour to Finland and the Baltic region, offering audiences a glimpse into the repertoire and cultural influences that will shape this exciting global experience.
The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS), a program of Wharton Arts, is one of the region's premier youth orchestral programs, providing advanced musical training and performance opportunities for talented young musicians from across New Jersey. Through rigorous rehearsal, exceptional repertoire, and collaborations with distinguished guest artists, NJYS fosters artistic excellence, leadership, and a lifelong appreciation for music. The Symphony regularly presents innovative and meaningful programs that connect classical music to community, culture, and social impact.
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.
