Special Presentations Events
New Jersey Ballet’s The Nutcracker with New Jersey Symphony
Presented by New Jersey Ballet
Constantine Kitsopoulos conductor
Brent Chancellor conductor (December 19 & 20 concerts only)
New Jersey Ballet
New Jersey Symphony
New Jersey Ballet’s beloved annual tradition enchants youngsters and grown-ups alike with splendid dancing, eye-popping special effects and a touch of holiday magic, set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score performed live by New Jersey Symphony.
Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker
Based on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman
Youth Orchestra Winter Concert
Youth Orchestra Showcase
Diego García artistic director, The Anna P. Drago Chair
Terrence Thornhill associate conductor & curriculum specialist
New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestra, The Resident Youth Orchestra of the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University
Discover the artistry of the New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestra! Coached by musicians of the New Jersey Symphony, each ensemble will surprise and delight in this annual celebration of musical excellence.
Handel’s Messiah
New Jersey Symphony Holiday Tradition
Anthony Parnther conductor
Caitlin Gotimer soprano
Maria Dominique Lopez mezzo-soprano
Orson Van Gay II tenor
Shyheim Selvan Hinnant bass-baritone
Montclair State University Singers | Heather J. Buchanan, director
New Jersey Symphony
Handel’s Messiah embraces every emotion, from the first voice singing “Comfort ye,” inviting you to step aside from the season’s frenzy, to the riveting Amen Chorus at the end. In between are moments of transcendence, loss, and deeply-felt awe—what makes a classic a classic.
Hollywood in New Jersey
Music from How the West Was Won, The Greatest Story Ever Told & More
David Newman conductor
Sebastian Knauer piano
New Jersey Symphony
Hooray for Hollywood! Hear some of the most iconic film music of all time performed by the New Jersey Symphony. Guest conductor and Oscar-nominated film composer David Newman carries on the legacy of his father, Alfred Newman, the golden-age composer of legendary film scores (and creator of the famous 20th Century Fox fanfare). Award-winning German pianist Sebastian Knauer joins the orchestra for an evening of silver-screen favorites. You’ll hear music from a variety of composers, including the Newman family, who have amassed 13 Academy Awards and an incredible 93 nominations. A Beautiful Mind, Spartacus, The Robe, How the West Was Won, Basic Instinct — and more!
Elden Ring: Symphonic Adventure
Based Off the Award-Winning Fantasy Video Game
Eric Roth conductor
Ember Choral Arts | Deborah Simpkin King, artistic director
New Jersey Symphony
The fantasy video game Elden Ring comes to life with the New Jersey Symphony and Ember Choral Arts performing its gorgeous score. Immerse yourself in the noble quest of the Tarnished as cinematic gameplay sequences play on the big screen, synced with dramatic lighting and sound effects. Whether you’re a fan of the game, or simply love the epic beauty of orchestral music, this adventure is for you. Don your Elden Ring cosplay, and we’ll meet you in the Lands Between.
2026 Lunar New Year Celebration
Celebration of the Year of the Horse
Sunny Xia conductor
Haochen Zhang piano
Peking University Alumni Chorus
Starry Arts Children’s Chorus | Rebecca Shen, director
Edison Chinese School Lion Dance Team
New Jersey Symphony
Enjoy an evening of community and cultural exchange that is wonderful for families and children, as we celebrate the Year of the Horse. Seattle Symphony Associate Conductor Sunny Xia and Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Winner Haochen Zhang make their New Jersey Symphony debuts in this festive concert that celebrates music from East and West.
Icons of American Ballet with New Jersey Symphony
Presented by New Jersey Ballet
Constantine Kitsopoulos conductor
New Jersey Ballet
New Jersey Symphony
New Jersey Ballet presents Icons of American Ballet—a vibrant program celebrating groundbreaking choreographers who have shaped the landscape of American dance. The performance opens with George Balanchine’s iconic Serenade, a poetic and sweeping work set to Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings. Jerome Robbins’ In the Night follows, a tender and emotionally rich ballet set to four nocturnes by Chopin, where three couples explore the many shades of romantic relationships beneath a starlit sky. The program concludes with Twyla Tharp’s stylish and witty Nine Sinatra Songs, where couples dance through the complexities of love to the timeless voice of Frank Sinatra. Together, these three works offer an unforgettable afternoon of elegance, emotion, and innovation.
- George Balanchine Serenade
- Jerome Robbins In the Night
-
Twyla Tharp Nine Sinatra Songs*
*Nine Sinatra Songs will be performed to recordings of Frank Sinatra.
Sleeping Beauty with New Jersey Symphony
Presented by New Jersey Ballet
Constantine Kitsopoulos conductor
New Jersey Ballet
New Jersey Symphony
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty is one of the most famous ballets of all time, and is a longtime favorite of children and families alike. Watch as New Jersey Ballet brings the timeless fairytale classic to life in this full-length production at the Mayo Performing Arts Center, featuring the live performance of the score from New Jersey Symphony.
Ben Folds with New Jersey Symphony
Ben Folds Performs his Greatest Hits
Ben Folds guest artist
Edwin Outwater conductor
New Jersey Symphony
Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter-composer Ben Folds joins the New Jersey Symphony for a unique and unforgettable performance of music from across his career. Widely regarded as one of the major musical influences of our generation, Folds’ enormous body of genre-bending music includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records. His latest album, 2023’s What Matters Most, is a blend of piano-driven pop rock songs, while his 2015 Concerto for Piano and Orchestra soared to #1 on both the Billboard classical and classical crossover charts. He released his first Christmas album in 2024 and last Fall recorded a live album slated for release in 2025 with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where he served for eight years as the first artistic advisor to the NSO.