New Jersey Symphony History

A world-class orchestra with local roots, creative programming in concerts throughout the state and service to the community through education—these values have been the hallmark of the New Jersey Symphony since its beginnings nearly 100 years ago.

In 1922, the ensemble that would later be known as the New Jersey Symphony gave its first concert at the Montclair Art Museum, a fittingly local venue for the beginning of an organization that has defined itself through its community connections. Philip James led this group of only 19 string players in a program that included music by Purcell, Saint-Saëns and Veracini, as well as the world premiere of The Dark Road by American composer Cecil Forsyth.

Over the next two decades, the Orchestra’s core repertoire was expanded and the ensemble tightened under the leadership of Rene Pollain (1929–40) and Frieder Weissman (1940–47). Composers most frequently presented were Beethoven, Brahms, Haydn, Tchaikovsky and Wagner. An impressive roster of guest soloists graced the Orchestra’s stages, including Percy Grainger, Pablo Casals, José Iturbi, Mieczslaw Horszowski, Joseph Szigeti, Artur Schnabel and Efrem Zimbalist.

Samuel Antek, a Toscanini prodigy and concertmaster under Rene Pollain, became the New Jersey Symphony’s music director in 1947. His stated need for an orchestra to have “a sense of belonging, of being part of the inner core of a community’s life,” focused the expansion of the New Jersey Symphony’s role in its communities via music education programs and statewide service. Antek created the “Music for Fun” series of children’s concerts, introduced the first outdoor pops concert on the estate of Augustus C. Studer in Montclair, established the New Jersey Symphony’s first youth orchestra in 1955 and began radio broadcasts on WNJR.

Following Antek’s sudden death in 1958 and the brief tenure of Mathys Abas, the New Jersey Symphony was led by Kenneth Schermerhorn (1962–67). A student of Serge Koussevitsky and Leonard Bernstein, Schermerhorn expanded the Orchestra’s performance schedule both in terms of number of concerts and locales, and he broadened its repertoire to include 20th-century music.

With the appointment of Henry Lewis as music director in 1968—making Lewis the first Black music director of a major symphony orchestra—the New Jersey Symphony entered a new era of high-profile musical activity. Notable highlights of the Lewis years included the New Jersey Symphony’s Carnegie Hall debut with famous soprano (and Lewis’ wife) Marilyn Horne, who became a regular guest soloist with the Orchestra during Lewis’ tenure; a performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, during the venue’s inaugural season in 1971; three outdoor concerts dedicated to the memory of Martin Luther King, in a vacant lot on Prince Street—the site of the 1967 Newark Riots—in 1968; and a concert at the Garden State Arts Center (now PNC Bank Arts Center) with Luciano Pavarotti making his American orchestral debut. (The Orchestra would perform with Pavarotti again in 1984, in the first classical music program ever performed at Madison Square Garden.)

Following Lewis’ departure in 1976 and a year of transition, Thomas Michalak was selected to lead the New Jersey Symphony in 1977. His programming had a definite Slavic flavor and culminated in an electrifying all-Szymanowski program at Carnegie Hall that garnered considerable praise. Another highlight of these years was the New Jersey Symphony’s first nationwide PBS telecast, “Gershwin and Song,” with Newark native and jazz great Sarah Vaughn. Vaughan won an Emmy Award for this performance, and the New Jersey Symphony received national acclaim.

The Orchestra gained even wider recognition under the direction of Hugh Wolff (1985–92). During this time, the Orchestra broadcast live concerts on PBS, performed The Rite of Spring at Carnegie Hall to great acclaim and presented a retrospective of the works of Leonard Bernstein at Carnegie Hall in a concert praised by the composer himself. Mstislav Rostropovich led the Orchestra in a Kennedy Center concert, and the Orchestra made its first international tour to Ireland for the Adare Festival and a performance at Dublin’s National Concert Hall.

The growth of the Orchestra’s reputation continued under Zdeněk Mácal, who increased the number of commissions and premieres the Orchestra performed, including works by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, George Walker and Richard Danielpour. It was also under Mácal that the New Jersey Symphony stepped out as a major recording ensemble, releasing recordings of works by Dvořák, Mussorgsky and Glière on the Delos label.

Neeme Järvi succeeded Mácal in 2003. The esteemed Estonian conductor championed Scandinavian music during his tenure with the New Jersey Symphony, introducing New Jersey audiences to new works (both newly written and previously unknown) and raising the Orchestra’s artistic profile.

Jacques Lacombe became the New Jersey Symphony’s music director in 2010 and, during his tenure, garnered praise from critics and audiences for his creative programming and his talents at the podium. A major recognition of this innovative programming was the New Jersey Symphony’s selection in the 2012 Spring For Music Festival at Carnegie Hall with a program of works of Varese, Weill and Busoni. Under Lacombe’s leadership, the New Jersey Symphony augmented select concerts with multimedia elements and expanded its tradition of collaborating with other New Jersey and New York arts institutions, including The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Francesca Harper Project, Montclair State University and Manhattan School of Music.

Lacombe implemented a multi-year New Jersey Roots Project, through which the Orchestra explored overlooked repertoire and commissioned new works from New Jersey composers and composers whose artistic identity was influenced by the Garden State. An outgrowth of this project was the establishment of the New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute, which offers emerging composers an intensive, multifaceted laboratory experience including masterclasses, rehearsals and feedback sessions with the New Jersey Symphony and career-enriching sessions with music-industry leaders, culminating in a live New Jersey Symphony performance of the composers’ works each summer.

Internationally renowned Chinese-American conductor Xian Zhang began her tenure as the New Jersey Symphony’s current Music Director in 2016. Since assuming the helm of the New Jersey Symphony, Zhang has revitalized New Jersey Symphony programming with an industry-leading commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in mainstage concerts. A full realization of Zhang’s artistic vision, the 2018–19 season features a diverse array of musical voices, from female composers (Kate Whitley’s Speak Out in its US premiere, Maria Schneider’s Winter Morning Walks with soprano Dawn Upshaw and Florence Price’s Piano Concerto with acclaimed jazz pianist Aaron Diehl) to composers performing their own concertos (Steven Mackey’s Four Iconoclastic Episodes for violin and electric guitar, Amjad Ali Khan’s Samaagam for Sarod, Concertante Group and String Orchestra) to classical masters (Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s Manfred Symphony and Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra).

The New Jersey Symphony’s inaugural Chinese New Year Celebration concert in 2019 reflects Zhang’s extensive outreach to New Jersey’s Chinese community. She brings world-class artists, including lauded pianists Daniil Trifonov and Emanuel Ax, to New Jersey Symphony stages.

In the 2017–18 season, her inaugural Winter Festival—the Orchestra’s signature artistic event—was inspired by her own experiences in the United States. “America, Inspiring” celebrated foreign artists and composers whose experiences connect them to the nation’s legacy as a source of inspiration and beacon of ideals for people from all over the world.

In concert, Zhang has forged deep connections with New Jersey audiences through thoughtful and engaging comments from the podium and shaped the sound of the Orchestra through committed and inspiring leadership of standard repertoire works. Her advocacy for education and community engagement has included meaningful interaction with the student musicians of the New Jersey Symphony Academy music-instruction programs; she has led New Jersey Symphony Academy Orchestra performances on stage at NJPAC at New Jersey Symphony concerts and conducted New Jersey Symphony CHAMPS and #OrchestraYou. Off stage, she has demonstrated fundraising leadership in collaboration with the New Jersey Symphony board and management.

Zhang is slated to conduct the New Jersey Symphony through the 2027–28 season under her current contract. She will conduct the Orchestra alongside the Seattle Symphony, for which she is slated to become their Music Director beginning in the 2025–26 season, from that season through the 2027–28 season.

In August 2024, the Symphony announced that they will be expanding into Jersey City—with a new venue that will host New Jersey Symphony chamber music events and diversified programming, including non-classical events. The new Symphony Center will also become a permanent home for the Symphony, with offices and space for education programs, expanding on the education programs in Newark and throughout the State. Two months later, the Symphony announced that GRAMMY Award-winning violinist and conductor Joshua Bell with join as the inaugural Principal Guest Conductor, beginning in the 2025–26 season and holding the position through the 2028–29 season.

New Jersey Symphony Centennial History Book: In 2022, the New Jersey Symphony celebrated a century of great music, and published a Centennial History Book to mark the milestone. View the book here.
New Jersey Symphony Music Directors: 1922–29 • Philip James

1929–40 • Rene Pollain

1940–47 • Frieder Weissman

1947–58 • Samuel Antek

1958–61 • Mathys Abas

1962–67 • Kenneth Schermerhorn

1967–76 • Henry Lewis

1976–77 • Max Rudolph (Music Advisor)

1977–83 • Thomas Michalak

1983–85 • George Manahan (Interim)

1985–92 • Hugh Wolff

1992–2003 • Zdeněk Mácal

2003–09 • Neeme Järvi (2003–05 Principal Conductor and Music Director Designate)

2010–2016 • Jacques Lacombe (2009–10 Music Director Designate)

2016–present • Xian Zhang
World Premieres: 1922–23 • Cecil Forsyth: The Dark Road (Schradieck Aue, viola)

1924–25 • James McD. Craven: Theme and Variations for String Orchestra and Flute (Roscoe Possel, flute)

1924–25 • John Tasker Howard: Intaglio

1926–27 • A. Walter Kramer: Silhouette

1926–27 • Philip James: Overture on French Noels

1928–29 • John Tasker Howard: Fantasy on a Choral Theme for Piano and Orchestra (John Tasker Howard, piano)

1943–44 • John Tasker Howard: Ballade for String Orchestra

1949–50 • Herbert Haufrecht: When Dad was a Fireman

1963–64 • Ulysses Kay: Inscriptions from Whitman (New Jersey Symphony co-commission with the New Jersey Tercentenary Committee)

1965–66 • Roger Sessions: Symphony No. 6 (New Jersey Symphony commission)

1967–68 • Ben Weber: The Enchanted Midnight

1967–68 • Ben Starer: Six Variations with Twelve Notes

1975–76 • Fedor Kabalin: Opus 1776

1983–84 • Peter Westergaard: The Tempest (Act I, Scene 2)

1986–87 • Eleanor Cory: Tapestry

1987–88 • Stephen Jaffe: Four Images for Orchestra (New Jersey Symphony commission)

1988–89 • Ezra Laderman: Concerto for Double Orchestra (New Jersey Symphony commission)

1989–90 • John Harbison: Viola Concerto (Jaime Laredo, viola) (New Jersey Symphony commission)

1990–91 • Paul Dukas: L’ondine et la Pecheur (Dawn Upshaw, soprano)

1990–91 • Christopher Rouse: Iscariot (New Jersey Symphony commission)

1991–92 • Aaron Jay Kernis: Symphony No. 2

1991–92 • John David Ernest: Sun Songs and Nocturnes for Male Ensemble and Orchestra (Chanticleer)

1991–92 • Joseph Turrin: Concerto for Flute and Orchestra (Carol Wincenc, flute)

1992–93 • Michael Daugherty: Silent Night/Bizarro World

1992–93 • Augusta Read Thomas: Sinfonia Concertante for Soprano Saxophone (Jane Ira Bloom, saxophone)

1992–93 • George Rochberg: Symphony No. 6

1993–94 • Richard Danielpour: Piano Concerto No. 2 (Christopher O’Riley, piano)

1993–94 • William Thomas McKinley: Lightning: An Overture

1993–94 • Jose Serebrier: Violin Concerto, “Winter” (Michael Guttman, violin)

1993–94 • Mel Powell: Settings for Small Orchestra (New Jersey Symphony commission)

1994–95 • Anthony Newman: Organ Concerto (Anthony Newman, organ)

1995–96 • Dudley Moore: Fantasy on a Gypsy Breeze (Lynn Redgrave, narrator)

1996–97 • Lowell Lieberman: Concerto for Piccolo and Orchestra (Jan Gippo, piccolo)

1996–97 • Augusta Read Thomas: Eclipse Musings (Bonita Boyd, flute, and Nicholas Goluses, guitar)

1996–97 • William Thomas McKinley: Goldberg Variations II (Bernard Goldberg, flute)

1996–97 • Glen Cortese: Variations for Flute and Chamber Orchestra (John Wilton, flute)

1996–97 • David Sampson: Turns for Cello and Orchestra (Paul Tobias, cello)

1997–98 • Richard Danielpour: Celestial Night (New Jersey Symphony commission)

1997–98 • George Walker: Pageant & Proclamation (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2000–01 • Bun-Ching Lam: The Song of P’ipa (Wu Man, p’ipa) (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2000–01 • Thomas Oboe Lee: Flauta Carioca (Bart Feller, flute) (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2000–01 • David Ludwig: NightVision (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2001–02 • Hannibal: God, Mississippi and A Man Called Evers (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2001–02 • Libby Larsen: Dreames and Imaginations (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2002–03 • Robert Aldridge: Leda and the Swan (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2002–03 • Richard Danielpour: Apparitions (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2002–03 • Derek Bermel: Slides (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2003–04 • Frances White: Centre Bridge (dark river) for String Orchestra and Electronic Sound

2004–05 • Stewart Goodyear: Caribbiana (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2004–05 • Lalo Schifrin: Triple Concerto for Clarinet, Viola, Piano and Orchestra

2005–06 • Charles Coleman: Red Oak Dawn (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2006–07 • Darryl Kubian: “Maestro’s Waltz” (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2007–08 • Darryl Kubian: 3-2-1 (Eric Wyrick, traditional and electric violin) (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2010–11 • Bruce Adolphe: Carnival of the Creatures

2010–11 • Robert Aldridge: Suite from Elmer Gantry (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2011–12 • George Walker: Sinfonia No. 4 (Strands)

2011–12 • Richard Danielpour: Kaddish for Violin and Orchestra (New Jersey Symphony co-commission)

2013–14 • Geri Allen: Stone & Streams (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2013–14 • Lowell Liebermann: Barcarolles for a Sinking City (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2014–15 • Darryl Kubian: O for a Muse of Fire (Mary Fahl, vocalist) (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2014–15 • Edward T. Cone: Symphony

2014–15 • Lembit Beecher: Kalevipoeg in California (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2014–15 • David Biedenbender: Strange, Beautiful Noises (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2014–15 • Daniel J. Choi: Scaena Ager (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2014–15 • Chris Rogerson: Night and the City (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2015–16 • Richard Danielpour: The Wounded Healer (Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra) (Lisa Pegher, percussion)

2015–16 • Luke Carlson: The Burnished Tide (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2015–16 • Brendan Faegre: Dirt to Gold (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2015–16 • Shuying Li: Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2015–16 • Reinaldo Moya: Siempre Lunes, Siempre Marzo (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2016–17 • James Anderson: Places with Pillars (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2016–17 • Matthew Browne: Farthest South (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2016–17 • Will Stackpole: ... Ask Questions Later (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2016–17 • Jung Yoon Wie: Water Prism for Orchestra (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2017–18 • Saad Haddad: Takht (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2017–18 • Noah Kaplan: Forest Through Forest (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2017–18 • Sam Lipman: Song of the Bhagavan (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2017–18 • Alyssa Weinberg: Tereza Slumbers (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2017–18 • Richard Danielpour: Carnival of the Ancients for Piano and Orchestra (Sara Daneshpour)

2018–19 • Jonathan Cziner: Resonant Bells (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2018–19 • Natalie Dietterich: Aeolian Dust (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2018–19 • Aaron Hendrix: Night Train (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2018–19 • Brian Shank: Into the Rose Garden (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2018–19 • Juro Seo: Sunlight (Scores: Contemporary Chamber Works)

2019–20 • Dan Caputo: Liminal (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2019–20 • Patrick O’Malley: Rest and Restless (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2019–20 • Iván Enrique Rodríguez: A Metaphor for Power (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2019–20 • Bora Yoon: The Wind of Two Koreas (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2020–21 • Daniel Bernard Roumain: i am a white person who _____ Black people (Daniel Bernard Roumain & Mozart: An NJSO Concert Film) (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2020–21 • Daniel Bernard Roumain: Lift Every Voice And ... (Arts in the Garden: Togetherness with DBR)

2020–21 • Allison-Loggins Hill: Can You See? (Arts in the Garden: Togetherness with DBR) (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2020–21 • Elise Arancio: Wake (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2020–21 • Kevin Day: Tango Oscuro (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2020–21 • Erin Graham: Increase (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2020–21 • Jared Miller: Under Sea, Above Sky (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2021–22 • Michael Abels: Emerge (New Jersey Symphony co-commission)

2021–22 • Wynton Marsalis: Herald, Holler and Hallelujah (New Jersey Symphony co-commission)

2021–22 • Daniel Bernard Roumain: We Shall Not Be Moved: Symphonic Scenes and Samples (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2021–22 • Vivian Li, Christian McBride, Paquito D’Rivera and Gary Morgan: Surreal Sketches for Horn, Jazz Trio and Orchestra (Chris Komer, horn; Manuel Valera, piano; Ismail Lawal, drums & Diallo House, bass) (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2021–22 • Dai Wei: Samsāric Dance (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2021–22 • Baldwin Giang: to remember is always forgetting (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2021–22 • Jack Frerer: Steep (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2021–22 • Sophia Jani: What do flowers do at night? (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2022–23 • James Ra: Fantasia on Sae Taryeong (Min Kwon, piano) (2023 Lunar New Year Celebration)

2022–23 • Darryl Kubian: The Well of Urðr – A Tone Poem for Three Soloists and Orchestra (Nayoung Baek, cello; Chris Komer, horn & Garth Greenup, trumpet) (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2022–23 • Steven Mackey: RIOT (Steven Mackey, electric guitar & Alicia Olatuja, mezzo-soprano) (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2022–23 • Chen Yi: Landscape Impression (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2022–23 • Daniel Bernard Roumain: Farah (Joy) for Voice and Orchestra (Becky Bass, vocalist) (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2022–23 • Tom Morrison: Messages in the Ground (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2022–23 • Kory Reeder: Walls of Brocade Fields (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2022–23 • Sam Wu: Hydrosphere (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2022–23 • Yangfan Xu: Bya (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2023–24 • Rob Kapilow: We Came to America (Rob Kapilow, conductor; JCC Young People’s Chorus @ Thurnauer; Young People’s Chorus of New York City® & Ember Choral Arts) (Commissioned by the Thurnauer School of Music at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades)

2023–24 • Daniel Bernard Roumain: Autumn Days and Nights (New Jersey Symphony commission)

2023–24 • Leigha Amick: Cascade (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2023–24 • Jessie Leov: Speculations on a Rainbow (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2023–24 • Paul Cosme: A Stranger in a Festival of Spirits (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2023–24 • Santiago Beis: Spletna (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)
United States Premieres: 1923–24 • Gustav Holst: St. Paul’s Suite

1924–25 • Sergei Prokofiev: Overture on Yiddish Themes, Op. 34

1925–26 • Cyrill Jenkins: Welsh Fantasia

1986–87 • Gerald Levinson: Two Poems

1992–93 • Gary Schocker: Green Places (James Galway, flute)

1992–93 • George Walker: Variations for Orchestra

2003–04 • Boris Parsadanian: Concerto for Flute and Chamber Orchestra (Maarika Järvi, flute)

2003–04 • Eino Tamberg: Musica Triste for Flute, Vibraphone, Bells and Strings (Maarika Järvi, flute)

2006–07 • Gavin Bryars: The Porazzi Fragment

2006–07 • Rolf Martinsson: A.S. In Memoriam

2007–08 • Roberto Sierra: Danzas Concertantes for Guitar and Orchestra (Manuel Barrueco, guitar)

2008–09 • Erkki-Sven Tuur: Symphony No. 4, “Magma” (Evelyn Glennie, percussion)

2013–14 • André Previn: Cello Concerto (Daniel Müller-Schott, cello)

2013–14 • Tan Dun: Earth Concerto (David Cossin, percussion)

2018–19 • Kate Whitley: Speak Out (Montclair State University Singers and Chorale & New Jersey Youth Choruses)

2019–20 • Qigang Chen: La joie de la souffrance for Violin and Orchestra (Ning Feng, violin) (New Jersey Symphony co-commission)

2021–22 • Thomas Adès: Shanty – Over the Sea (New Jersey Symphony co-commission)
East Coast Premieres: 2008–09 • Sergio Assad: Interchange for Guitar Quartet and Orchestra

2009–10 • Roberto Sierra: Sinfonia No. 4 (New Jersey Symphony co-commission)

2013–14 • Steven Mackey: Stumble to Grace Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Orli Shaham, piano) (New Jersey Symphony co-commission)

2018–19 • Andrew Norman: Cello Concerto (Johannes Moser, cello) (New Jersey Symphony co-commission)

2019–20 • Steven Mackey: Portals, Scenes and Celebrations (New Jersey Symphony Edward T. Cone Composition Institute)

2020–21 • Nokuthula Ngwenyama: Primal Message (EMERGE Part 1: An NJSO Concert Film)

2021–22 • Christopher Rouse: Bassoon Concerto (Robert Wagner, bassoon) (New Jersey Symphony co-commission)

2021–22 • Conrad Tao: Spoonfuls for Piano and Orchestra (Conrad Tao, piano)

2023–24 • Jessie Montgomery: Snapshots (New Jersey Symphony co-commission)

2023–24 • Anna Clyne: ATLAS (Jeremy Denk, piano) (New Jersey Symphony co-commission)
New Jersey Premieres: 1986–87 • Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 4 (for the left hand) (Leon Fleischer, piano)

1991–92 • Toru Takemitsu: Star Isle

1991–92 • Michael Ruszczynski: Serenade

1991–92 • George Walker: Poeme for Violin and Orchestra (Cho-Liang Lin, violin)

1992–93 • Conrad Cummings: Denouement

1992–93 • Lowell Lieberman: Flute Concerto (James Galway, flute)

1993–94 • Joan Tower: Silver Ladders

1993–94 • David Ott: Water Garden

1993–94 • Roberto Sierra: SASIMA

1994–95 • Toru Takemitsu: From Me Flows What You Call Time (NEXUS Percussion Ensemble)

1994–95 • William Bolcom: Lyric Concerto for Flute and Orchestra (James Galway, flute)

1995–96 • Bernard Rands: Ceremonial No. 3

1995–96 • Richard Danielpour: Piano Concerto No. 2 (Christopher O’ Riley, piano)

1995–96 • Henryk Gorecki: Symphony No. 3 (Benita Valente, soprano)

1995–96 • Yen-Jun Hua: A Chilly Moon in the Spring

1995–96 • Daniel Asia: Piano Concerto (André-Michael Schub, piano) (New Jersey Symphony commission)

1996–97 • Ellen Zwilich: Concerto for Piano, Violin, Cello and Orchestra (New Jersey Symphony commission)

1997–98 • Krzysztof Penderecki: Violin Concerto No. 2 (Chantal Juilett, violin)

1997–98 • Aaron Jay Kernis: New Era Dance

1997–98 • Joly Braga Santos: Three Sketches

1998–99 • Steve Reich: Three Movements

1998–99 • Christopher Rouse: Symphony No. 2

1998–99 • Roberto Sierra: Saludo

2000–01 • Bright Sheng: Suite from China Dreams

2000–01 • Richard Danielpour: Toward the Splendid City

2000–01 • Aaron Jay Kernis: Overture for Feet and Meters

2003–04 • Steven Mackey: Lost and Found

2003–04 • Jeffrey Cotton: Elegy to the Victims of September 11 for String Orchestra

2002–03 • Michael Hersch: Ashes of Memory

2003–04 • Sergio Assad: Concerto Originis for Violin, Two Guitars, and Chamber Orchestra (Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin, Sergio and Odair Assad, guitars) (New Jersey Symphony co-commission)

2007–08 • Michael Daugherty: Deus ex Machina (Terrence Wilson, piano) (New Jersey Symphony co-commission)

2010–11 • Daniel Bernard Roumain: Dancers, Dreamers and Presidents

2013–14 • Richard Danielpour: Clarinet Concerto (Anthony McGill, clarinet)

2017–18 • Aaron Jay Kernis: Musica celestis

2017–18 • Sergei Prokofiev: Symphony No, 6

2017–18 • Chen Yi: Ge Xu (America, Inspiring)

2017–18 • Ottorino Respighi: Fountains of Rome (America, Inspiring)

2017–18 • Bohuslav Martinů: Thunderbolt P-47 (America, Inspiring)

2017–18 • Sebastian Fagerlund: Isola

2018–19 • György Ligeti: Romanian Concerto

2018–19 • Florence Price: Piano Concerto (Aaron Diehl, piano)

2018–19 • Maria Schneider: Winter Morning Walks (Dawn Upshaw, soprano)

2018–19 • Alexander Scriabin: Poem of Ecstasy

2018–19 • Robert Schumann: Konzertstück for Four Horns (Chris Komer, horn; Andrea Menousek, horn; Lawrence DiBello, horn & Eric Reed, horn)

2018–19 • Amjad Ali Khan: Samaagam: A Concerto for Sarod, Concertante Group and String Orchestra (Amjad Ali Khan, sarod; Amaan Ali Bangash, sarod & Ayaan Ali Bangash, sarod)

2019–20 • Sarah Kirkland Snider: Hiraeth

2019–20 • Jean-Féry Rebel: “Chaos” from Les élémens

2019–20 • Anna Clyne: Within Her Arms

2019–20 • Clara Schumann: Piano Concerto (Inon Barnatan, piano)

2019–20 • Richard Wagner arr. Lorin Maazel: The Ring Without Words

2021–22 • Daniel Bernard Roumain: Voodoo Violin Concerto (Daniel Bernard Roumain, violin)

2021–22 • Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Overture to L’amante anonyme

2021–22 • Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Violin Concerto in A Major, Op. 5, No. 2 (Augustin Hadelich, violin)

2021–22 • Jessie Montgomery: Starburst (Tong Chen, conductor)

2021–22 • Joan Tower: Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 1

2021–22 • Samy Moussa: Nocturne

2021–22 • Juan Pablo Jofre: Double Concerto for Violin and Bandoneon (Eric Wyrick, violin & Juan Pablo Jofre, bandoneon)

2021–22 • Mason Bates: Piano Concerto (Daniil Trifonov, piano)

2021–22 • Aaron Dworkin/Coleridge-Taylor: The American Rhapsody: Symphonic Variations on an African Air (Aaron Dworkin, poetjournalist)

2022–23 • Jessie Montgomery: Banner

2022–23 • Dorothy Chang: Northern Star

2022–23 • Jessie Montgomery: Rounds for Piano and String Orchestra (Awadagin Pratt, piano)

2022–23 • Giovanni Bottesini: Gran Duo Concertante (Eric Wyrick, violin & Ha-Young Jung, bass)

2022–23 • George Walker: Lilacs for Voice and Orchestra (Tiffany Townsend, soprano & Montclair State University Chorale)

2022–23 • Sarah Gibson: warp & weft

2023–24 • Valerie Coleman: Umoja

2023–24 • Reena Esmail: RE|Member