The New Jersey Symphony’s centennial season is featured in The New York Times
The New York Times wrote a feature on the New Jersey Symphony’s centennial highlighting its dedication to fostering a strong connection between classical music and the local community. By actively engaging with diverse audiences, collaborating with artists from different genres, and incorporating contemporary elements into performances, the Symphony is revitalizing the classical music scene and making it more inclusive, accessible and welcoming. President & CEO Gabriel van Aalst touched on how they were able to find success by sticking with their community in New Jersey, and how, under Music Director Xian Zhang, they’ve become one of the most innovative orchestras in the country.
Traditionally orchestras either say, ‘Come to us, we’re wonderful,’ or they go out into communities and say, ‘Hey, listen to us.’ We were very intentional that we were going to go to communities and ask, ‘What do you need from us?’ ... We have been very intentional about framing the orchestra as ‘your New Jersey Symphony.’ We’re here for your community ... That’s actually driving the art form forward; that’s actually celebrating the orchestra.
Gabriel van Aalst to The New York Times