The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) will present a special concert honoring veterans and armed forces on Sunday, November 3 at 3:00 p.m. at the Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton. This pre-election Veterans Day event showcases young musicians while paying tribute to those who have served the nation. A highlight is the New Jersey premiere of Peter Boyer's 'Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue,' featuring acclaimed pianist Jeffrey Biegel. This performance is part of the Rhapsody National Initiative, a unique project supporting American orchestras post-pandemic by arranging performances of Boyer's work by at least one orchestra in all 50 states over three years at no cost to participants.
Jeffrey Biegel, who commissioned Boyer to compose the piece, created the initiative as the first commissioning project not requiring orchestras to pay toward the composer's fee, aiming to bring orchestras nationwide together to celebrate American music. The NJYS is one of only three youth orchestras participating in this historic effort. Helen Cha-Pyo, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of NJYS, emphasized the event's significance, noting the tradition of performing works by American composers to honor service members and describing the premiere as both exciting and historic for the young musicians.
The concert program includes American favorites such as Leonard Bernstein's Candide Overture and music from West Side Story, along with Three Spirituals by African American composer Adolphus Hailstork. Patriotic selections like 'America the Beautiful' and 'Armed Forces Salute' will complete the performance, with two ensembles from the New Jersey Youth Chorus joining to present patriotic music celebrating freedom. This event highlights music education's role in fostering community engagement and honoring national heritage. As part of Wharton Arts, New Jersey's largest independent non-profit community performing arts education center, NJYS serves nearly 600 students in grades 3-12 through 15 ensembles, offering accessible, high-quality education that promotes personal growth and inclusive communities.
The concert provides a platform for young musicians to showcase their talents while bridging generations through music and respect for veterans, demonstrating how arts education contributes to civic engagement and cultural appreciation. Veterans can attend free using the discount code VETERAN, a gesture underscoring the focus on honoring armed forces members. As the date approaches, the performance stands as a reminder of music's power to inspire, unite, and pay tribute to national heroes, promising a memorable celebration of American music and patriotism that showcases next-generation talent while honoring veterans' sacrifices.
