The New Jersey Symphony’s 2026-27 season will feature, from left, Joshua Bell, Christian McBride, Gabriela Montero and others.
The New Jersey Symphony announced, on March 11, its 2026-27 season: a mix of old masters and new voices that push boundaries and cross genres in one way or another. Superstar soloists, familiar guests and emerging talent will star alongside celebrated artists from New Jersey’s local communities.
The season goes big with 54 mainstage programs in five cities. Performance halls include NJPAC in Newark, The State Theatre in New Brunswick, The Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, The Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown and The Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University. Subscription offerings are available at all five venues.
The season blends contemporary compositions by artists with ties to New Jersey, with canonical masterworks. Symphonies span Beethoven’s Seventh, Schubert’s “Great,” Brahms’ Third, Mahler’s Fifth, Tchaikovsky’s Fourth, Mozart’s “Jupiter,” Barber’s First and Dvořák’s “New World.”
BENJAMIN EALOVEGA
XIAN ZHANG
Under music director Xian Zhang, there is no shortage of the Middle-European Romantic composers and post-Romantics that play so well to the strengths of her symphonic repertory. Many will be heard in the season, including Beethoven, whose Symphonies have been in rotation the last couple years.
The cycle continues with violinist Joshua Bell, who will perform an all-Beethoven program, “Joshua Bell Leads Beethoven” (March 11-14), to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death. The program will include Bell as both soloist and conductor for the Violin Concerto and the Seventh Symphony. It will be his second season as New Jersey Symphony’s principal guest conductor, which he will remain through the 2028–29 season.
Zhang will conduct the opening weekend, “Beethoven’s ‘Emperor’ & Schubert’s ‘Great’ ” (Oct. 23-25), which will pair the German composer with one of his Austrian successors, Schubert. Both works pushed the boundaries of their respective genres: Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto (which will be played by George Li) expanded the concerto canon into something more symphonic while Schubert’s Ninth Symphony expanded the genre into something more mystical.
The American symphonic canon will be expanded, too, with new treatments of the concerto genre by fresh voices and perspectives. Gregory LaRosa, the Symphony’s principal timpani, will star in Timpani Concerto, a new co-commission written for him by Joseph Pereira, principal percussionist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The work is unusual because timpani is rarely placed center stage.
“I’m particularly excited to share the impeccable artistry of our musicians with compositions written just for them,” Zhang said in a statement. The work will premiere in “Xian Zhang Conducts Mozart” (April 1 and 4, 2027), which will include two Mozart symphonies, No. 29 and No. 41, familiarly known as the “Jupiter”.
Jazz master Christian McBride (of Montclair) will make his Symphony debut with a concerto written for him. He will play double bass in George Duke’s Dark Wood: Bass Concerto for Christian McBride. The program, “Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances” (Nov. 19 and 21-22), will also include McBride’s Fried Bacon featuring Chris Komer, the Symphony’s principal horn; Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun; and the title work, which was Rachmaninoff’s last orchestral piece. It will be conducted by Eric Jacobsen and will be part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival.
The season will host two East Coast premieres of new American concertos.
RAFAEL RIOS
ALLISON LOGGINS-HULL
The first will be a Symphony commission, Cello Concerto, written by Allison Loggins-Hull (of Montclair), the Symphony’s resident artistic partner, and starring soloist Gabriel Cabezas. It will be heard in “Mahler’s Fifth Symphony” (March 19-21, 2027), conducted by Christoph König, who made his Symphony (and American) debut in 2009 conducting the title piece, which centers on themes of life, death and transcendence.
The second premiere will be Concerto for Orchestra by longtime collaborator Steven Mackey (of Princeton) at “Xian Zhang Conducts Tchaikovsky” (May 14-16, 2027). The co-commission was designed to showcase the Symphony’s musicians, much like this week’s Bartók’s genre-defying Concerto. Also included is Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony, which explores the notions of fate and despair, ending in triumph.
Genre-blending programs carry through to the season finale. “Ravel’s Boléro with Xian Zhang” (June 10-13, 2027) features the title piece plus Latin American musical traditions with Spanish classical guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas. For his Symphony debut, he will play Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, a work that is rarely featured with a symphony orchestra. Pieces by Leonard Bernstein and Alberto Ginastera will round out the program.
Zhang will conduct two Dvořák-themed programs. “Gil Shaham Plays Dvořák” (Feb. 18 and 20-21) will show off the Czech composer’s Bohemian folk roots. Shaham will play Dvořák’s Violin Concerto. The program also features the Third Symphony of Brahms, who was a close friend of Dvořák’s.
“Dvořák’s ‘New World’ Symphony” (April 29-May 2, 2027) will explore the composer’s American influences. The program will also include Jean Sibelius’ Karelia Overture and pianist Gabriela Montero will play her own “Latin Concerto.”
Fantasy, color and imagination will figure prominently in programs featuring music by the French colorists Debussy, Ravel and Poulenc.
BLAKE POULIOT
Ravel’s legendary orchestral color will be contrasted with Mozart’s classical structure in “Mozart & Ravel” (Jan. 8-10). Conductor Valentina Peleggi and violinist Blake Pouliot will make their Symphony debuts. The program will include Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5, the “Turkish,” Anna Clyne’s Masquerade and Barber’s First Symphony.
Alexander Zemlinsky’s The Mermaid will be heard for the first time in the Symphony’s 104-year history in a program of fantasy and fairy tales. “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” (Jan. 22-24) will feature pianist Tony Siqi Yun for Rachmaninoff’s virtuosic work of the title, which was his final piece for piano and orchestra. The program also includes the overture to Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
French orchestral color, choral music and Latin American poetry will mix freely in “Neruda Songs and Poulenc’s Gloria” (April 15-18, 2027), conducted by Ludovic Morlot. The program will include Peter Lieberson’s Neruda Songs, set to Pablo Neruda’s love poems, with mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges. Poulenc’s Gloria and Ravel’s Suite No. 2 from Daphnis and Chloé (with soprano Liv Redpath) will include longtime collaborators, The Montclair State University Chorale (Heather J. Buchanan, director).
The choir will also sing in the annual holiday tradition of Handel’s Messiah (Dec. 18 and 20), with four vocal soloists and conductor Kedrick Armstrong in his symphony debut.
FRANCES MARSHALL
SOPHIA LIU
Another returning holiday tradition is the Lunar New Year Celebration (Jan. 30), which will celebrate the Year of the Goat with conductor Naomi Woo and pianist Sophia Liu, both in Symphony debuts.
Special events will include “Hollywood Hits: From ‘West Side Story’ to ‘Spirited Away’ ” (Oct. 10-11), a celebration of orchestral music in cinema with conductor Keitaro Harada in his Symphony debut, featuring music from “West Side Story” (1961), “An American in Paris” (1951) and “Spirited Away” (2001).
Travel guru Rick Steves will host “Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey” (Nov. 7-8), a musical journey through seven European countries accompanied by high-definition cinematography and the music of Strauss, Grieg and Verdi.
Many of the programs are built around a story of a journey, and moving between old traditions and new ideas: either composers moving between cultures like Dvořák or works written late in their lives. Schubert’s Ninth and Mahler’s Fifth, for example. There is also a feeling of sweeping nostalgia in the two Rachmaninoff works that reflect on his lifetime.
For Zhang, the 2026-27 season will be her penultimate with New Jersey Symphony. She will step down at the end of 2027-28 season, which will be her 12th, to join the Seattle Symphony full time, as music director. She started the new position in September 2025 and is halfway through her first season.
In 2027, the Symphony will move into its new, permanent office, rehearsal and concert space in Jersey City; it has been in Newark since NJPAC opened in 1997.
What surely is not lost on the Symphony is that the works by Dvořák, Schubert, Mahler and Rachmaninoff all end with great triumph and renewal.
TERRY D. LOFTIS
This is the first season created by Terry D. Loftis, president and CEO. The current one was already in play when he came aboard in March 2025; at the time, he said he couldn’t wait to start shaping future seasons with the creative team.
In an NJArts.net interview, he said his programming perspective was to maintain the Symphony’s artistic traditions while advancing a culturally diverse future. “You’ll see the infusion of innovation that highlights what is uniquely New Jersey Symphony,” he said. “We exist to play classical music and that will never change.”
He has kept his word.
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Here is the lineup of all the concerts in the 2026-27 season. Subscriptions are now available. Single tickets will go on sale on April 10 for some shows, and on June 29 for others. Visit njsymphony.org.
“Hollywood Hits: From ‘West Side Story’ to ‘Spirited Away’ “
Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m.; Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, Oct. 11 at 2 p.m.
Keitaro Harada, conductor. Program includes music heard in “West Side Story” (1961), “An American in Paris” (1951) and “Spirited Away” (2001).
“Season Opening: Beethoven’s ‘Emperor’ & Schubert’s ‘Great’ ”
Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.; State Theatre, New Brunswick, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m.
Xian Zhang, conductor; George Li, piano. Program includes Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor,” and Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 in C Major, ‘The Great.”
RICK STEVES
“Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey”
Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown, Nov. 7 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; State Theatre, New Brunswick, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m.
Rick Steves, host. Program includes A Symphonic Journey accompanied by high-definition cinematography.
“Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances”
Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, Nov. 19 at 1:30 p.m. and Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.; Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Eric Jacobsen, conductor; Christian McBride, double bass; Chris Komer, horn. Program includes Claude Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun; George Duke’s Dark Wood: Bass Concerto for McBride; Christian McBride’s Fried Bacon; Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances.
“Tchaikovsky’s ‘The Nutcracker’ ” with New Jersey Ballet
Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown (Dates TBA)
“Handel’s Messiah”
Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m.; Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.
Kedrick Armstrong conductor; Jessica Rivera soprano; Kelley O’Connor mezzo-soprano; Martin Bakari tenor; Adam Lau bass-baritone; Montclair State University Singers (Heather J. Buchanan, director). Program includes George Frideric Handel’s Messiah.
“Mozart & Ravel”
Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m.; Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m.; Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown, Jan. 10 at 2 p.m.
Valentina Peleggi, conductor; Blake Pouliot, violin. Program includes Anna Clyne’s Masquerade; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5, “Turkish”; Maurice Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite; Samuel Barber’s Symphony No. 1.
TONY SIQI YUN
“Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.”
Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m.; State Theatre, New Brunswick, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m.
Xian Zhang, conductor; Tony Siqi Yun, piano. Program includes Richard Wagner’s Overture to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg; Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; Alexander Zemlinsky’s The Mermaid.
“Discover Rachmaninoff”
Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, Jan. 23 at 2 p.m.
Interactive family concert. Xian Zhang, conductor; Tony Siqi Yun, piano. Program includes Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.
“2027 Lunar New Year Celebration”
Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Naomi Woo, conductor; Sophia Liu, piano. Program TBA.
GIL SHAHAM
“Gil Shaham Plays Dvorák”
Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m.; Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m.; Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m.
Xian Zhang, conductor; Gil Shaham, violin. Program includes Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 3; Antonín Dvorák’s Violin Concerto and Carnival Overture
“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Concert”
Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m.; Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m.; State Theatre, New Brunswick, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m.
Lawrence Loh, conductor. Screening of “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003) with New Jersey Symphony playing Klaus Badelt’s score.
“Joshua Bell Leads Beethoven”
State Theatre, New Brunswick, March 11 at 7 p.m.; Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, March 12 at 7:30 p.m.; Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. and March 14 at 2 p.m.
Joshua Bell, conductor and violin. Program includes Ludwig van Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, Violin Concerto and Symphony No. 7.
“Mahler’s Fifth Symphony”
Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, March 19, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.; Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, March 20, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.; Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown, March 21, 2027 at 2 p.m.
Christoph König, conductor; Gabriel Cabezas, cello. Program includes Allison Loggins-Hull’s Cello Concerto (East Coast Premiere; New Jersey Symphony Commission); Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5.
GREGORY LaROSA
“Xian Zhang Conducts Mozart”
Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, April 1, 2027 at 1:30 p.m. and April 4, 2027 at 2 p.m.
Xian Zhang, conductor; Gregory LaRosa, timpani. Program includes Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No. 29 and Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter”; Joseph Pereira’s Timpani Concerto.
“Neruda Songs and Poulenc’s Gloria“
Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, April 15, 2027 at 1:30 p.m. and April 17, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.; State Theatre, New Brunswick, April 18, 2027 at 2 p.m.
Ludovic Morlot conductor; Liv Redpath soprano; J’Nai Bridges mezzo-soprano; Montclair State University Chorale (Heather J. Buchanan, director). Program includes Peter Lieberson’s Neruda Songs; Francis Poulenc’s Gloria; Maurice Ravel Suite No. 2 from Daphnis and Chloé.
“Dvořák’s ‘New World’ Symphony”
Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown, April 29, 2027 at 7 p.m.; Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, April 30, 2027 at 7:30 p.m. and May 2 at 2 p.m.; Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, May 1, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
Xian Zhang, conductor; Gabriela Montero, piano. Program includes Jean Sibelius’s Karelia Overture; Gabriela Montero’s Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin”; Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.”
STEVEN MACKEY
“Xian Zhang Conducts Tchaikovsky”
Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, May 14, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.; Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, May 15, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.; State Theatre, New Brunswick, May 16, 2027 at 2 p.m.
Xian Zhang, conductor. Program includes Steven Mackey’s Concerto for Orchestra (East Coast Premiere, New Jersey Symphony Co-Commission); Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4.
“Discover Tchaikovsky”
Interactive family concert. Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, May 15, 2027 at 2 p.m.
Xian Zhang, conductor. Program includes Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4.
“Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert”
Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown, May 20, 2027 at 7 p.m.; Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, May 21, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.; Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, May 22, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.; State Theatre, New Brunswick, May 23, 2027 at 2 p.m.
Conductor TBA. Screening of “Star Wars: A New Hope” (1977) with New Jersey Symphony playing John Williams’ score.
“Season Finale: Ravel’s Boléro with Xian Zhang”
Xian Zhang, conductor; Pablo Sáinz Villegas, guitar. Program includes Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to Candide; Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez; Alberto Ginastera’s Four Dances from Estancia; Maurice Ravel’s Boléro.
Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, June 10, 2027 at 1:30 p.m. and June 13, 2027 at 2 p.m.; Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, June 11, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
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