New Jersey Symphony announces 2026–27 season
Performances around the state: Newark, New Brunswick, Princeton, Morristown, and Red Bank
Opening Weekend: Beethoven’s “Emperor” & Schubert’s “Great” (Oct 23–25)
Xian Zhang, conductor; George Li, piano
Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances (Nov 19–22)
George Duke’s Dark Wood: Bass Concerto for McBride, Christian McBride, double bass
Christian McBride’s Fried Bacon, Chris Komer, horn
Mozart & Ravel (Jan 8–10)
Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5, “Turkish,” Blake Pouliot, violin
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Jan 22–24)
Tony Siqi Yun, piano
Gil Shaham Plays Dvořák (Feb 18–21)
Mahler’s Fifth Symphony (Mar 19–21)
Xian Zhang Conducts Mozart (Apr 1–4)
Mozart’s Symphonies No. 29 and 40, “Jupiter”
Neruda Songs & Poulenc’s Gloria (Apr 15–18)
Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony (Apr 29–May 2)
Xian Zhang Conducts Tchaikovsky (May 14–16)
Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4
Season Finale: Ravel’s Boléro with Xian Zhang (June 10–13)
PREMIERES & COMMISSIONS
East Coast Premiere by Allison Loggins-Hull (New Jersey Symphony Commission) (Mar 19–21)
East Coast Premiere by Steven Mackey (New Jersey Symphony Co-Commission) (May 14–16)
JOSHUA BELL, PRINCIPAL GUEST CONDUCTOR
Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and Symphony No. 7 (Mar 11–14)
SPECIAL EVENTS
Hollywood Hits: From West Side Story to Spirited Away (Oct 10–11)
Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey (Nov 7–8)
GUEST ARTISTS (*INDICATES DEBUT)
Conductors Kedrick Armstrong*, Keitaro Harada*, Eric Jacobsen, Christoph König, Ludovic Morlot*, Valentina Peleggi*, and Naomi Woo*
Pianists George Li, Sophia Liu*, Gabriela Montero, and Tony Siqi Yun
Violinists Blake Pouliot* and Gil Shaham
Solo instrumentalists: Gabriel Cabezas* (cello), Chris Komer (horn), Gregory LaRosa (timpani), Christian McBride* (double bass), and Pablo Sáinz Villegas* (guitar)
Sopranos Liv Redpath* and Jessica Rivera*, mezzo-sopranos J’Nai Bridges and Kelley O’Connor, tenor Martin Bakari*, and bass-baritone Adam Lau*
HOLIDAY EVENTS & FAMILY PROGRAMMING
Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker with the New Jersey Ballet at Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown (Dec)
Handel’s Messiah with the Montclair State University Singers (Dec 18–20)
Lunar New Year Celebration Concert (Jan 30)
Discover Concert Series for families (Jan 22 & May 15)
Movie nights with the Symphony performing the score live: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (Feb 26–28) and Star Wars: A New Hope (May 20–23)
NEWARK, NJ—The New Jersey Symphony announces its 2026–27 season with Music Director Xian Zhang. The Symphony has currently planned 54 mainstage programs in five New Jersey cities, concerts that will revisit well-loved works from Brahms, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky, and celebrate two East Coast premieres. Principal Guest Conductor Joshua Bell, now in his second season, will lead an all-Beethoven program, and the popular annual holiday traditions return: Handel’s Messiah and the Lunar New Year Celebration.
Says Zhang, “I’m particularly excited to share the impeccable artistry of our musicians with compositions written just for them. Principal Horn Chris Komer will perform a piece from Christian McBride, which premiered in 2022, and Principal Timpanist Gregory LaRosa steps into the solo spotlight playing a concerto by Joseph Pereira on our stages for the first time. We also celebrate the East Coast premiere of Resident Artistic Partner Allison Loggins-Hull’s Cello Concerto.”
Families can enjoy concerts with movies, including Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Concert and Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert, plus two interactive Discovery concerts presented in a relaxed format.
New Jersey Symphony President & CEO, Terry D. Loftis, adds, “The work we do and the music we create is profoundly relevant, bringing world-class performances and artists across our state’s premier venues, and resonating even further with the many programs we offer to serve our unique communities.”
Season tickets are available to both renewing and new subscribers now. Complete details about same-seat packages and create-your-own options can be found here.
SEASON OVERVIEW
- Opening Weekend: Beethoven’s “Emperor” & Schubert’s “Great” (Oct 23–25)
A new season begins with two of Classical music’s most epic works. Music Director Xian Zhang introduced George Li to New Jersey audiences 10 years ago and he’s since become a true local favorite, returning now for Beethoven’s heroic “Emperor” Piano Concerto. Schubert’s final symphony, also known as “The Great,” was lost in a drawer and never performed during his lifetime—its songful grandeur is one of the wonders of the Romantic era. - Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances (Nov 19–22)
Jazz and classical meet in this genre-defying program full of color, rhythm, and fun. Montclair’s own jazz legend and nine-time GRAMMY Award-winner, Christian McBride debuts with your New Jersey Symphony in a concerto tailor-made for him. Eric Jacobsen, hailed by The New York Times as “an interpretive dynamo,” returns with the perfumed hues of Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Rachmaninoff’s final orchestral work, written in New York City and full of longing for his Russian home. - Mozart & Ravel (Jan 8–10)
Podium powerhouse Valentina Peleggi debuts with a kaleidoscopic program of childlike wonder, symphonic muscle, and dizzying virtuosity—with enough warmth for the coldest January night. Plus, Blake Pouliot, “one of those special talents that comes along once in a lifetime” (Toronto Star), dazzles with Mozart’s final and most beloved violin concerto. - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Jan 22–24)
Xian Zhang takes the podium for a program of fantasy and fairytale wonder. Zemlinsky’s musical portrait of The Little Mermaid makes an orchestral splash in its first Garden State performance. Tony Siqi Yun tackles Rachmaninoff’s final work for piano and orchestra. The overture to Wagner’s only comedy, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, kicks things off with songful brassiness. - Gil Shaham Plays Dvořák (Feb 18–21)
Legendary violinist Gil Shaham makes a welcome New Jersey return, joining with Xian Zhang for Dvořák’s only violin concerto, brimming with Bohemian character. This virtuosic concerto is paired with a fizzing Dvořák overture and Brahms’ most personal symphony—both bucolic and contemplative. - Joshua Bell Leads Beethoven (Mar 11–14)
Principal Guest Conductor Joshua Bell conducts performances marking the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death. From the sublime eloquence of his only violin concerto to the rhythmic propulsion of the Seventh Symphony, you’ll hear in this program why we continue to revel in Beethoven’s wonders after all these years. - Mahler’s Fifth Symphony (Mar 19–21)
Christoph König made his US debut in 2009 conducting your New Jersey Symphony in Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. Now one of the orchestra’s closest musical friends, he returns to this piece that started it all. Plus, be the first to hear an East Coast premiere from Resident Artistic Partner Allison Loggins-Hull. - Xian Zhang Conducts Mozart (Apr 1–4)
Xian Zhang is at the helm for a pair of Mozart symphonies, which she conducts with operatic fervor and boundless joy. Plus, Principal Timpanist Gregory LaRosa brings his drums front and center for a new concerto written especially for him by the LA Phil’s Principal Percussionist Joseph Pereira. - Neruda Songs and Poulenc’s Gloria (Apr 15–18)
Ludovic Morlot brings his signature gallic flare to a radiant program that celebrates the sacred and the profane as Montclair State’s top choral singers raise their voices in thrilling works by Poulenc and Ravel. Plus, vocal superstar J’Nai Bridges sings Peter Lieberson’s exquisite settings of Pablo Neruda’s love poems, a work of heart-wrenching beauty. - Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony (Apr 29–May 2)
A musical tour around the world—Xian Zhang is your travel agent as we journey from the Nordic chill of Finland with Sibelius’ nationalistic overture, to the warmth and fire of Latin America with Gabriela Montero’s thrilling concerto, coming home with Dvořák’s love letter to America, the “New World” Symphony. - Xian Zhang Conducts Tchaikovsky (May 14–16)
Xian Zhang leads a program perfect for orchestral thrill-seekers. New Jersey’s own Steven Mackey brings a brand-new piece written to highlight the strengths and individual characteristics of your Symphony musicians. Tchaikovsky’s exhilarating Symphony No. 4 brings the program to a resounding conclusion. - Season Finale: Ravel’s Boléro with Xian Zhang (June 10–13)
The season comes to a close with “the global ambassador of Spanish guitar” (Billboard), Pablo Sáinz Villegas, making his debut with one of the most beloved guitar concertos. Plus, Xian leads favorites by Bernstein and Ginastera, before Ravel’s hypnotic Boléro brings the 104th season of your New Jersey Symphony to an ecstatic close.
Special events
- Hollywood Hits: From West Side Story to Spirited Away (Oct 10–11)
Lights, camera, action! Rising-star conductor Keitaro Harada leads a program of thrilling orchestral music from classic movies. Movie-musicals West Side Story and An American in Paris, with their timeless tunes, are heard alongside Joe Hisaishi’s score to the Studio Ghibli masterpiece, Spirited Away. Don't miss this festive performance with music that dazzles and delights—the perfect way to celebrate the start of the season. - Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey (Nov 7–8)
Usually you'll find Rick Steves touring the great destinations of Europe. Now you can join him on a different journey: A Symphonic Journey. In this unique concert, Rick Steves teams up with the New Jersey Symphony for a performance that combines Europe's most stirring Romantic-era anthems with beautiful high-definition cinematography and Rick's insights into European history.
Holiday events and family programming
- Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker with the New Jersey Ballet at Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown (Dec)
- Handel’s Messiah with the Montclair State University Singers (Dec 18–20)
- Lunar New Year Celebration Concert (Jan 30)
- Discover Concert Series for families (Jan 23 & May 15)
- Movie nights with the Orchestra performing the score live: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (Feb 26–28) and Star Wars: A New Hope (May 20–23)
New Jersey Symphony Family Concerts: A Music Discovery Zone for performances of Discover Rachmaninoff and Discover Tchaikovsky are presented in NJPAC’s Prudential Hall prior to each concert.
The November 19 & 22 concerts are part of the TD Moody Jazz Festival and in collaboration with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
Presentation of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Concert is licensed by Disney Concerts © All rights reserved. Rated PG-13. The February 28 concert is presented in collaboration with State Theatre New Jersey.
The March 13 & 14 concerts are presented in collaboration with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
Presentation of Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert is licensed by Disney Concerts in association with Warner/Chappell Music. © & ™ Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. The May 23 concert is presented in collaboration with State Theatre New Jersey.
New Jersey Symphony
The New Jersey Symphony is a GRAMMY and Emmy Award-winning orchestra. Under the direction of the Music Director Xian Zhang, the Symphony performs more than 55 concerts at mainstage venues across the state, including Newark, Princeton, New Brunswick, Red Bank and Morristown as well as schools and public spaces statewide. Programming at the Symphony reflects an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion while providing students across the state unparalleled opportunities to achieve musical excellence through its Youth Orchestra and other outreach programs. In 2024, the Symphony announced it would continue to deliver its statewide activities from a new, permanent office, rehearsal and concert space in Jersey City, set to open in 2027.
For more information about the New Jersey Symphony, visit njsymphony.org or email information@njsymphony.org. Tickets are available for purchase by phone 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) or on the Orchestra's website.
Press contact
Geoffrey Anderson, New Jersey Symphony, Vice President of Marketing & External Affairs
973.735.1713 | ganderson@njsymphony.org
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The New Jersey Symphony's programs are made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, along with many other foundations, corporations and individual donors.
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