By Mabel Pais

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) announces NJSO Edward T. Cone Composition Institute composers:

Elise Arancio: “Wake”

Kevin Day: “Tango Oscuro”

Erin Graham: “Increase”

Jared Miller: “Under Sea, Above Sky”

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra announces the composers for the seventh NJSO Edward T. Cone Composition Institute, presented July 19–24 at NJPAC, Newark. NJSO gives world premieres of institute works at public concert July 24 at NJPAC in Newark with conductor Ludovic Morlot.

The composers include Elise Arancio (Curtis Institute of Music) and her work “Wake,” Kevin Day (University of Georgia) and his work “Tango Oscuro,” Erin Graham (UC San Diego) and her work “Increase,” and Jared Miller (The Juilliard School) and his work “Under Sea, Above Sky.”

The four composers will hear their music performed by the NJSO and participate in in-depth sessions with Institute Director Steven Mackey, guest conductor Ludovic Morlot and industry leaders including Boosey and Hawkes, New Music USA, Subito Music Corporation and speech and presentation coach Sims Wyeth. To learn more, visit njsymphony.org/institute

By the conclusion of the Institute’s immersive laboratory experience, participants will have gained invaluable musical and practical feedback about writing for orchestra and how to get their music published and performed. The NJSO Edward T. Cone Composition Institute grew out of reading sessions the Orchestra has held with Princeton University graduate students biennially for more than a decade. The Institute celebrates its namesake Cone’s legacy as both a composer and a Princeton University professor. The event is a collaboration between the NJSO and Princeton University Department of Music. Learn more at njsymphony.org/institute.

TICKETS

Purchase nominally priced tickets at njsymphony.org/scores

Elise Arancio

To learn more about Elise Arancio, visit elisearancio.com

Program Notes: “Wake”

Wake (v.) To emerge from a state of sleep.

“While this piece occurs in the wake of a traumatic event, the overwhelming focus is on using inner momentum to awaken from a slumber of desolation and return to a place of joy. It is ultimately about finding life amidst death, and while not ignoring dark echoes, overcoming them, to reach a place where the heartbeat can clearly be heard among the sounds of renewed vitality,” says Arancio.

Kevin Day

To learn more about Kevin Day, visit kevindaymusic.com

Program Notes: “Tango Oscuro”

“Tango Oscuro” (“Dark Tango”), says Day, is a chamber orchestra work that was composed over the span of five days’ time, from an out-of-the-blue inspiration. This intense composition depicts a dark, wild and passionate dance between two aspiring lovers. He says: “‘Tango Oscuro’ is dedicated to the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music, and to my friend and mentor Gabriela Lena Frank, who inspired me to experiment and try new things, helped me to believe in myself and encouraged me to embrace my voice as a composer.”

Erin Graham

To learn more about Erin Graham, visit erinegraham.com

Program Notes: “Increase”

Graham says: “Narratives which feature some form of systematic overthrow fascinate me. “Increase” is a study in various methods of escalating dramatic tension on both small and large scales, and in allowing a seemingly inconsequential idea to gradually rise to the foreground.”

Jared Miller

To learn more about Jared Miller, visit jaredmiller.com

 Program Notes: “Under Sea, Above Sky”

“When I started writing this piece for the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, ‘Under Sea, Above Sky.’” The piece was ultimately written as an ode to planet Earth. On one hand, Earth is massive, majestic and wild. On the other, it is incredibly fragile as climate change continues to wreak havoc upon it. “Under Sea, Above Sky” aims to capture this duality by contrasting passages of thundering resonance and textures of frail, ethereal tranquility. Ultimately, this piece serves not as an elegy for planet Earth but rather, as a reminder of both its beauty and its vulnerability.

To learn more about NJSO and the CI composers, visit njsymphony.org/institute

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NJSO-NEWARK MUSEUM CONTINUE OUTDOOR MUSIC CONCERTS

By Mabel Pais

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) continues in-person outdoorchamber music series in The Newark Museum of Art’s (newarkmuseumart.org) Alice Ransom Dreyfuss Memorial Garden this summer in July and August.

In nine performances from June through August, the NJSO Chamber Players

perform a three-concert series curated by Resident Artistic Catalyst Daniel

Bernard Roumain (DBR), a three-concert series curated by Concertmaster Eric

Wyrick and a three-concert family series for music lovers of all ages.

Arts in the Garden

With the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players, in collaboration with The Newark Museum of Art

Beethoven & Wind Serenades

Wed, July 21, at 7 pm

ERIC WYRICK violin & curator

BEETHOVEN Septet in E-flat Major

VARIOUS Wind Serenades

Peter and the Wolf – Family Program

Sat, July 31, at 10 am

Experience Prokofiev’s classic tale about an adventurous boy and a hapless wolf. Instruments portray the duck, bird, cat, wolf, hunters, Peter and his Grandfather, making this a wonderful introduction to the orchestra, as well as a charming story.

NJSO Storytime – Family Program

Sat, Aug 14, at 10 am

Bring your family as New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players tell stories through the sound of music.

Who We Are with DBR

Wed, Aug 11, at 7 pm

DANIEL BERNARD ROUMAIN curator

To learn more about Resident Artistic Catalyst Daniel Bernard Roumain, visit danielroumain.com

 New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

Connect with NJSO:

Website: njsymphony.org

Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @NJSymphony

YouTube: @NewJerseySymphony

Email: information@njsymphony.org

The Newark Museum of Art

To learn about the Museum, newarkmuseumart.org

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NJPAC – STANDING IN SOLIDARITY

By Mabel Pais

Free on Zoom – Mon, Jul 19 @ 7PM

For a year, we’ve all been thinking deeply about social justice. What would a more just world look like? How can we improve our schools, our hospitals, our companies, our relationships, to ensure that everyone is treated equally, with respect and dignity? Should reparations be made to Black citizens — and how can we calculate the cost of centuries of injustice?

Throughout this year, NJPACs “Standing in Solidarity” gatherings have examined all angles of these questions.

To conclude this year-long project of reflection on questions of race, equity and justice, NJPAC revisits some of its most thought-provoking panels, in live sessions with members of the Arts Center’s own Social Justice Programming Task Force.

Join NJPAC at 7PM on Monday, July 19, to revisit two of the most intriguing discussions: “White Fragility” and “Policing the Police,” during a live Zoom session.

For the discussion on the concept of white fragility, and the popular book by the same name by Robin DiAngelo, panelists will be Donna Walker-Kuhne, Senior Advisor, Diversity Equity and Inclusion at NJPAC, and Chelsea Keys, the Arts Center’s Director of Special Projects.

Reflections on the “Policing the Police” panel will follow, with observations and reflections by Kitab Rollins, NJPAC’s Director of Performance and Broadcast Rentals, and the producer of the Arts Center’s “Standing in Solidarity events,” and Eyesha K. Marable, Assistant Vice President, Community Engagement at NJPAC.

NJPAC

To learn about NJPAC, visit njpac.org

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, and Health & Wellness)