New Jersey Symphony presents Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert
NEWARK, NJ—The New Jersey Symphony will present Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert brought to life by composer John Williams’ GRAMMY® Award-winning score performed live to the film. The concert will be led by conductor Constantine Kitsopoulos on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 7:30 pm, at Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank; Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 7:30 pm, at Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown; Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 8 pm, at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark; and Sunday, April 13, at 3 pm, at State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick. For more information go to, njsymphony.org/events.
In Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert, the GRAMMY®-winning soundtrack by legendary composer John Williams will be performed along to the Oscar-nominated film to thrilling effect in a live concert experience.
Thirty years since the destruction of the second Death Star, the sinister First Order, commanded by the mysterious Snoke and apprentice Kylo Ren, rises from the ashes of the Empire. The Resistance, led by General Leia Organa, attempts to thwart the First Order's threat, but they’re desperate for help. Rey, a desert scavenger, and Finn, an ex-stormtrooper, find themselves joining forces with Han Solo and Chewbacca in a perilous mission to return a BB-unit droid back to the Resistance with a map to Luke Skywalker.
Since the release of the first Star Wars movie over 45 years ago, the Star Wars saga has had a seismic impact on both cinema and culture, inspiring audiences around the world with its mythic storytelling, captivating characters, groundbreaking special effects, and iconic musical scores composed by Williams.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert
Wednesday, April 9, 7:30 pm | Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank
Thursday, April 10, 7:30 pm | Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown
Saturday, April 12, 8 pm | New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark
Sunday, April 13, 3 pm | State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick
Constantine Kitsopoulos conductor
New Jersey Symphony
More information on concerts and tickets: njsymphony.org/events
Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts in association with 20th Century Fox, LucasFilm Ltd. and Warner/Chappell Music.
© 2015 & TM LUCASFILM LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. © DISNEY RATED PG-13.
April 13 performance presented in collaboration with State Theatre New Jersey.
Constantine Kitsopoulos
Constantine Kitsopoulos has established himself as a dynamic conductor known for his ability to work in many different genres and settings. He is equally at home with opera, symphonic repertoire, film with live orchestra, music theatre, and composition. His work has taken him worldwide, where he has conducted the major orchestras of North America, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and the Tokyo Philharmonic.
In the 2024–25 season, Kitsopoulos returns to the Vancouver Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Seattle Symphony, among others.
Highlights of previous seasons include engagements with the Dallas Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Houston Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, and New York Philharmonic. Kitsopoulos also conducted Leonard Bernstein’s Mass and Candide at Indiana University Opera Theatre.
Previously, Kitsopoulos’ was music director of the Festival of the Arts Boca from 2010–23 and general director of Chatham Opera between 2005–15. He was assistant chorus master at New York City Opera from 1984–89.
Disney Concerts
Disney Concerts is the concert production and licensing division of Disney Music Group, the music arm of The Walt Disney Company. Disney Concerts produces concerts and tours, and licenses Disney music and visual content to symphony orchestras, choruses and presenters on a worldwide basis. Disney Concerts’ concert packages include a variety of formats, such as “live-to-picture” film concerts, and themed instrumental and vocal compilation concerts that range from instrumental-only symphonic performances to multimedia productions featuring live vocalists and choirs. Featuring concerts from the largest movie franchises in the world—from Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Pixar, and 20th Century Studios—current titles include the Star Wars Film Concert Series, Toy Story, Disney Princess: The Concert, Coco, The Lion King, Up, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and Infinity Saga Concert Experience.
New Jersey Symphony
The New Jersey Symphony is a GRAMMY and Emmy Award-winning orchestra. Under the direction of the Music Director Xian Zhang, the Symphony performs more than 60 concerts at mainstage venues across the state, including Newark, Princeton, New Brunswick, Red Bank and Morristown as well as schools and public spaces statewide. Programming at the Symphony reflects an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion while providing students across the state unparalleled opportunities to achieve musical excellence through its Youth Orchestra and other outreach programs. In 2024, the Symphony announced it would continue to deliver its statewide activities from a new, permanent office, rehearsal and concert space in Jersey City, set to open in 2026.
For more information about the New Jersey Symphony, visit njsymphony.org or email information@njsymphony.org. Tickets are available for purchase by phone 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) or on the Orchestra's website.
Press contacts
Local press contacts
Ali Harrison, New Jersey Symphony, Communications Manager
973.735.0969 | aharrison@njsymphony.org
Geoffrey Anderson, New Jersey Symphony, Vice President of Marketing & External Affairs
973.735.1713 | ganderson@njsymphony.org
National & international press contacts
Beverly Greenfield, Kirshbaum Associates, Director of Public Relations
bgreenfield@kirshbaumassociates.com
Shirley Kirshbaum, Kirshbaum Associates, President
917.331.1888 | skirshbaum@kirshbaumassociates.com
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Email: information@njsymphony.org
The New Jersey Symphony's programs are made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, along with many other foundations, corporations and individual donors.
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