The New Jersey Festival Orchestra (NJFO) has announced its exciting new program for the 2018-2109 season. The beautifully crafted new series promises a variety of spectacular concerts that celebrate composers and artists who came to the United States from abroad and were inspired by what they found here. The NJFO season opens on Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14 with “Made in America” featuring special guest, internationally acclaimed Slovak-American violin virtuoso Filip Pogády.

NJFO Music Director and conductor Maestro David Wroe has expressed huge excitement for the concert. “We can’t wait for Mr Pogady’s performance--he is a ‘new generation’ violin virtuoso--edgy interpretations, good looking, sharply dressed–he has all the traits of a classical rock star!” Mr. Wroe said.

Mr. Pogády, whose appearance has been made possible through the generous support of The Slovak-American Cultural Center, will perform Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1, one of the most enduringly popular concertos in the entire classical repertoire, admired for its lyrical melodies spanning almost the entire range of the instrument. 

Renowned for his unique artistry and praised by the press for the beauty of his tone and his “lightning-like virtuosity,” Mr. Pogády has established himself as one of today’s most exciting instrumentalists, performing regularly with the Slovak Philharmonic, and playing in some of the world’s most renowned concert venues including Lincoln Center New York, Rudolphinum Prague, Konzerthaus Vienna, Tel Aviv Opera House and the Lotte Hall in Seoul. A pupil of Pinchas Zukerman, Mr. Pogády earned his Master’s Degree in Violin Performance at the Manhattan School of Music. His appearance has been made possible through the support of the Slovak-American Cultural Center.

Also featured at the concert is a cocktail of American music in motion that includes the African-American rhythms of Porgy and Bess, America’s premier folk opera, and the driving pulses of the Symphonic Dances, composed on Long Island by Serge Rachmaninov, one of America’s most famed immigrants.

The concert takes place on October 13 at 7:00pm in a new venue for NJFO–the First United Methodist Church, Westfield. It will be repeated the next day (Sunday, October 14) at The Concert Hall, Drew University in Madison at 3:00pm.

“I have long wished to perform at First United Methodist Church (FUMC) in Westfield. The acoustics are...well…heavenly! The wood in this intimate space adds a dynamic rarely found in regular performing spaces and the sound bounces off the walls, becoming revitalized and blended. This promises to be an extraordinary event and I can’t wait to see you there!” said Maestro Wroe.

A free, pre-concert lecture by Michael Rosin will take place at 6:00pm prior to the Westfield concert in the FUMC Fellowship room. Mr. Rosin’s lectures are complimentary for all ticket holders and are an engaging way to learn about the music and music makers on offer.

Tickets start at $30 (students $15). Discounted ticket packages, saving up to 20 percent over regular prices, are available at the box office 224 E. Broad Street, Westfield, or by calling (908) 232-9400. Avoid all ticket fees and handling charges by purchasing single tickets or discount packages online at www.njfestivalorchestra.org.