(NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ) -- The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS), a program of Wharton Arts, will embark on its 2026 international concert tour from June 27 through July 3, 2026, performing in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania under the direction of Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Helen H. Cha-Pyo.
In addition to performing in prestigious concert halls throughout the Baltic region, NJYS musicians will participate in educational exchanges with the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. The orchestra will present four public concerts and three community performances, including appearances at the Vilna Gaon Tolerance Center and Santariškės Hospital in Vilnius, providing students with opportunities for artistic growth, cultural discovery, and meaningful connection with local communities.
"As the New Jersey Youth Symphony embarks on this tour, we travel not only as musicians, but as cultural ambassadors," said Cha-Pyo. "One of the greatest gifts of youth orchestra participation is the opportunity to experience the world through music, build bridges across cultures, foster understanding, and celebrate our shared humanity. Through performances, educational exchanges, and community engagement, our students will discover firsthand how music transcends borders, creates community, and inspires hope. These experiences offer invaluable opportunities for artistic growth while helping young people develop a deeper understanding of the world and their place within it."
The orchestra's tour repertoire reflects both the musical heritage of its host countries and the richness of the American tradition. The program features Estonian composer Veljo Tormis' Overture No. 2, inspired by Estonian folk traditions; George Gershwin's iconic Rhapsody in Blue featuring 15-year-old pianist Taige Wang; and Howard Hanson's Symphony No. 1, "Nordic," a work that beautifully blends Nordic influences with the rich tradition of American symphonic writing. As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, the orchestra will conclude performances with John Philip Sousa's beloved The Stars and Stripes Forever.
The international tour continues NJYS's longstanding tradition of providing exceptional performance and educational opportunities for young musicians. Through rehearsals, performances, cultural exchanges, and travel experiences, students gain valuable artistic, personal, and global perspectives while representing New Jersey and the United States abroad.
Founded in 1979, the New Jersey Youth Symphony is one of the premier youth orchestra programs in the region, serving talented young musicians through a comprehensive orchestral training program that emphasizes artistic excellence, leadership, and community engagement.
Tour Schedule
June 27, 2026
Helsinki Music Centre Concert Hall Helsinki, Finland
June 29, 2026
Community Concert at Viimsi Artium Viimsi, Estonia
June 29, 2026
Estonia Academy of Music and Theatre Concert Hall Tallinn, Estonia
June 30, 2026
St. Peter's Church Riga, Latvia
July 2, 2026
Community Concert Vilna Gaon Tolerance Center Vilnius, Lithuania
July 3, 2026
Community Concert Santariškės Hospital Vilnius, Lithuania
July 3, 2026
Vilnius Congress Concert Hall Vilnius, Lithuania
The New Jersey Youth Symphony, a program of Wharton Arts, provides orchestral training and performance opportunities for talented young musicians from across New Jersey and the surrounding region. Through rigorous musical instruction, inspiring performance experiences, and a commitment to artistic excellence, NJYS prepares the next generation of musicians, leaders, and engaged citizens.
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 Jerseys 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 312, 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 312 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.
