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O God...Beautiful Machine
Saturday, October 25th, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Patriots Theater at the War Memorial
Commissioned by Lawrence M. Hilton, Oh God . . . Beautiful Machine is a powerful new work by Princeton University composer Vince di Mura and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa. Conducted by Sebastian Grand Join us for an unforgettable evening as we premiere Oh God . . . Beautiful Machine — a genre-blending symphonic celebration of the Earth. Featuring jazz, classical, and Chinese influences with a choir and song. Arrive early for festival-style fun: • Live music and vendor tables • Pre-concert talk with the composer • Pre-concert performance • Subscribers get VIP access to the exclusive post-concert
CELEBRATE NEW YEAR'S EVE with CPNJ
New Year's Eve Concert & Celebrations
Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at 8:00 pm
Patriots Theater at the War Memorial
After a stunning debut with us last fall, conductor Ruth Ochs returns to the podium as a Music Director finalist — this time to lead our most festive night of the year.
Celebrate the turning of the year with a program that dances across borders and centuries — from the swirling romance of Strauss’s Blue Danube to fiery selections from Bizet’s Carmen, featuring acclaimed mezzo-soprano Barbara Rearick. This joyful concert is filled with color, flair, and just the right amount of sparkle.
And the celebration doesn’t stop when the music ends — raise a glass at our post-concert champagne reception featuring live jazz performed by members of the orchestra.
Chamber Orchestra Concert
Saturday, March 1st, 2026 4:00 PM
War Memorial Ballroom
Guest conductor Kenneth Bean — a rising star known for his engaging presence and musical
sensitivity — leads this chamber orchestra program celebrating the interplay of winds and strings.
From the elegance of Mozart and the inventive textures of Caroline Shaw to Britten’s bold.
Sinfonietta, each work showcases the ensemble’s distinct voices, culminating in Martinů’s vibrant Nonet, a joyful dialogue of instrumental color.
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5
Saturday, April 11th, 2026 7:30 PM
Patriots Theater at the War Memorial
Conductor Kyle Ritenauer leads a richly expressive program of sweeping Romanticism and vivid color. Coleridge-Taylor’s Ballade in A minor opens with lyrical power, followed by the shimmering magic of Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite. The evening culminates in Tchaikovsky’s emotionally charged Symphony No. 5 — a masterwork of passion, fate, and triumph.
A dynamic presence on concert stages across the U.S. and Europe, Ritenauer has conducted the New York Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, and the Juilliard Orchestra. He currently serves as Director of Orchestral Studies at Montclair State University.
New World Symphony
Sunday, May 17th, 2026 4:00 PM
New Jersey State Museum Theater
Conductor Joshua Gersen brings a fresh and inspiring perspective to this season finale, celebrating American voices through powerful storytelling and unforgettable sound. The program opens with Luminosity by local composer Chris Rogerson, includes Copland’s stirring Lincoln Portrait, and concludes with DvoÅ™ák’s New World Symphony — a heartfelt tribute to America’s spirit, just ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary. A former Assistant Conductor of the New York Philharmonic and a frequent guest with orchestras across North America, Gersen is known for his expressive style, adventurous program-ming, and deep commitment to music education and contemporary composers.