NJSO Presents THE SOUND OF STORIES Family Concerts On May 11

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra presents great stories told through music in "The Sound of Stories: Harry Potter & More" family concerts on May 11 at NJPAC in Newark.

Audiences will hear a snowy owl gliding across Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in "Hedwig's Theme" from John Williams' score to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Music from a trio of Tchaikovsky works-Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet-show how composers use music to set a scene, dramatize plot and represent characters. Caroline Shaw's The Mountain That Loved a Bird, paired with Eric Carle's illustrations for Alice McLerran's story, captures the wonder, sadness and joy of an unlikely friendship that spans generations.

Edwin Outwater conducts; audience favorite Samantha Ferrara returns to narrate and host.

Performances take place at 2 pm and 3:30 pm in NJPAC's Victoria Theater. Interactive Pre-Concert Adventures begin in the lobby one hour before each performance; families can enjoy an instrument petting zoo and other fun activities.

Concert tickets are $10 for children and $20 for adults; they are available for purchase at njsymphony.org or 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476).

Concert Program

NJSO Family: The Sound of Stories: Harry Potter and More

Sat, May 11, at 2 pm and 3:30 pm | NJPAC in Newark

Edwin Outwater, conductor

Samantha Ferrara, narrator and host

Program features selections from:

TCHAIKOVSKY Swan Lake

TCHAIKOVSKY Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture

TCHAIKOVSKY The Nutcracker

John Williams Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

CAROLINE SHAW The Mountain That Loved a Bird

Pre-Concert Adventures begin one hour before each performance. Learn more about the music and participate in fun hands-on activities during this interactive time that's perfect for the whole family.

The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey presents the 2018-19 NJSO Family Series.

Additional concert information is available at njsymphony.org/soundofstories.

New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

Named "a vital, artistically significant musical organization" by The Wall Street Journal, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra embodies that vitality through its statewide presence and critically acclaimed performances, education partnerships and unparalleled access to music and the Orchestra's superb musicians.

Music Director Xian Zhang-a "dynamic podium presence" The New York Times has praised for her "technical abilities, musicianship and maturity"-continues her acclaimed leadership of the NJSO. The Orchestra presents classical, pops and family programs, as well as outdoor summer concerts and special events. Embracing its legacy as a statewide orchestra, the NJSO is the resident orchestra of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark and regularly performs at State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick, Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, Richardson Auditorium in Princeton, Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown and bergenPAC in Englewood. Partnerships with New Jersey arts organizations, universities and civic organizations remain a key element of the Orchestra's statewide identity.

In addition to its lauded artistic programming, the NJSO presents a suite of education and community engagement programs that promote meaningful, lifelong engagement with live music. Programs include school-time Concerts for Young People; NJSO Youth Orchestras family of student ensembles, led by José Luis Domínguez; and El Sistema-inspired NJSO CHAMPS (Character, Achievement and Music Project). NJSO musicians annually perform original chamber music programs at community events in a variety of settings statewide through the NJSO Community Partners program.

Tickets are available online at njsymphony.org, by phone at 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) or in person. The NJSO Patron Services office is located at 60 Park Place, Suite 900, in Newark; hours are Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm, and concert Saturdays, 11 am-5 pm.

For more information, visit njsymphony.org or email information@njsymphony.org.

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra's programs are made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, along with many other foundations, corporations and individual donors.

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