Watch education and community engagement programs in action
In addition to its lauded artistic programming, the NJSO proudly boasts a suite of education and community engagement programs that promote meaningful, lifelong engagement with live music and serve more than 60,000 New Jerseyans each season.
Watch some of these programs in action:
Autism Community Program
A core offering of the NJSO’s REACH chamber music program, the NJSO Autism Community Program brings the musical magic of the Orchestra to children and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Specially trained NJSO musicians create singular opportunities for New Jerseyans with ASD to interact with their world through the experience of live music. Performed by NJSO musicians, these “sensory-friendly” chamber music programs annually enthrall more than 2,000 people with ASD, their educators and support staff.
Watch an NJSO ensemble perform at the Jewish Service for the Developmentally Disabled’s WAE (Wellness, Arts, Enrichment) Center in West Orange:
» Learn more about the Autism Community Program
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NJSO CHAMPS
NJSO CHAMPS (Character, Achievement and Music Project), the Orchestra’s El Sistema-inspired music instruction program, seeks to harness the power of music to enhance students’ lives by fostering social and academic success. Through the NJSO CHAMPS partnership with University Heights Charter School in Newark, up to 60 students in grades three through eight receive after-school instruction in violin, viola or cello for up to two hours per day, up to three days per week. Students have performed with the NJSO and with the NJSO Youth Orchestras in public concerts, in community settings and at school assemblies.
Watch highlights from the 2015–16 school year and hear from educators about the program’s impact:
Hear how violin superstar Sarah Chang inspired the students in a visit during her 2015 NJSO Winter Festival residency sponsored by Bank of America:
NJSO CHAMPS is a founding member of the El Sistema New Jersey Alliance, which unites El Sistema-inspired programs across the state—including NJSO CHAMPS, the Paterson Music Project, Sister Cities Girlchoir (Camden and Philadelphia), Sonic Explorations (Orange), Trenton Music Makers and Union City Music Project—and provides students with special performing and social opportunities.
» Follow NJSO CHAMPS on Facebook and Twitter
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NJSO Youth Orchestras
The NJSO Youth Orchestras are the NJSO's family of four student performing ensembles that together form one of the key education programs of the NJSO Academy. The program gives qualified middle- and high-school students—especially African American and Latino youth in the Greater Newark area—a great musical experience! Members receive coaching from professional NJSO musicians and gain performance experience in an encouraging and motivating environment, while forming lifelong relationships with their mentors and peers. In addition to developing musical talent, members of the NJSO Youth Orchestras gain critical life skills including collaboration, leadership and problem solving.
As the NJSO Youth Orchestras celebrated their 25th anniversary last season, student musicians shared their favorite part of being in the program:
» Follow the NJSO Youth Orchestras on Facebook and Twitter
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» Learn more about the NJSO’s education and community engagment programs