NJ Local
NJ Youth Symphony Veteran’s Day Concert Coming to Central Jersey
The New Jersey Youth Symphony has announced that it will present a concert to honor veterans and armed forces on Sunday, November 3rd at 3:00 pm at the Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton. The concert is free for Veterans by using the discount code VETERAN. Tickets and more information are at NJYS.org. The concert will be a heartfelt homage to the brave men and women who have served our country featuring the New Jersey premiere of Peter Boyer’s Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue with acclaimed pianist Jeffrey Biegel. Biegel commissioned Boyer to compose the piece to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the premiere of George Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue. NJYS is one of three youth orchestras presenting the New Jersey premiere of this work. Helen Cha-Pyo, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor shared, “At this Veterans Day concert, we proudly continue our tradition of performing works by American composers to honor those who have served. Projects like this bring generations together, uniting people through the creation of new works that celebrate the present and inspire the future of America.” Two ensembles from the NJYC will also take the stage at the Patriots Theater to perform patriotic music celebrating the spirit of freedom. In addition to the New Jersey premiere of Boyer’s work, the concert will feature American favorites, including Candide Overture and music from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein as well as Three Spirituals by the prolific African American composer, Adolphus Hailstork. It will include performances of America the Beautiful, Armed Forces Salute, and other patriotic songs. Related: The African Children's Choir Wharton Arts’ mission is to offer accessible, high-quality performing arts education that sparks personal growth and builds inclusive communities. Their vision is for a transformative performing arts education in an inclusive community to be accessible to 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. NJYS.org for more information.