By Mabel Pais

Wharton Arts, New Jersey’s largest non-profit community performing arts education organization for its 2022-2023 season features over 50 public events presented by its nearly 2,000 talented students, artistic staff, and faculty members. The new season marks the 30th Anniversary of the recently integrated New Jersey Youth Chorus as well as the 10th Anniversary of the Paterson Music Project, two of Wharton Arts’ visionary programs that continue to provide vital opportunities for their communities to come together in celebration of creativity and culture.

Peter H. Gistelinck, Executive Director at Wharton Arts remarked “As we continue to implement our ambitious five-year strategic plan, we are focusing more than ever on the mission and vision of our organization which encompasses and embraces the accessibility and inclusivity of our programs.”

Artistic Director Helen H. Cha-Pyo said, “Here at Wharton Arts, we continue to work hard to practice culturally-responsive teaching and to care for the holistic development of our students. I hope our strong commitment to teaching and performing works by women and underrepresented composers, as well as celebrating cultural diversity in our concert programming, will be evident throughout this season. I’m most excited about our increased partnerships with public and private schools, universities, and local community organizations in bringing musical enrichment to NJ residents of all ages.”

The New Jersey Youth Chorus (NJYC) founded and led by Trish Joyce, an auditioned choral ensemble program for students in grades 3–12, joined the family of programs at Wharton Arts on July 1, 2022. For over 30 years, outstanding NJYC performances have ranged from collaborations with the New Jersey Symphony, Ronan Tynan, the Chieftains, and the Celtic Tenors to performances at the White House, Super Bowl, and on the Today Show.

In addition to public concerts beginning with a Winter Concert on January 22, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. at Dolan Hall at Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJYC will host a 30th Anniversary Weekend Celebration, May 19-21, 2023, as well as embark on a tour to Italy, June 27-July 6, 2023. This season also marks the inauguration of the Wharton Arts Annual Choral Composition Competition open to high school and college students. Guidelines available at WhartonArts.org. The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) officially opens the symphonic season on Saturday, October 30 at 4:00 p.m. at The Patriots Theater at the War Memorial for a dynamic concert featuring the NJYS Youth Symphony with special guests Brooke Jee-In Newmaster and Company, Samgomu Dancers. Enjoy a vibrant display of Korean arts and culture featuring traditional Korean dancing and drumming. Join the NJYS Youth Symphony under the baton of Helen H. Cha-Pyo for four signature concerts this season chronicling a variety of dance rhythms from across the globe in the Beyond Cultural Boundaries Series: A Confluence of Music, Dance, and Story. Tickets and event details for all NJYS concerts can be found at NJYS.org. The NJYS Youth Symphony will tour Italy, June 27-July 6, 2023, and the NJYS Jazz Orchestra will tour France in an Homage to Michel Legrand, July 10-17, 2023.

The Wharton Performing Arts School (PAS) will present Mary Poppins, JR. on Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 20 at 3:00 p.m. in the Wharton Black Box Theater. Wharton Community Players, Berkeley Heights’ first ever community theater program for adults, will present It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play December 9-18. The Salon Series returns as an immersive experience where the audience is seated on stage with the performers on select Sunday afternoons, September-December. Tickets and more details can be found at WhartonArts.org. Building new partnerships and fostering existing relationships between the Wharton Performing Arts School and the communities it serves will be an important focal point of the new season, with an emphasis on intentional efforts to forge meaningful partnerships between its programs and community organizations. The Paterson Music Project (PMP) will commence its 10th Anniversary Celebration on October 1 at the Community Charter School of Paterson, with season events throughout the Silk City. PMP will host a Paterson City-Wide Festival on January 28, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. at John. F. Kennedy High School and anniversary festivities will culminate in an Outdoor Playathon on June 3, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. in Paterson’s Pennington Park.

TICKETS

For the 2022-2023 season brochure and for Tickets, visit WhartonArts.org.

Wharton Arts

To learn more, visit whartonarts.org.

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NJSO WITH XIAN ZHANGWELCOMES CENTENNIAL SEASON

 By Mabel Pais

The New Jersey Symphony (NJSO) with Music Director Xian Zhang opens the Symphony’s milestone centennial season with a pair of classical programs featuring pianists Yefim Bronfman and Michelle Cann. The Season runs for two weeks.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

 Opening Weekend: Yefim Bronfman Plays Rachmaninoff

At the Opening Concerts, October 7-9, Bronfman performs Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto. The program features Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite—with dancers from Nimbus Dance performing original choreography at the concerts in Newark and Morristown—and opens with Montgomery’s Banner.

Friday, October 7, at 8 pm | New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark

Saturday, October 8, at 8 pm | Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank

Sunday, October 9, at 3 pm | Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown

Xian Zhang conductor

Yefim Bronfman piano

Nimbus Dance

New Jersey Symphony

Jessie Montgomery Banner

Copland Appalachian Spring Suite

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3

Learn more at njsymphony.org/openingweekend.

Xian Zhang Conducts Brahms

Cann joins the Symphony for Strauss’ Burleske for Piano and Orchestra, October 20–23. The program opens with Chang’s Northern Star and closes with Brahms’ Fourth Symphony. Poets from the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival will share dramatic readings between orchestral works at the weekend’s performances at NJPAC in Newark.

Thursday, October 20, at 1:30 pm | New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark

Friday, October 21, at 8 pm | Richardson Auditorium in Princeton

Sunday, October 23, at 3 pm | New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark

Xian Zhang conductor

Michelle Cann piano

New Jersey Symphony

Dorothy Chang Northern Star

Strauss Burleske for Piano and Orchestra

Brahms Symphony No. 4

Learn more at njsymphony.org/brahms.

TICKETS

Tickets are available online at njsymphony.org or by phone at 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476).

HEALTH SAFETY PROTOCOLS

The safety of NJSO’s patrons, musicians and staff is of the utmost importance to the New Jersey Symphony. For constant updated details focused on attendees’ well-being at the performances, visit njsymphony.org.

The New Jersey Symphony

The New Jersey Symphony (NJSO) will redefine what it means to be a nationally leading, relevant orchestra in the 21st century.

NJSO IS YOURS, NJSO WILL BE HERE FOR YOU!

Connect with NJSO:

njsymphony.org

@NJSymphony on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

@NewJerseySymphony on YouTube

Email: information@njsymphony.org

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