Bring Symphony Musicians to You

Treat your preschoolers to this fun and interactive program!

Learn about what it means to be a musician and to play in a large symphony orchestra. Then become a part of the group by singing and dancing along to many children’s classics such as, “The Wheels on the Bus,” “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and more! All the while, students get to explore the many opposites that appear in music, as well as the way that instruments make sound. Stomping, clapping, singing, marching, and laughing are encouraged!

Instrumentation: Trio (flute, bassoon, percussion)

Program length: 45–60 minutes

Target audiences: Preschool

Musical concepts discussed: high and low sounds, fast and slow music, soft and loud volume, solo and group playing, light and dark timbre, construction of a wind instrument

Repertoire:
Verna Hills “The Wheels on the Bus”
“Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”
Henry Mancini "Pink Panther Theme”
“Itsy Bitsy Spider”
Jane Taylor "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
“The ABC Song”
“Yankee Doodle”
“When the Saints Go Marching In”
“Baby Shark”

Musical genres: Children’s Songs, Nursery Rhymes

All programs 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 Sergei 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:
SERGEI PROKOFIEV (1891–1953)/arr. Robert Wagner Peter and the Wolf
JACQUES IBERT (1890–1962) selections from Trois pièces brèves
NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844–1908) “Flight of the Bumblebee”
CARL NIELSEN (1865–1931) selections from Quintet
ANTON REICHA (1770–1836) selections from Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 88
DARIUS 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
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756–91) Rondo from Divertimento No. 3 in B-flat Major
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685–1750) Bist du bei mir
IRISH TRADITIONAL TUNE
ANDEAN TRADITIONAL “El Condor Pasa”
HENRY MANCINI (1924–94) Theme from The Pink Panther
FRANCIS POULENC (1899–1963) Rondeau from Trio for Brass
GORDAN LEWIN (1921–2008) “Views of the Blues”
SONNY KOMPANEK “Killer Tango”
SCOTT 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.

Music has emotion, feeling and mood.

Composers are able to evoke these feelings from audiences by using certain musical fundamentals, which can be observed, experienced, identified and named. Inspired by the illustrated book, The ABCs of My Feelings and Music by Scott and Stephanie Edgar, this program explores seven contrasting emotions, how they feel inside, how they look outside and how they sound through a selection of classical pieces.

Instrumentation: String trio (violin, viola and cello)

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

Target audiences: Students of all ages

Musical concepts discussed: Tempo, rhythm, harmony, dynamics, melody, timbre

Nations and cultures introduced: Austria, England, France, Germany

Repertoire:
CÉSAR FRANCK Panis Angelicus
CARL DITTERS VON DITTERSDORF Divertimento
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS The Swan
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN String Trio No. 4, Op. 9, No. 3 (Scherzo)
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL Music for the Royal Fireworks, First Movement
JOHANN PACHELBEL Canon in D
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART Ave Verum Corpus

Musical genres: 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 Sergei 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:
SERGEI PROKOFIEV (1891–1953)/arr. Robert Wagner Peter and the Wolf
JACQUES IBERT (1890–1962) selections from Trois pièces brèves
NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844–1908) “Flight of the Bumblebee”
CARL NIELSEN (1865–1931) selections from Quintet
ANTON REICHA (1770–1836) selections from Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 88
DARIUS 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 Edward Grieg (1843–1907) and Jean 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:
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756–91) Excerpts from Divertimento for String Trio, K. 563
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1779–1827) Excerpts from Serenade in D Major for String Trio, Op. 8
CAMILLE 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:

PAUL DUKAS Fanfare from La Peri (France)
TRADITIONAL “Shenandoah” (United States)
SAMUEL SCHEIDT “Canzona Bergamasca” (Germany)
TRADITIONAL “Frère Jacques” (France)
SONNY KOMPANEK “Killer Tango” (Argentina)
A.B. PATERSON “Waltzing Matilda” (Australia)
PERCY GRAINGER “Shepherd’s Hey” (England)
TRADITIONAL “Hava Nagila” (Israel)
TRADITIONAL “Sakura” (Japan)
JOHN PHILIP 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.

American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, one of the great icons of the 20th century, believed the Broadway musical to be at the core of the American cultural experience and the country’s lasting artistic contribution to the world.

This program features music from Bernstein’s most famous musical, West Side Story, as well as songs from a host of other legendary composers, all arranged for string quartet. These selections span decades of great musicals, from the classic The Sound of Music to the timeless The Phantom of the Opera and Cats.

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

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

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

Musical concepts discussed: History of stage and screen musicals

Nations and cultures introduced: American musical theater, Broadway

Sample repertoire:
“One Hand, One Heart” and “Maria” from West Side Story
“My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic
“People Will Say We’re in Love” from Oklahoma!
“Fiddler on the Roof” from Fiddler on the Roof
“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King
“Beauty and the Beast” from Beauty and the Beast
“All I Ask of You” and “Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera
“Memory” from Cats
“Tea for Two” from No, No, Nanette
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “The Merry Old Land of Oz” and “We’re Off to See the Wizard” from The Wizard of Oz

Musical genres: Musical theater, standards, jazz, popular

All programs are subject to change.

This program 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:
ABELARDITO VALDES (1911–58) Danzón Almendra
CONSUELO VELAZQUEZ (1924–2002) Besame Mucho
JUAN CRISOSTOMO DE ARRIAGA (1806–26) Allegro and Menuetto from Quartet No. 1
CARLOS 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.

Celebrate the best of Bollywood with a program dedicated to the music, history and significance of the Indian film genre.

Hooray for Bollywood features music from India’s beloved film genre, as well as information on the composers and musical techniques used in this music. The audience learns about the history of Bollywood, the lyrics and significance of the music, and may even recognize some of the themes from the movie Slumdog Millionaire. After the New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players perform, there is time in the program for a Q&A session. Hooray for Bollywood was programmed by founder and Director of Kulture Kool, Archana Athalye.

Instrumentation: String Quartet plus traditional Indian drums

Program length: 50-60 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: Enjoyable for all ages

Musical concepts discussed: Rhythmic and tonal systems

Nations and cultures introduced: India

Sample repertoire:
Footprint
Mirage
Indian Summer
Horizon
Meer Haath Mein

Musical genres: Bollywood classics with a Western “twist”

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

This program features women composers spanning all the way from the 1500’s to today.

The quartet shares background about each piece in the program, as well as providing musical history and insight into women’s roles in the music business. Some of the pieces are very accessible, while other compositions in the program feature advanced harmonic and rhythmic combinations, encouraging the listeners to expand their ideas about music.

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

Program length: 50–60 minutes

Target audiences: Teens and adults

NOTE: An interactive version of this program is available for younger audiences.

Musical concepts discussed: Emotive aspects of music, relationship between history and music, different eras of music

Nations and cultures introduced: England, Germany, Austria, Italy, United States of America

Repertoire:
ANNE BOLEYN O Deathe Rock Me Asleep
MADDALENA CASULANA MADRIGAL VI, Morte! Che vôi? Te chiamo
MARIA MARGHERITA GRIMANI “Sinfonia” from Pallade e Marte
MADDALENA LAURA SIRMEN String Quartet in E major
FANNY MENDELSSOHN Allegretto from String Quartet in E-flat major 
CLARA SCHUMANN Andante Op. 12, No. 3
FLORENCE PRICE Movement II from Strin from String Quartet
TINA KENNY Jones Rondo for String Quartet
FLORENCE PRICE “Oh My Darling Clementine” from Five Folksongs in Counterpoint
ANTONIO VIVALDI “Spring” from The Four Seasons

Musical genres: Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century, 21st Century

All programs subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

This program explores the rich tapestry of East Asian music, featuring contemporary and traditional works that celebrate nature, folk songs and cultural traditions.

Embark on a musical journey featuring the rich culture of East Asia. With a selection of traditional Chinese songs and contemporary works by Asian composers/arrangements by American composers, this performance will immerse you in the festivities and stories of Asia as you hear Eastern music performed on Western instruments.

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

Program length: 50–60 minutes

Target audiences: Teens and adults

Musical concepts discussed: Pentatonic scale, relationship between culture and music

Nations and cultures introduced: Japan, China

Repertoire:
ZHOU LONG Chinese Folk Songs
FOLK SONG Jasmine Flower
MICHIO MIYAGI Haru no Umi (春の海) “The Sea in Spring”
HE ZHANHAO (何占豪) & CHEN GANG (陈钢) Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto, arranged for string quartet

Musical genres: Folk songs, 20th century

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

Great music can come from any region in the world, and it can provide a sense of cultural belonging that’ll get everyone in the groove. With singing, dancing and clapping to go along with the fun, this program has something for everyone of all nationalities!

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 Duo (Violin/Viola or Violin/Bass)

Program length: 50–60 minutes, including Q&A time

Target audiences: Suited for all ages

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

Nations and cultures introduced: Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, the Middle East, South America

Sample repertoire:
JOHANN STRAUSS (1864 – 1949) “Pizzicato Polka”
ITALIAN TRADITIONAL “Tarantella”
MIDDLE EASTERN TRADITIONAL “Miserlou”
JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833 – 1897) “Hungarian Dance No. 5”
TRADITIONAL IRISH JIG “Irish Washerwoman”
CUBAN TRADITIONAL “El Chaleco”
THELONIUS MONK “Ruby, My Dear”

Musical genres: baroque, classical, romantic, waltz, folk, popular

All programs are subject to change.

This program can be modified for audiences with special needs.

This captivating program features music by Black composers of different eras and unique styles.

The New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players feature Black composers from the 18th century through today in this collection of stories including powerful works by Jessie Montgomery, Chevalier de Saint-Georges and Akua Dixon.

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

Program length: 50–60 minutes

Target audiences: Teens and adults

Musical concepts discussed: Black history, string instruments

Nations and cultures introduced: America, Black history

Repertoire:
MAVIS STAPLES We Shall Overcome
AKUA DIXON Ladies Blues
FLORENCE PRICE String Quartet No. 1 in G Major, Allegro
FLORENCE PRICE String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Andante Cantabile
JESSIE MONTGOMERY Strum
JOSEPH BOLOGNE, CHEVALIER DE SAINT-GEORGES String Quartet

Musical genres: 20th century, 21st century, Contemporary

All programs subject to change.

NOTE: This program can be adapted to feature Black female composers.

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 past 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.