New Jersey Symphony to present a series of holiday events across the Garden State
NEWARK, NJ—New Jersey Symphony is your place to celebrate the holiday season, with many great events throughout the Garden State. Experience the magic of Christmas Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert, performed in Morristown, Red Bank, Newark and New Brunswick. Some concerts are almost sold out, but great seats remain at the two NJPAC in Newark concerts at 3 pm and 7:30 pm on December 7. At all concerts you’ll be greeted by the Yuletide Carolers, singing holiday classics in the lobby (free for ticketholders).
Also in Newark, A Gospel Holiday will be performed at Science Park High School, featuring the New Jersey Symphony and the New Jersey Symphony Gospel Chorus, directed by Gwen Moten. Come ready to sing, dance and clap along!
Hear more holiday tunes from the New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players at Newark’s Winter Village in the Mulberry Commons, and at NJ TRANSIT’s Newark Penn Station lobby.
Handel’s Messiah returns to Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, which is a beloved family tradition for many. Two performances of Messiah will also be presented in Princeton. The concert will be conducted by the GRAMMY-winning conductor Jeannete Sorrell and features guest vocalists: Sonya Headlam, soprano; John Holiday, countertenor; Ed Lyon, tenor; and Kevin Deas, bass-baritone. Holiday, who gained fame as a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice.”
Everyone’s favorite Nutcracker production returns to Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, led by NJ Ballet with New Jersey Symphony playing the memorable musical score.
The holiday season continues into January with the Lunar New Year Celebration, an evening of community and cultural exchange that is wonderful for families and children, as we celebrate the Year of the Snake. Music Director Xian Zhang, pianist Min Kwon, the Peking University Alumni Chorus, the Starry Arts Children’s Chorus and the Edison Chinese School Lion Dance Team all return for this joyous concert, plus a special appearance by opera star Michael Fabiano! Upgrade your evening with the VIP event experience, featuring early access to the Cultural Exchange Festival, a VIP reception and premier seating for the Celebration Concert.
The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert
Thursday, December 5, 7:30 pm | Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown
Friday, December 6, 7:30 pm | Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank
Saturday, December 7, 3 pm & 7:30 pm | New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark
Sunday, December 8, 3 pm | State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick
Constantine Kitsopoulos conductor
New Jersey Symphony
Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts.
December 8 performance presented in collaboration with State Theatre New Jersey.
Music in Motion with NJ TRANSIT
Tuesday, December 10, 4:45 pm | Newark Penn Station in Newark
New Jersey Symphony Brass Quintet
This performance is held in collaboration with NJ TRANSIT.
Newark Winter Village
Wednesday, December 11, 4 pm | Mulberry Commons in Newark
New Jersey Symphony Brass Quintet
The New Jersey Symphony Brass Quintet’s appearance at this event is supported by Newark Winter Village, the Municipal Council of Newark and the Newark City Parks Foundation, Inc. and is sponsored by the TD Charitable Foundation.
New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker with New Jersey Symphony
Friday, December 13, 2024, 7:30 pm | Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown
Saturday, December 14, 2024, 1 pm & 6 pm | Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown
Sunday, December 15, 2024, 1 pm & 6 pm | Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown
Friday, December 20, 2024, 7:30 pm | Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown
Saturday, December 21, 2024, 1 pm & 6 pm | Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown
Sunday, December 22, 2024, 1 pm & 6 pm | Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown
Monday, December 23, 2024, 1 pm | Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown
Tuesday, December 24, 2024, 1 pm | Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown
Thursday, December 26, 2024, 1 pm & 6 pm | Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown
Constantine Kitsopoulos conductor
New Jersey Ballet
New Jersey Symphony
Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker
Based on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman
Presented by New Jersey Ballet, in collaboration with Mayo Performing Arts Center and New Jersey Symphony.
A Gospel Holiday
Saturday, December 14, 2 pm | Science Park High School in Newark
Gregory D. McDaniel conductor
New Jersey Symphony Gospel Chorus | Gwen Moten, director
New Jersey Symphony
Various / arr. Johnie Dean Calypso Christmas Medley
Jason Webb / arr. Brad Henderson “Hallelujah to the King of Glory”
Leroy Anderson Selections from Suite of Carols
Traditional / arr. Michael McElroy & Joseph Joubert “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
Michael O’Shields / arr. B. Dexter Allgood “O, Magnify the Lord”
Traditional / arr. Morton Gould It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Traditional / arr. Luther Henderson Ding, Dong, Merrily on High
Traditional / arr. Jack Gale Deck the Halls
Jill Jackson-Miller & Sy Miller “Let There Be Peace on Earth”
Traditional / arr. Michael McElroy & Joseph Joubert “Go Tell it on the Mountain”
B. Dexter Allgood “Hallelujah (to the Newborn King), Jesus is Born”
Gregory D. McDaniel is the 2024–25 Colton Conducting Fellow, made possible by the generous support of Judy and Stewart Colton.
Handel’s Messiah
Friday, December 20, 8 pm | Richardson Auditorium in Princeton
Saturday, December 21, 8 pm | Richardson Auditorium in Princeton
Sunday, December 22, 7 pm | Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark
Jeannette Sorrell conductor
Sonya Headlam soprano
John Holiday countertenor
Ed Lyon tenor
Kevin Deas bass-baritone
Montclair State University Singers | Heather J. Buchanan, director
New Jersey Symphony
George Friedric Handel Messiah
2025 Lunar New Year Celebration with Xian Zhang
Saturday, January 25, 7:30 pm | New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark
Xian Zhang conductor
Min Kwon piano
Michael Fabiano tenor
Peking University Alumni Chorus
Starry Arts Children’s Chorus | Rebecca Shen, director
Edison Chinese School Lion Dance Team
New Jersey Symphony
Li Huanzhi Spring Festival Overture
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Selections from Piano Concerto No. 23
Traditional Arirang
Traditional “Yuan Ri”
Traditional arr. Nicholas Hersh “The Red Dragonfly”
Giacomo Puccini “E Lucevan le stelle” from Tosca
Giacomo Puccini “Che gelida manina” from La Bohème
Giacomo Puccini Selections from Turandot
More information on concerts and tickets: njsymphony.org/events
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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