Princeton Symphony Orchestra
All performances take place at Richardson Auditorium on Princeton University’s campus. Concerts are Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, 4 p.m. 609-497-0020 or www.princetonsymphony.org.
The season opener features the return of violinist Aubree Oliverson, who wowed audiences in 2024 with dynamic performances of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. This season, she plays Antonín Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 53. The program includes Bulgarian composer Dobrinka Tabakova’s Orpheus’ Comet, drawing sound inspiration from bees, and 20th-century composer Arnold Schoenberg’s orchestration of Johannes Brahms’ stately Piano Quartet in G Minor. Saturday and Sunday, October 25 and 26.
The 22-year-old American pianist Maxim Lando performs Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s rarely heard Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Op. 44. Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 “Italian” and Gioachino Rossini’s overture to L’italiana in Algeri complete the program. Saturday and Sunday, November 8 and 9.
Princeton University Concerts
All concerts take place in Richardson Auditorium on the Princeton University campus. concerts.princeton.edu or 609-258-2800.
The eight-concert Concert Classics Series has its first two events of the season this fall, starting with the Belcea String Quartet performing Mozart String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K. 465 “Dissonance”; Brett Dean New String Quartet (composed for the Belcea Quartet); and Beethoven String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135. Thursday, October 23, 7:30 p.m.
Next, pianist Paul Lewis performs Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 5 in C Minor and Schubert’s Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-flat Major as well as a new commission by Thomas Larcher. Thursday, November 6, 7:30 p.m.
The five-concert Performances Up Close series, in which audiences sit on stage for one-hour intimate and immersive performances, launches with the Takacs String Quartet and Jordan Bak on viola performing an all-Mozart program. Thursday, September 25, 6 and 9 p.m.
Cellist Abel Selaocoe is next, making his PUC debut with works by Bach, Michel van der Aa and Ben Nobuto, and more. Tuesday, September 30, 6 and 9 p.m.
The series continues with another PUC debut, Ruckus Early Music Band with Emi Ferguson on flute presenting “Fly the Coop,” a joyous, kaleidoscopic romp through some of J.S. Bach’s most playful and transcendent works, including his flute sonatas and keyboard works. Thursday, November 13, 6 and 9 p.m.
Theo Ould marks another PUC debut, playing works by Bach, Piazzolla, Bartók, Villa-Lobos, Rameau, and others on accordion. Wednesday, December 10, 6 and 9 p.m.
The Music and Healing Series offers two events this fall that explore the intersection of music, healing, and human experience through conversation and performance with multifaceted artists. This season, the series explores how music helps us navigate endings — shaping artistic memory, offering solace in times of loss, and sustaining cultural heritage.
Choreographer Mark Morris presents “The Dance Lives On: Contemplating Artistic Legacy,” a conversation with Morris, permeated by selections of his choreography. Wednesday, October 8, 7:30 p.m.
Director Peter Sellars offers “Mourning through Music,” a conversation permeated by live performance. Wednesday, December 3, 7:30 p.m.
Additionally, the Richardson Chamber Players, an ensemble of Princeton faculty, guest artists, and students formed in 1994–95 on the occasion of PUC’s 100th anniversary, offers its first of two concerts this season with a program to be announced. Sunday, November 2, 3 p.m.
Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey
www.capitalphilharmonic.org
The Trenton-based orchestra starts its season with “Oh God … Beautiful Machine,” the world premiere of a new work by Princeton University composer Vince di Mura and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa, commissioned by the late Lawrence Hilton. Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive, Trenton. Saturday, October 25, 7:30 p.m.
The orchestra also offers a “Musicians’ Choice Chamber Concert Series” at various venues in the Trenton area.
First up is “Four, Five, Six – Chamber Music for Woodwinds & Piano” featuring Karl Goepfart’s Quartet in D Minor; Carl Nielsen’s Wind Quintet; and Francis Poulenc’s Sextuor. Pianist Clipper Erickson joins the orchestra’s wind players for the performance. 1867 Sanctuary, 101 Scotch Road, Ewing. Sunday, October 5, 3 p.m.
Next is “The Glorious Sound of Brass,” featuring a dynamic brass quartet performing favorites from the classical and popular repertoire—along with personal stories and musical insights. St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, 335 Adeline Street, Trenton. Sunday, November 16, 3 p.m.
McCarter Theater
91 University Place, Princeton. 609-258-2787 or www.mccarter.org.
Mandolinist, singer, songwriter, and composer Chris Thile offers a genre-spanning solo program featuring selections from recordings of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas, along with folk, classical, and improvisational works. Saturday, October 18, at 7:30 p.m.
Kyung Wha Chung, violin, with Kevin Kenner, piano, perform a program expected to include Debussy’s Sonata for Violin and Piano in G minor, L. 140; Schubert’s Fantasie in C Major for Violin and Piano, D. 934; Schoenberg’s Phantasy for Violin and Piano, Op. 47; and Franck’s Violin Sonata in A Major. Wednesday, November 5, 7:30 p.m.
Early Works, performed by the Philip Glass Ensemble, revisits the roots of Glass’ signature style with selections from Einstein on the Beach, Glassworks, and other seminal pieces. Saturday, November 22, 7:30 p.m.
New Jersey Symphony
www.njsymphony.org
The symphony has one scheduled stop at Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium this fall for a performance of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” conducted by Tito Muñoz. The program also includes Florence Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement; the Northeast premiere of Carlos Simon’s “Zodiac,” an NJS co-commission; and Aaron Copland’s Suite from “Billy the Kid.” Friday, November 7, 7:30 p.m.
Capital Singers of Trenton
www.capitalsingers.org.
The choral group’s women’s ensemble joins the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey for the world premiere of “Oh God … Beautiful Machine” in Patriots Theater at the Trenton War Memorial. Saturday, October 25, 7:30 p.m.
Boheme Opera
www.bohemeopera.org
Boheme Opera hosts a 37th season grand opening dinner featuring “SMASH! Opera and Broadway’s Greatest Hits!” at Marsilio’s Kitchen, 71 West Upper Ferry Road, Ewing. Featured performers include soprano Brynn Terry, mezzo-soprano Anna Tonna, tenor Jeremy Brauner, and pianist Sandra Pucciatti. Sunday, September 14, 4 p.m.
The company also presents “Seasons of Love,” a love letter to Broadway featuring performances of hit songs by four up-and-coming Broadway stars, directed by Andrew Wheeler, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation on Cherry Hill Road. Sunday, November 16, 3:30 p.m.
Princeton Pro Musica
www.princetonpromusica.org
The choir presents Bachtoberfest, welcoming back the virtuosi of New York Baroque and a roster of soloists as they join for a festive celebration of favorite Bach works, including Magnificat, Concerto for Two Violins, and more. Sunday, October 19, 4 p.m.
Princeton University Music Department
Programs held in Richardson Auditorium unless otherwise noted. music.princeton.edu.
The Sō Percussion Fall Performance features the release of their 8-CD box set “25×25,”new work by Dan Trueman, and special guests: Bergamot Quartet and Becca Stevens. Friday, September 12, 7:30 p.m.
The Princeton Livestock Exchange Concert is part of a series loosely oriented around improvised performance to create musical dialogues between Princeton students and special visiting guest artists. CoLab, Lewis Arts Complex. Tuesdays, September 16 and December 2, 7 p.m.
Princeton Sound Kitchen, a group of graduate student composers, presents Mixtape, a presentation of original compositions. Taplin Auditorium, Fine Hall. Tuesday, September 23, 8 p.m.
The Princeton University Orchestra performs two fall concerts under the direction of conductor Michael Pratt. The programs are TBA. Saturday, October 4, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, October 5, 3 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, November 21 and 22, 7:30 p.m.
Princeton Sound Kitchen presents a performance by Elliott. Forum, Lewis Arts Complex. Sunday, October 26, 4 p.m.
Ruth Ochs conducts the Sinfonia in its fall and winter concerts. Thursday, October 30, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, December 7, 3 p.m.
Princeton Sound Kitchen presents a performance by vocal ensemble Ekmeles. Taplin Auditorium, Fine Hall. Tuesday, November 4, 8 p.m.
The Yale Glee Club visits the Princeton University Glee Club in the annual “Football Concert” — a choral face-off tradition that is over a century old, taking place the weekend before the Princeton-Yale football game. Sunday, November 16, 3 p.m.
The Early Music Princeton winter concert, directed by harpsichordist Wendy Young, also features Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek, mezzo-soprano; Arnie Tanimoto, viola da gamba and Baroque cello; and Nancy Wilson, Baroque violin and viola. Taplin Auditorium, Fine Hall. Sunday, November 23, 3 p.m.
Princeton Sound Kitchen presents a performance by Ji Hye Jung and Mariel Roberts Musa. Taplin Auditorium, Fine Hall. Monday, December 1, 8 p.m.
Westminster Choir College
www.rider.edu/arts
Westminster Choir presents Evensong, a concert following the ancient liturgy. Echoing through the program is a poignant refrain: “our flags are wafting in hope and grief”—a lyrical meditation that captures the essence of this concert’s emotional landscape: the dual burden and blessing of remembrance, and the flickering light of hope carried forward. Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street, Princeton. Saturday, September 27, 5 p.m.
Confounded brings together sacred and patriotic masterworks from both sides of the Atlantic, performed by the Westminster Symphonic Choir. Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 801 West State Street, Trenton. Saturday, October 4, 5 p.m.
Westminster Faculty Recital Series: Journey of Lieder features Bridgette Johnson, soprano; Scott Johnson, baritone; Akiko Hosaki, piano; and more. Gill Chapel, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville. Sunday, October 12, 3 p.m.
Westminster’s Chapel Choir presents What Gives Peace, an exploration of the many facets of peace through powerful choral works spanning time and tradition. Gill Chapel, Rider University, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville. Saturday, October 25, 7:30 p.m.
The Westminster Jubilee Singers present a fall concert. Gill Chapel, Rider University, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville. Saturday, November 8, 7:30 p.m.
Westminster Faculty Recital Series: Songs of Female Composers is a recital by Sarah Beckham Turner, soprano, and Ronald Land, pianist, featuring the works of Female composers. Gill Chapel, Rider University, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville. Friday, November 14, 8 p.m.
Westminster Opera Theatre presents “El Gato con Botas,” based on the beloved children’s tale known as “Puss-in-Boots.” Yvonne Theater, Rider University, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville. Friday, November 14, 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, November 15, 2 p.m.
Rider University Chorale presents Beginning, a concert about emergence and possibility, gathering voices in celebration of life’s ever-renewing journey. Gill Chapel, Rider University, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville. Saturday, November 15, 7:30 p.m.
State Theater
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. 732-246-7469 or www.stnj.org.
The New Brunswick theater offers a number of concerts in its “Sound Studio” series, featuring intimate performances by up and coming classical artists.
Pianist Julian Jenson and soprano Susan Leiva explore the rich and often overlooked legacy of vocal music by women composers from the 19th and 20th centuries, with a special focus on France and beyond. Sunday, September 28, 3 p.m.
Award-winning violinist Eric Tsai and pianist Lohan Park perform works including Ysaye’s Solo Violin Sonata No. 5, Op. 27; Mozart’s Violin Sonata in G Major, K. 379; Shih-Ching Ju’s Three Taiwanese Songs; and Debussy’s Violin Sonata in G minor, L. 140. Sunday, October 12, 3 p.m.
Verses in Song — featuring award-winning artists, pianist Enriqueta Somarriba and soprano, Maria Brea — revolves around the theme of music and poetry in four different languages. Sunday, November 23, 3 p.m.
Additionally, the theater presents a screening of the classic film “Fantasia” with live accompaniment performed by the New Jersey Symphony with Constantine Kitsopoulos conducting. Sunday, October 26, 2 p.m.
The Princeton Singers
www.princetonsingers.org
The choral group announced its decision to disband following its 2024-25 season. A statement from its board of trustees, posted on its website, reads as follows:
After 41 years of music-making, The Princeton Singers will conclude operations on August 31, 2025. This difficult decision was made by our Board of Trustees in response to ongoing financial challenges that were significantly intensified by the pandemic.
While this moment is bittersweet, there is much to celebrate. Under the visionary direction of Steven Sametz for the past twenty-six years, The Princeton Singers brought to life an astonishing breadth of repertoire-from the Western classical tradition to folk and sacred music from around the world. Our beloved Christmas concerts have been widely heard in WWFM-Classical holiday broadcasts.
Frequent collaborations with the Princeton University Art Museum fostered dialogues between visual art and music. Most recently, our performance at the Morris Museum responded to James Prosek’s artwork with music that echoed his imaginative reflections on the natural world. A strong commitment to new music- including many original compositions and arrangements by Sametz-has shaped our artistic voice. For decades, we also served as the resident choir for the Lehigh University Summer Choral Composers Forum, mentoring the next generation of composers and performers.
Trinity Church Princeton offered the ensemble, founded in 1983 by John Bertalot, a welcoming and supportive home. The late Ann McGoldrick became an original member of The Princeton Singers and our biggest supporter and champion. We are forever indebted to Ann and Trinity. Though we now conclude, the memories and music will linger.
