NJ Symphony Presents 16th Annual UJA Benefit Concert Today

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ present the 16th annual benefit concert in support of the United Jewish Appeal of MetroWest NJ (UJA) today, April 21, at 3 pm, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark. Clarinetist David Krakauer joins the Orchestra for Mozart's Clarinet Concerto, along with traditional klezmer works Synagogue Wail and Der Heyser Bulgar. Guest conductor Stefan Sanderling leads the Orchestra in the one-performance-only program, which opens with Copland's Appalachian Spring.

The concert benefits the work of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, which encompasses Essex, Morris, Sussex and Union Counties, as well as parts of Somerset County. Through its network of 27 local and four overseas partners, the Federation provides comprehensive social services and meets the educational, vocational, recreational and social needs of Jews locally, in Israel and in 70 countries around the world.

Music Director Jacques Lacombe says: "The annual UJA Benefit Concert is very important to the NJSO. This is a unique way to connect with our friends in the Jewish community. The Jewish musical tradition is a very rich culture, and we are proud of our long-term partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ."

Of the expressive powers of the klezmer tradition, Lacombe says: "There is something in this music that is so deep. It speaks to a part of you that is beyond religion, beyond culture, maybe because of the power of the feelings involved- the joy that you have when the music goes crazy and [evokes] a sense of feast, or when it is so dark, sad and sobbing that it's heartbreaking. These are very extreme feelings, and as human beings we know [instinctively] what the music is about; it speaks to everybody."

A pre-concert community dessert reception begins at 2 pm.

Tickets start at $20 and are available for purchase online at www.njsymphony.org or by phone at 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476).

THE PROGRAM

16th Annual UJA Benefit Concert

Sunday, April 21 at 3 pm | NJPAC in Newark

Stefan Sanderling, conductor David Krakauer, clarinet
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

COPLAND Appalachian Spring MOZART Clarinet Concerto TRADITIONAL Synagogue Wail TRADITIONAL Der Heyser Bulgar

THE ARTISTS

Stefan Sanderling, conductor: Stefan Sanderling, a leading international conductor, has been Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra since 2003; he made his Carnegie Hall debut with the orchestra as part of the Spring for Music festivaL. Sanderling also holds the position of Conductor Emeritus and Artistic Advisor of the Florida Orchestra. He garnered the Bruckner Society of America's Kilenyi Medal of Honor for his contribution to the works of Bruckner.

In 1989, Sanderling became one of Germany's youngest conductors to be Chief Conductor at the Brandenburgische Philharmonie and the Potsdam Opera; he went on to become Music Director of the Philharmonic Orchestra and Staatstheater in Mainz. He also served as Music Director of the Orchestre de Bretagne in France, Florida Orchestra and Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.

Born in East Berlin in 1964, the son of the late legendary conductor Kurt Sanderling, Sanderling studied musicology at the University of Halle and conducting at the conservatory in Leipzig with Kurt Masur; he continued his studies at the University of Southern California.

Sanderling made his U.S. debut at the Tanglewood Music Festival and has since led the Baltimore, Colorado, Detroit, Houston, Montreal, Ottawa, Saint Louis, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver Symphonies; Los Angeles Philharmonic and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, among others. He has conducted the London, Mozarteum (Salzburg), Prague and Sydney Symphony Orchestras; London, Rotterdam and St. Petersburg Philharmonics; Berliner Sinfonie Orchester; Berliner Staatskapelle and Vienna Radio Symphony. Sanderling has conducted at the Deutsche Oper and Komische Oper in Berlin; he has conducted regularly in Tokyo and throughout Japan.

For the Sony Classics label, he has recorded albums with the London Symphony Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. For Naxos, he has recorded the complete Tchaikovsky Orchestral Suites with the RTE National Orchestra of Ireland and Stravinsky's Pulcinella with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

David Krakauer, clarinet: Internationally acclaimed clarinetist David Krakauer redefines the notion of a concert artist. Known for his mastery of myriad styles, he occupies the unique position of being one of the world's leading exponents of Eastern European Jewish klezmer music, and at the same time is a major voice in classical music. As one of the foremost musicians of the vital new wave of klezmer, Krakauer tours the globe with his celebrated Klezmer Madness! ensemble, which has redefined the klezmer genre with major appearances at Carnegie Hall and internationally.

He has appeared with the Tokyo, Kronos and Emerson quartets, and as soloist with the Dresden, Seattle and Detroit symphony orchestras among many others. Recently, he has also done extensive international touring with the multi- genre super group Abraham Inc., which he co-leads with funk legend Fred Wesley and hip-hop renegade Socalled.

Consistently defying categorization, Krakauer has enjoyed major ongoing artistic collaborations with a tremendously diverse group of performers and composers including Dawn Upshaw, Itzhak Perlman, John Zorn, Fred Wesley, Music from Marlboro, Abraham Inc., Osvaldo Golijov, The Klezmatics, John Cage, Danny Elfman and Socalled. His discography contains some of the most important klezmer recordings of the past decade, notably "The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind" (Golijov/Kronos/Nonesuch).

Krakauer is on the faculties of Mannes, the Manhattan School of Music and the Bard Conservatory.

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra is comprised of some of the country's finest musicians. The Orchestra is proud to have Jacques Lacombe as its Music Director. Artistic excellence, innovative programming and community engagement are hallmarks of its mission. To best serve the people of New Jersey, the orchestra brings its programs to seven outstanding venues throughout the state. Education and community engagement programs enrich the listening experience for children and adults alike. Select performances of the NJSO are broadcast regionally and throughout North America.

For more information about the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, visit www.njsymphony.org or email information@njsymphony.org. Tickets are available for purchase by phone 1.800.ALLEGRO (255.3476) or on the Orchestra's website.

Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ stands at the center of a network of partner agencies dedicated to providing comprehensive social services and meeting the educational, vocational, recreational and social needs of Jews locally, in Israel and in 70 countries around the world. Responding to emergency and disaster situations around the world is another important part of the Federation's mission.