In-School Performances

Brass instruments have played an important role in the music of many different cultures. Celebrations, remembrances, tributes and dances of all types rely on the versatility of the trumpet, horn and trombone.

At some point in our lives, we have all had a personal experience with the feelings evoked by an Olympic fanfare, a military revelry call or a processional. Why can brass instruments make us feel so triumphant, melancholy, sly or reverent? Find out in this interactive experience with members of the New Jersey Symphony brass section.

Instrumentation: Brass quintet (two trumpets, French horn, trombone and bass trombone)

Program length: 45–60 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: Elementary- and middle-school students, families

Musical concepts discussed: Tone production on a brass instrument, the role of music in different occasions, differing eras of music history

Nations and cultures introduced: Argentina, Australia, England, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, USA

Sample repertoire:

DUKAS Fanfare from La Peri (France)
TRADITIONAL “Shenandoah” (United States)
SCHEIDT “Canzona Bergamasca” (Germany)
TRADITIONAL “Frère Jacques” (France)
KOMPANEK “Killer Tango” (Argentina)
PATERSON “Waltzing Matilda” (Australia)
GRAINGER “Shepherd’s Hey” (England)
TRADITIONAL “Hava Nagila” (Israel)
TRADITIONAL “Sakura” (Japan)
SOUSA “The Washington Post March” (United States)
TRADITIONAL “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” (United States)

Musical genres: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, march, folk, ragtime

All programs are subject to change.

Programs can be modified for audiences with special needs.

Peter and the Wolf has introduced generations of children to the world of classical music.

This special arrangement of Prokofiev’s classic tale features the instruments of the woodwind family, combining the same great imagery with a focus on the flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn. With the help of some other selections highlighting each instrument’s diverse capabilities, the quintet demonstrates not only how well the instruments play together but also what makes them each unique.

Instrumentation: woodwind quintet, narrator (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn)

Program length: 45–60 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: Elementary- and middle-school students, families

Musical concepts discussed: Programmatic elements in music, timbre, instrumentation

Nations and cultures introduced: Russia, France, Denmark

Sample repertoire:
PROKOFIEV (1891–1953)/arr. Robert Wagner Peter and the Wolf
IBERT (1890–1962) selections from Trois pièces brèves
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844–1908) “Flight of the Bumblebee”
NIELSEN (1865–1931) selections from Quintet
REICHA (1770–1836) selections from Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 88
MILHAUD (1892–1974) “Chasse Valabre” from Le Cheminée du Roi Réne

Musical genres: Classical, Romantic, march

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

The four families of the symphony orchestra—strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion—all have a chance to plead their cases before the audience.

No matter your preference, there’s something for everyone in this program that brings together violin, viola, clarinet, trombone and percussion for nonstop musical fun. Sometimes the musicians play as soloists, and sometimes they play as a group, but they never cease to entertain with their knowledgeable descriptions and humorous displays of what makes each instrument so unique.

Instrumentation: Quartet (violin/viola, clarinet/recorder, trombone and percussion)

Program length: 45–60 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: Elementary- and middle-school students, families

Musical concepts discussed: Instrumentation, timbre, mechanics of sound production

Nations and cultures introduced: France, Germany, Ireland, South America, United States

Sample repertoire:
ANONYMOUS Bourée
ANONYMOUS Canon
MOZART (1756–91) Rondo from Divertimento No. 3 in B-flat Major
J.S. BACH (1685–1750) Bist du bei mir
IRISH TRADITIONAL TUNE
ANDEAN TRADITIONAL “El Condor Pasa”
MANCINI (1924–94) Theme from The Pink Panther
POULENC (1899–1963) Rondeau from Trio for Brass
LEWIN (1921–2008) “Views of the Blues”
KOMPANEK “Killer Tango”
JOPLIN (c.1867–1917) “Weeping Willow”

Musical genres: Baroque, Classical, 20th-century, folk, blues, ragtime, jazz

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

The string quartet is a small ensemble composed of the instruments that form the core of the modern symphony orchestra. It is also a medium to which many composers turned for their most personal and emotionally profound works.

This program offers an upbeat, entertaining and informative overview of the evolution of music through the prism of the string quartet. The repertoire is constantly rotating, so the program is different every season. The example below features popular works by Mozart, Beethoven, Dvořák and Ravel.

Instrumentation: String quartet (two violins, viola and cello)

Program length: 45–60 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: Students middle school and higher, families, adults of all ages, corporate events

Musical concepts discussed: String instruments, chamber music, the dynamics of ensemble performance, historical context, famous composers (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonín Dvořák, Maurice Ravel)

Nations and cultures introduced: Austria in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a Czech immigrant's experience of America in the late 19th century, Paris at the turn of the 20th century

Repertoire:
MOZART (1756–91) Molto allegro from String Quartet No. 14, K. 387
BEETHOVEN (1712–73) Allegro from String Quartet No. 4, Op. 18, No. 4
DVOŘÁK (1841–1904) Allegro ma non troppo from String Quartet No. 12, Op. 96, “American”
RAVEL (1875–1937) “Assez vif – Très rythmé” from String Quartet

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

The core of any symphony is the string family—violins, violas, cellos and basses.

Through engaging examples and fun, interactive demonstrations, children will learn to recognize and enjoy the unique personalities of these beautiful and versatile instruments.

Instrumentation: String quartet (violin, viola, cello and bass)

Program length: 45 minutes

Target audiences: Elementary- and middle-school students

Musical concepts discussed: String instrument construction and sound production, range of pitch and its relationship to instrument size, how the personality of each instrument shapes its function in the group, music as an international language, the effect of music on emotions

Repertoire and composers:

Arrangements of:
J.S. BACH (1685–1750) Brandenburg Concerto No. 5
MENDELSSOHN (1809–47) String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op. 44, Movement I
SAINT-SÄENS (1835–1921) “The Elephant” from The Carnival of the Animals, Op. 31
TRADITIONAL “Danny Boy”
DVOŘÁK (1841–1904) String Quartet No. 12 in F major, “American,” Op. 96, Movement IV
SOUSA (1854–1932) “The Stars and Stripes Forever”
TRADITIONAL “Three Blind Mice”
BERNSTEIN (1918–90) Medley from West Side Story
MOZART (1756–91) Divertimento in D Major, Movement I

Musical genres: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, folk, Broadway

Symphony Strings is a joint presentation of Young Audiences of New Jersey and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

Musicians from the New Jersey Symphony and a narrator weave together storytelling and classical music in this retelling of the beloved fairytale, bringing the action and emotion to life!

Audience members conduct using Fairy Godmother’s magic wand, dance at the royal ball and create a barnyard symphony of sounds, all while being introduced to members of the string family.

Instrumentation: String quartet or trio (two violins, viola and cello; or violin, viola and cello)

Program length: 45 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: Pre-school, elementary- and middle-school students, families

Musical concepts discussed: String-instrument construction and sound production, range of pitch and its relationship to instrument size, how the personality of each instrument shapes its function in the group, the effect of music on emotions, conducting, the relationship between tempo and movement

Repertoire and composers: Arrangements of works by Bach (1685–1750), Haydn (1732–1809), Mozart (1756–91), Mendelssohn (1809–47) and NJSO Principal Viola Frank Foerster.

Musical genres: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, new music

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

In a playful and humorous manner, our version of Kipling’s The Jungle Book introduces young audiences to classical master works and to various styles of music.

Narration of the story alternates with brief musical interludes, and puppets and toy animals bring this program to vivid life! This program offers many opportunities for audience participation. Children may conduct the musicians, try out some of the world instruments (rainstick, drums, clackers) or get a dance lesson from a toy monkey.

Instrumentation: bassoon, viola and bass

Program length: 40–50 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: children age 4–11

Musical concepts discussed: Learn about various instrument groups; develop listening skills by creating awareness of pitch, tempo and dynamics; experience many different styles of music; learn about emotion in music. The educational content of this program will be fine-tuned to the age and expectations of the audience.

Musical genres: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, new music

Sample repertoire:
Selections from:
HANDEL Bourrée
MOZART “Lacrimosa” from Requiem
BEETHOVEN “Ode to Joy” from Symphony No. 9
ROSSINI William Tell Overture
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique”
DEBUSSY Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun
Argentine Tango
American Traditional Fiddle Tune
Boogie Woogie (with Saxophone)
Lady Gaga Hit

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

From princes marrying princesses in royal weddings to love-struck heroes saving damsels-in-distress from evil wizards and gallant knights battling menacing dragons that are threatening innocent villages, this program brings to life children’s favorite fairy tales.

In several short musical examples, a string duet illustrates the music written about lands far away and long ago. After each piece, the duo engages the children in a discussion about the mood and personality of each story and its characters, exploring with them the ways music can paint pictures as vibrant as those in their own storybooks. This program can be custom designed to accompany any fairy tale!

Instrumentation: String duet (violin and viola)

Program length: 25–45 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: Nursery, pre-K and early elementary-school students

Musical concepts discussed: How music tells a story, timbre and character of instruments

Repertoire and composers: Each performance is individually designed. Past programs have included selections from Purcell (1659–95), Handel (1685–1759), Clarke (1775–1820), Mendelssohn (1809–47) and Rimsky-Korsakov (1844–1908).

Nations and cultures introduced: England, France, Germany, Russia, Arabian Peninsula

Musical genres: Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

Peter and the Wolf has introduced generations of children to the world of classical music.

This special arrangement of Prokofiev’s classic tale features the instruments of the woodwind family, combining the same great imagery with a focus on the flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn. With the help of some other selections highlighting each instrument’s diverse capabilities, the quintet demonstrates not only how well the instruments play together but also what makes them each unique.

Instrumentation: woodwind quintet, narrator (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn)

Program length: 45–60 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: Elementary- and middle-school students, families

Musical concepts discussed: Programmatic elements in music, timbre, instrumentation

Nations and cultures introduced: Russia, France, Denmark

Sample repertoire:
PROKOFIEV (1891–1953)/arr. Robert Wagner Peter and the Wolf
IBERT (1890–1962) selections from Trois pièces brèves
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844–1908) “Flight of the Bumblebee”
NIELSEN (1865–1931) selections from Quintet
REICHA (1770–1836) selections from Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 88
MILHAUD (1892–1974) “Chasse Valabre” from Le Cheminée du Roi Réne

Musical genres: Classical, Romantic, march

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

Travel to the icy peaks of Norway in this lively, humorous tale in which you’ll meet a brave troll; an adventurous, lovable dinosaur; a princess; an evil sorcerer and more!

A group of gifted musicians and a narrator weave together storytelling and beautiful music by the romantic Scandinavian composers Jean Sibelius and Edvard Grieg. Audience members take part in this exciting, inspiring story as they are introduced to the members of the string family. Audience participation includes moving to the music, dancing and conducting.

Instrumentation: String quartet or trio (two violins, viola and cello, or violin, viola and cello)

Program length: 45–60 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: Pre-school, elementary- and middle-school students, families

Musical concepts discussed: String-instrument construction and sound production, range of pitch and its relationship to instrument size, how the personality of each instrument shapes its function in the group, the effect of music on emotions, relationship between tempo and movement

Repertoire and composers: Arrangements of various works by Grieg (1843–1907) and Sibelius (1865–1957)

Musical genres: Romantic music, music of Scandinavian composers

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

Musical concepts and positive life lessons are combined in a charming program about The Ugly Duckling.

The children’s program The Ugly Duckling, after Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fairy tale, tells the heartwarming story of a young “duckling” who looks different from the other ducks and never seems to fit in. After a year of wandering through a hostile world (a journey which he survives thanks to his inner strength and resourcefulness), he finally turns into a glorious swan, admired by all.

Instrumentation: violin, viola, bass, multiple world instruments

Program length: 25–45 minutes, which may include varying elements of audience participation and Q&A time

Target audiences: Elementary- and middle-school students, families

Musical concepts discussed: Instruments, expression in music

Nations and cultures introduced: Acceptance of cultural differences

Sample repertoire:
Selections from:
MOZART (1756–91) Excerpts from Divertimento for String Trio, K. 563
BEETHOVEN (1779–1827) Excerpts from Serenade in D Major for String Trio, Op. 8
SAINT-SAËNS (1835–1921) “The Swan” from The Carnival of the Animals

Musical genres: Classical, Romantic

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

Brass instruments have played an important role in the music of many different cultures. Celebrations, remembrances, tributes and dances of all types rely on the versatility of the trumpet, horn and trombone.

At some point in our lives, we have all had a personal experience with the feelings evoked by an Olympic fanfare, a military revelry call or a processional. Why can brass instruments make us feel so triumphant, melancholy, sly or reverent? Find out in this interactive experience with members of the New Jersey Symphony brass section.

Instrumentation: Brass quintet (two trumpets, French horn, trombone and bass trombone)

Program length: 45–60 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: Elementary- and middle-school students, families

Musical concepts discussed: Tone production on a brass instrument, the role of music in different occasions, differing eras of music history

Nations and cultures introduced: Argentina, Australia, England, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, USA

Sample repertoire:

DUKAS Fanfare from La Peri (France)
TRADITIONAL “Shenandoah” (United States)
SCHEIDT “Canzona Bergamasca” (Germany)
TRADITIONAL “Frère Jacques” (France)
KOMPANEK “Killer Tango” (Argentina)
PATERSON “Waltzing Matilda” (Australia)
GRAINGER “Shepherd’s Hey” (England)
TRADITIONAL “Hava Nagila” (Israel)
TRADITIONAL “Sakura” (Japan)
SOUSA “The Washington Post March” (United States)
TRADITIONAL “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” (United States)

Musical genres: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, march, folk, ragtime

All programs are subject to change.

Programs can be modified for audiences with special needs.

Celebrate Hispanic cultures with this captivating program devoted to the music of some of Latin America’s most distinguished composers.

Pioneering Latin American composers produced a rich legacy of music in the 19th and early 20th centuries that combined western classical traditions with indigenous folk songs and rhythms, creating distinct national styles in countries such as Argentina, Cuba and Mexico and inspiring future generations of musicians.

Instrumentation: String quartet (two violins, viola, cello)

Program length: 45–60 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: Elementary-, middle- and high-school students; college students; adults; seniors

Musical concepts discussed: Traditional dance and folk music of Latin America, sound production on string instruments

Nations and cultures introduced: Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico

Sample repertoire:
VALDES (1911–58) Danzón Almendra
VELAZQUEZ (1924–2002) Besame Mucho
ARRIAGA (1806–26) Allegro and Menuetto from Quartet No. 1
GARDEL (1890–1935) Por Una Cabeza

Musical genres: Classical, Romantic, 20th century

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

Baila! Tanz! Odori! Danse! Ballo! De dans! танец! Tantsima! Dança!

In any language, people love to dance. In this program, a string duet proves it by showcasing favorite dance melodies and folk songs from around the world. Clap your hands, tap your toes and discover that “it’s a small world, after all!”

Instrumentation: String duet (violin/viola and bass)

Program length: 25–60 minutes

Target audiences: Pre-school, elementary- and middle-school students; families

Musical concepts discussed: Melody vs. accompaniment, rhythm and meter, the role of
music in society

Nations and cultures introduced: Austria, Australia, Cuba, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Middle East, Russia, Sweden, United States

Sample repertoire:
RICHARD and ROBERT SHERMAN “It’s a Small World”
IRISH TRADITIONAL “Irish Washerwoman”
GRAINGER “Morris Dance” from “Shepherd’s Hey”
BIZET “Seguidilla” from Carmen
ITALIAN TRADITIONAL “Tarantella”
OFFENBACH “Can-Can”
J.S. BACH Minuet from the Anna Magdalena Bach notebook
JOHANN STRAUSS “Vienna Life”
MIDDLE EASTERN TRADITIONAL “Miserlou”
JOHANN STRAUSS Pizzicato Polka
ALFVÉN Swedish Rhapsody
BRAHMS Hungarian Dance No. 5
CUBAN TRADITIONAL “El Chaleco”
TCHAIKOVSKY “Dance of the Little Swans”
TRADITIONAL JAPANESE Sakura
TRADITIONAL AUSTRALIAN “Waltzing Matilda”
MONK “Ruby, My Dear”
TRADITIONAL AMERICAN “Chicken Reel”

Musical genres: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, waltz, folk, popular

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

Take a musical tour through sunny Italy, brought to life by a string ensemble from the New Jersey Symphony!

Featuring everything from traditional tarantella dances to the soaring beauty of music by Puccini, Mascagni and Rossini, this program will transport you to a land where speech is like singing and melody flows like wine.

Instrumentation: String quartet (two violins, viola and cello) or string duo (violin and viola)

Program length: 55–60 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: Middle- and high-school students, college students, seniors and families

Musical concepts discussed: String-instrument construction and sound production, range of pitch and its relationship to instrument size, the effect of music on emotions, the relationship between tempo and movement, compositional styles

Nations and cultures introduced: Italy

Composers:
Gesualdo (1566–1613)
Vivaldi (1678–1741)
Mozart (1756–91)
Rossini (1792–1868),
Verdi (1813–1901)
Leoncavallo (1857–1919)
Puccini (1858–1924)
Mascagni (1863–1945)
Respighi (1879–1936)

Musical genres: Music of Italy—Baroque, Classical, Romantic and traditional

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is not only one of the world’s most beloved composers, but he is also one of the youngest to ever put his quill to manuscript. Under the tutelage of his father, Leopold, Wolfgang learned to write symphonies, operas and chamber music before he learned to shave!

He also matured rapidly as a composer, writing some of the classical era’s most progressive and influential works. This program traces Mozart’s development from child prodigy to master composer, and it demonstrates the ingenious techniques that define his musical style.

Instrumentation: String quartet (two violins, viola and cello)

Program length: 45–60 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: Elementary- and middle-school students, families

Musical concepts discussed: The Mozart family, string instruments, chamber music versus orchestral music, programmatic elements in music (evoking visual imagery through specific musical language)

Nations and cultures introduced: 18th-century Europe

Sample repertoire:
Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525
Minuet by Wolfgang Mozart at age 5
Minuet by Mozart’s father, Leopold
String Quartet in E-flat Major, K. 160
Exsultate, jubilate, K. 165
Canzonetta from Don Giovanni
March from The Marriage of Figaro
String Quartet in B-flat Major, K. 458, “Hunt”

Musical genres: Classical

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

The string quartet is a small ensemble composed of the instruments that form the core of the modern symphony orchestra. It is also a medium to which many composers turned for their most personal and emotionally profound works.

This program offers an upbeat, entertaining and informative overview of the evolution of music through the prism of the string quartet. The repertoire is constantly rotating, so the program is different every season. The example below features popular works by Mozart, Beethoven, Dvořák and Ravel.

Instrumentation: String quartet (two violins, viola and cello)

Program length: 45–60 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: Students middle school and higher, families, adults of all ages, corporate events

Musical concepts discussed: String instruments, chamber music, the dynamics of ensemble performance, historical context, famous composers (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonín Dvořák, Maurice Ravel)

Nations and cultures introduced: Austria in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a Czech immigrant's experience of America in the late 19th century, Paris at the turn of the 20th century

Repertoire:
MOZART (1756–91) Molto allegro from String Quartet No. 14, K. 387
BEETHOVEN (1712–73) Allegro from String Quartet No. 4, Op. 18, No. 4
DVOŘÁK (1841–1904) Allegro ma non troppo from String Quartet No. 12, Op. 96, “American”
RAVEL (1875–1937) “Assez vif – Très rythmé” from String Quartet

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

Scholars have frequently divided Beethoven’s creative life into three distinct stages, each marked by a series of external events that had lasting effects on his personality and artistic temperament.

The Many Moods of Beethoven guides the audience through the works of early, middle and late Beethoven, surveying the emotions he expresses in several of his greatest string quartets, demonstrating how he constructed some of his themes and emphasizing his determination to create art in the midst of personal suffering.

Instrumentation: String quartet (two violins, viola and cello)

Program length: 45–60 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: Adults, seniors, high-school and college students

Musical concepts discussed: The relationship of an artist’s life to his art, compositional style and development, thematic elements

Nations and cultures introduced: Austria, Germany

Sample repertoire: Movements from Beethoven’s string quartets Op. 18, No. 1; Op. 59, No. 1; Op. 95; and Op. 135; excerpts from Beethoven’s symphonic works

Musical genres: Classical, Romantic

All programs subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

Bring your team to new levels of creativity and productivity through an interactive leadership training workshop led by the world-class musicians of the New Jersey Symphony.

By examining the rehearsal process, a string quartet illustrates the different types of leadership skills used in musical preparation—teamwork, problem solving, creative negotiation, compromise and decision making—and shows how these same skills can be applied to a professional setting.

While musicians may not seem to have much in common with business professionals, they share the same needs for clear communication, professionalism and inspiration to achieve specific goals on deadline. The Leadership Quartet takes apart the components of a working team, explores them from multiple perspectives and then reassembles them into a finished product—a great musical performance.

This interactive workshop explores new ways of thinking about business practices and leadership in professional settings. It provides the participants with the opportunity to discuss, reflect on and apply the leadership principles observed.

The program concludes with a performance of the featured work.

Program length: 45–60 minutes

Selected clients include:
Arts Council of Morris Area
Episcopal Diocese of Newark
Lead NJ
Planned Parenthood of Northern and Central NJ
Rutgers Business School Alumni Association
Primary and secondary schools throughout New Jersey

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.