To celebrate the centennial, the Symphony performs four world premiere commissions by a diverse roster of composers: the Symphony’s Resident Artistic Catalyst Daniel Bernard Roumain (June 9–11); Steven Mackey (April 21–23); Chen Yi (June 1–4); and Darryl Kubian (March 16–19). Also on the schedule is a co-commission by Wynton Marsalis (November 12) and works by other living composers including Sarah Gibson, Arvo Pärt, Aaron Jay Kernis and Dorothy Chang and Jessie Montgomery. The symphony presents interdisciplinary collaborations with New Jersey artists and arts organizations, including dancers from Nimbus Dance and the New Jersey Ballet, poets from the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival in Newark and vocal groups from Montclair State University and Princeton University.

Throughout the centennial season, the Symphony welcomes back former leaders: Music Directors Neeme Järvi and Hugh Wolff; former Assistant Conductor Gemma New; and former Interim Music Director George Manahan.

Season Announcement Press Release

2022–23 Season Highlights
Concert Locations
Newark: New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Red Bank: Count Basie Center for the Arts
Morristown: Mayo Performing Arts Center
Princeton: Richardson Auditorium
New Brunswick: State Theatre New Jersey

Friday, October 7, 8 pm (Newark)
Saturday, October 8, 8 pm (Red Bank)
Sunday, October 9, 3 pm (Morristown)
OPENING WEEKEND
Xian Zhang, Conductor | Yefim Bronfman, Piano
Jessie Montgomery’s Banner opens the first concert of the season, and it’s followed by the complete ballet score of Copland’s Appalachian Spring with dancers from Jersey City-based Nimbus Dance* performing original choreography. Yefim Bronfman performs Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto with Xian Zhang at the podium. *Nimbus Dance does not appear at the performance in Red Bank.
Event page with full program and concert locations

Thursday, March 16, 1:30 pm (Newark)
Friday, March 17, 8 pm (Princeton)
Saturday, March 18, 8 pm (Red Bank)
Sunday, March 19, 3 pm (Morristown)
WORLD PREMIERE OF DARRYL KUBIAN’S TRIPLE CONCERTO
Xian Zhang, conductor | Members of the Symphony
Xian Zhang conducts a world premiere of New Jersey Symphony violinist and composer Darryl Kubian’s Triple Concerto; Other pieces include Overture to The Barber of Seville, Bottesini’s Gran Duo Concertante, and selections from Bizet’s L’Arlesienne Suites Nos. 1 & 2.
Event page with full program and concert locations

Saturday, March 25, 8 pm (Newark)
Sunday, March 26, 3 pm (Newark)
Neeme Järvi, conductor
Neeme Järvi, former New Jersey Symphony Music Director, returns to conduct Pärt’s Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten (1977). Also on the program is William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 1 (1930), the first symphony composed by an African American to be performed by a professional orchestra in the United States. The program also includes Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4.
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Friday, April 21, 8 pm (Princeton)
Saturday, April 22, 8 pm (Newark)
Sunday, April 23, 3 pm (New Brunswick)
WORLD PREMIERE OF STEVEN MACKEY’S RIOT
Xian Zhang, conductor | Steven Mackey, electric guitar | Felicia Moore, soprano | Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano | Alicia Olatuja, mezzo-soprano | Sean Panikkar, tenor | Nathan Berg, bass-baritone 
Xian Zhang conducts the world premiere of RIOT by Steven Mackey that uses the original texts of former US Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith. The Symphony is joined by guest vocalists from the Princeton University Glee Club. Other pieces include Mozart’s Symphony No. 25, the overture to Don Giovanni, and Bruckner’s Te Deum.
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Thursday, April 27, 1:30 pm (Newark)
Saturday, April 29, 8 pm (Red Bank)
Sunday, April 30, 3 pm (Morristown)
Gemma New, conductor | George Li, pianist
Former Assistant Conductor Gemma New returns to conduct warp & weft (2019, rev. 2021) by Sarah Gibson. warp & weft is inspired by the colorful and swirling energy of artist Miriam Schapiro’s weaving studio, and aims to celebrate the history and artistic viewpoints of women past, present, and future. George Li will also play Rachmaninoff’s virtuosic Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique.
Event page with full program and concert locations

Thursday, June 1, 1:30 pm (Newark)
Friday, June 2, 8 pm (Princeton)
Saturday, June 3, 8 pm (Newark)
Sunday, June 4, 3 pm (New Brunswick)
WORLD PREMIERE BY CHEN YI
Xian Zhang, conductor | Randall Goosby, violinist
Xian Zhang conducts a world premiere by Chen Yi, who is the first woman to receive a Master of Arts degree in music composition from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and Stravinsky’s Suite from Pulcinella featuring Randall Goosby are also on the program.
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Friday, June 9, 8 pm (Newark)
Saturday, June 10, 8 pm (Red Bank)
Sunday, June 11, 3 pm (Newark)
WORLD PREMIERE BY DANIEL BERNARD ROUMAIN
Xian Zhang, conductor | Joshua Bell, violinist
New Jersey Symphony concludes its 2022-2023 centennial season with a World Premiere Commission from Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR). DBR is the Resident Artistic Catalyst at the New Jersey Symphony as well as a composer, performer, educator, and activist notable for his multi-genre influenced violin sounds. The program also includes Bruch’s Violin Concerto No.1 and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, featuring violinist Joshua Bell.
Event page with full program and concert locations