During the 2023-2024 season, the New Jersey Symphony highlights Music Director Xian Zhang’s ambitious vision to explore the musical heritage of the American orchestral works.

Reflecting on the upcoming season, Zhang notes, “For many years, I’ve dreamed of an American-themed season.” This season begins with Dvořák’s ‘New World’ Symphony alongside the music of Duke Ellington, William Grant Still and contemporary composer Valerie Coleman. “The American Dream” in January celebrates the music of Leonard Bernstein, alongside the world premiere of Rob Kapilow’s We Came to America. The season finale includes Daniil Trifonov’s return to perform Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, plus music from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and a brand-new work by the Symphony’s Resident Artistic Catalyst, Daniel Bernard Roumain. “It’s very meaningful as an American orchestra to frame our season around American voices highlighting our musical identity,” says Zhang. “We are proud that our commitment to diversity and inclusion spotlights many distinct performers, conductors, artists and composers with which we’re so privileged to work.”

Season Announcement Press Release

Concert Locations
Newark: New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Red Bank: Count Basie Center for the Arts
Morristown: Mayo Performing Arts Center
Princeton: Richardson Auditorium
New Brunswick: State Theatre New Jersey 

Sat, Oct 14, 8 pm (Newark)
Sun, Oct 15, 3 pm (New Brunswick)
OPENING WEEKEND: ELLINGTON AND DVOŘÁK: NEW WORLDS
Robert Spano, Conductor | Aaron Diehl, Piano | Aaron Diehl Trio
Robert Spano makes a rare visit to the New York City area to conduct the New Jersey Symphony on opening night of the 2023-24 season.  The program offers uplifting compositions by African American composers, alongside Dvořák’s classic ode to America, his New World Symphony.  The orchestra is joined by jazz pianist Aaron Diehl and his trio. Coleman’s joyous Umoja (Swahili for “unity”) evokes the power and sweetness of coming together. Still’s “Out of the Silence” is a gentle and ethereal hymn written in the depths of the Great Depression, originally part of a set of mystical piano pieces and later recast for orchestra. Ellington’s piece is a lush musical portrait of a new world without war and greed, “where love was unconditional.”
VALERIE COLEMAN Umoja
WILLIAM GRANT STILL Out of the Silence
DUKE ELLINGTON New World A-Comin’
ANTONIN DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”
Link to Event

Thu, Oct 19, 1:30 pm (Newark)
Fri, Oct 20, 8 pm (Princeton)
Sat, Oct 21, 8 pm (Red Bank) 
Sun, Oct 22, 3 pm (Newark) 
SCHUMANN’S CELLO CONCERTO & EAST COAST DEBUT OF A NEW WORK BY JESSIE MONTGOMERY
Joseph Young, Conductor | Sterling Elliott, Cello
JESSIE MONTGOMERY Snapshots (New Jersey Symphony Co-Commission)
R. SCHUMANN Cello Concerto
ELGAR Enigma Variations
Link to Event

Thu, Nov 9, 1:30 pm (Newark)
Fri, Nov 10, 8 pm, (Newark)
Sun, Nov 12, 3 pm, Mayo Performing Arts Center (Morristown)
RUTH REINHARDT CONDUCTS BARTÓK, MENDELSSOHN AND KEVIN PUTS’ CONTACT
Ruth Reinhardt, Conductor
Time For Three: Ranaan Meyer double bass | Nick Kendall violin | Charles Yang violin
MENDELSSOHN The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave)
KEVIN PUTS Contact
BARTÓK Concerto for Orchestra
Link to Event

Thu, Nov 30, 1:30 pm (Newark)
Fri, Dec 1, 8 pm (Newark)
Sun, Dec 3, 3 pm (New Brunswick)
JOSHUA BELL LEADS THE NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY
Joshua Bell, Conductor and Violin
MENDELSSOHN Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4
Link to Event

Fri, Jan 12, 8 pm (Princeton)
Sat, Jan 13, 8 pm (Red Bank)
Sun, Jan 14, 3 pm (Newark)
AUGUSTIN HADELICH PLAYS BEETHOVEN
Xian Zhang, Conductor | Augustin Hadelich, Violin
DANIEL BERNARD ROUMAIN i am a white person who __ Black people (New Jersey Symphony Commission)
BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto
MUSSORGSKY/RAVEL Pictures at an Exhibition
Link to Event

Sat, Jan 20, 8 pm (Newark)
Sun, Jan 21, 3 pm (Morristown)
THE AMERICAN DREAM: WORLD PREMIERE BY ROB KAPILOW AND MUSIC BY STILL & BERNSTEIN
Xian Zhang, Conductor | Rob Kapilow, Conductor
JCC Young People’s Chorus @ Thurnauer | Young People’s Chorus of New York City®
Rob Kapilow’s new work reflects America as a nation of immigrants who all have stories. Inspired by in-depth source research, interviews with generations of immigrants, and melodies from many countries, Kapilow has crafted compelling music for chorus and orchestra. Commissioned by the Thurnauer School of Music at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades. Kapilow’s work is framed by music from two great American composers, William Grant Still and Leonard Bernstein. 
WILLIAM GRANT STILL Darker America
ROB KAPILOW We Came to America (World Premiere)​​​​​​​
BERNSTEIN Three Dances Episodes from On the Town
BERNSTEIN Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Link to Event

Sat, Feb 3, 7:30 pm (Newark)
LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
Yue Bao, Conductor | Tony Siqi Yun, Piano
An evening of community and cultural exchange to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. Music Director Xian Zhang ignited the first Lunar New Year Celebration six years ago, and this festive tradition continues with conductor Yue Bao and the young Canadian-born pianist Tony Siqi Yun, whom Pianist Magazine called “a true poet of the keyboard.” 
Link to Event

Fri, Mar 1, 8 pm (Newark) 
Sun, Mar 3, 3 pm (Newark)
XIAN CONDUCTS CARMINA BURANA, BACH & SELECTIONS FROM AUGUSTA READ THOMAS’ JUBILEE
Xian Zhang, Conductor | Andrew Adelson, Oboe d’amore
Jana McIntyre, Soprano | Barry Banks, Tenor | Hugh Russell, Baritone
Montclair State University Chorale | Heather J. Buchanan, director
AUGUSTA READ THOMAS Selections from Jubilee
J.S. BACH Oboe d'Amore Concerto
ORFF Carmina Burana
Link to Event

Thu, Mar 14, 1:30 pm (Newark)
Fri, Mar 15, 8 pm (Princeton) 
Sat, Mar 16, 8 pm (Newark)
Sun, Mar 17, 3 pm (Morristown)
TCHAIKOVSKY’S FIFTH SYMPHONY & REVISITING DAVID LUDWIG’S NIGHT VISION
Xian Zhang, Conductor | Tom Borrow, Piano
The New Jersey Symphony premiered David Ludwig’s fantastic music in 2000, when he was at the beginning of a career that now finds him Dean of Juilliard. Hear again, or for the first time, the promise of a young artist in full command of a virtuoso orchestra. On Mozart’s piano concerto, the young pianist Tom Borrow has been called “the very definition of ‘one to watch’” (International Piano). 
DAVID LUDWIG NightVision (Premiered by New Jersey Symphony in 2000)
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 24
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5
Link to Event

Fri, Mar 22, 8 pm (Newark)
Sat, Mar 23, 8 pm (Red Bank)
Sun, Mar 24, 3 pm (Newark)
GIL SHAHAM AND XIAN ZHANG
Xian Zhang, Conductor | Gil Shaham, Violin
MOZART Serenade No. 11
CHEVALIER DE SAINT-GEORGES Violin Concerto No. 9
J.S. BACH Violin Concerto No. 1
MOZART Eine kleine Nachtmusik
Link to Event

Sat, May 4, 8 pm (Newark)
Sun, May 5, 3 pm (Morristown)
JENNIFER KOH AND JUN MÄRKL RETURN!
Jun Märkl, Conductor | Jennifer Koh, Violin
Newark’s own Tyshawn Sorey has a dozen surprises up his sleeve in this new work, especially as he makes superstar soloist Jennifer Koh “disappear” into the orchestra. The effect is singularly haunting and beautiful. Opening with Liszt and closing with Schoenberg’s orchestral arrangement of Brahm’s First Piano Quartet. 
LISZT Prometheus
TYSHAWN SOREY For Marcos Balter (New Jersey Symphony Co-Commission)
BRAHMS/SCHOENBERG Piano Quartet No. 1 (arr. for orchestra)
Link to Event

Fri, May 17, 8 pm (Princeton)
Sat, May 18, 8 pm (Newark)
Sun, May 19, 3 pm (Newark)
JEREMY DENK, ANNA CLYNE & BEETHOVEN’S “EROICA”
Markus Stenz, Conductor | Jeremy Denk, Piano
BERLIOZ Roman Carnival Overture
ANNA CLYNE Piano Concerto (New Jersey Symphony Co-Commission)
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3, “Eroica”
Link to Event

Thu, May 30, 1:30 pm (Newark)
Fri, May 31, 8 pm (Newark)
Sun, Jun 2, 3 pm (New Brunswick)
MONTERO PERFORMS MONTERO PLUS BIZET’S CARMEN
Xian Zhang, Conductor | Gabriela Montero, Piano
Villa-Lobos blends Brazilian soul with inspiration from Bach in his gorgeous 15-minute symphony, a joyous homage to his beautiful South American home. Famed for her one-of-a-kind technique and stunning jazzy improvisations as encores, Montero performs her own First Concerto. The evening closes with selections from Carmen by  Bizet – a Frenchman obsessed with Spain. 
VILLA-LOBOS Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4
GABRIELA MONTERO Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin”
BIZET Selections from Carmen
Link to Event