2025-2026 Concerts
The Presbyterian Church
Westfield, NJ
SAT, September 27, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Pre-concert Lecture at 6:00 pm
with Dr. Yifei Xu
Pre-concert Lecture at 1:30 pm
with Dr. Yifei Xu
SUN, September 28, 2025 at 2:30 pm
Sieminski Theater
Basking Ridge, NJ
The Gypsy Spirit
The season opens with The Gypsy Spirit, a vibrant celebration of orchestral color and folk-inspired flair. NJFO and Imperial Brass present Janáček’s commanding Sinfonietta, rich with ceremonial majesty, followed by the expressive depth of Bruch’s beloved Violin Concerto No. 1, and the evening concludes with the evocative Spanish rhythms of de Falla’s Three-Cornered Hat Suites Nos. 1 & 2. A captivating beginning to the 2025–26 season.
Artists
David Wroe Conductor
New Jersey Festival Orchestra
Imperial Brass
Program
Janáček Sinfonietta
Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1
De Falla Three-Cornered Hat Suites 1 & 2
The Presbyterian Church
Westfield, NJ
SAT, December 6, 2025 at 7:00 pm
SUN, December 7, 2025 at 3:00 pm
Drew University
Madison, NJ
Return of the Holiday Tenors
Back by popular demand! NJFO’s festive holiday celebration features award-winning tenors, special guests, and seasonal favorites in a symphonic spectacular that brings the magic of the season to life.
Artists
Guest Tenors
David Wroe Conductor
New Jersey Festival Orchestra
Guest Artist
Martin Bakari
Praised by Opera News as a "vocally charismatic" performer with a "golden tenor,” Martin Bakari continues to distinguish himself as a dynamic artist in a wide array of musical and theatrical genres. He has sung operatic roles spanning from Ferrando in Cosí fan tutte to the titular jazz saxophonist in Charlie Parker's Yardbird with companies throughout the US and abroad. As a concert soloist, he has had multiple Carnegie Hall engagements in repertoire including Messiah and Carmina Burana. Outside the classical music world, Bakari toured nationally with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra performing Marsalis' Abyssinian Mass. A Juilliard graduate and George London Competition award winner, his recording of Grigory Smirnov's Dowson Songs was featured by Opera News as a "Critic's Choice" album.
Westfield High School
Westfield, NJ
WED, December 31, 2025 at 5:00 pm
THURS, January 1, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Sieminski Theater
Basking Ridge, NJ
Broadway Through the Ages
NJFO’s signature New Year’s celebration returns with a dazzling symphonic tribute to Broadway’s greatest hits. Maestro David Wroe leads the NJ Festival Orchestra and a cast of Broadway soloists in a spirited journey through iconic favorites from America’s Great Songbook, a festive and glamorous way to ring in the New Year.
Artists
David Wroe Conductor
New Jersey Festival Orchestra
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THURS, January 1, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Lincoln Center
New York City, NY
Salute to Vienna
NJ Festival Orchestra members join musicians and singers to present a musical journey where Vienna’s timeless melodies, costumes, and wonderful waltzes converge for an unforgettable New Year’s celebration.
Artists
David Wroe Conductor
New Jersey Festival Orchestra
The Presbyterian Church
Westfield, NJ
SAT, May 30, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Ode to Joy
Experience an unforgettable evening of transcendent music and international artistry. Slovak guitarist Karol Samuelčík, presented in collaboration with the Slovak-American Cultural Center, performs Rodrigo’s luminous Fantasía para un gentilhombre, a graceful homage to Spanish baroque traditions. The program concludes with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, whose iconic “Ode to Joy” resounds as a powerful anthem of unity, hope, and shared humanity.
Artists
Karol Samuelčík Guitarist
David Wroe Conductor
New Jersey Festival Orchestra
Program
Rodrigo Fantasía para un gentilhombre
Beethoven Symphony No. 9
Guest Artist
Karol Samuelčík
Slovak guitarist Karol Samuelčík has performed across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, appearing as a soloist with top orchestras and in prestigious venues such as London’s Purcell Room and the Shenzhen Concert Hall. A prizewinner of numerous international competitions, he is also an educator at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Bratislava. Karol has released three acclaimed CDs and collaborates regularly with leading musicians and ensembles. A frequent participant in international festivals and masterclasses, he is recognized for his research into guitar technique and has published a landmark book in 2022. His appearance is presented in collaboration with the Slovak-American Cultural Center (S-ACC), highlighting his ongoing ties to the global Slovak artistic community.
