Trenton, N.J. – Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey (CPNJ) announced today that due to increasing challenges from the pandemic and concerns about ensuring the safety of orchestra members and its devoted audience, it has postponed its concert scheduled for New Year’s Eve, 2021.
“This is certainly disappointing to all of us, especially as it concerns this long-standing Trenton tradition.” said Gloria Teti, president of CPNJ. “Throughout this pandemic the board of trustees has consistently and proactively implemented policies that prioritize the health and safety of our orchestra members and our audience. But recent developments involving new COVID variants have raised the possibility that these steps may not be adequate to safeguard our orchestra and audience.”
CPNJ has not yet selected a date for the postponed event. Music Director Daniel Spalding will consult with the orchestra’s board about setting a new date for the postponed concert in Spring 2022. As details are finalized, ticket holders will be notified and offered options for returning or exchanging tickets.
December 21, 2021
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–On Friday, December 31 at 8:00 p.m., hundreds of music-lovers will ring in 2022 with an extraordinary Trenton tradition: the annual New Year’s Eve concert with Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey (CPNJ). The evening kicks off with a special preconcert recital by Brett Miller on the massive theatre organ beginning at 7:10 p.m., with WWFM radio personality David Osenberg as the host for the evening. Featured selections include works by Strauss, Gershwin, and Leroy Anderson’s clever and witty “The Typewriter” (yes, an actual typewriter!)
Mayor Reed Gusciora recently received his tickets for the event, historically hosted at the Patriot’s Theatre in the Trenton War Memorial. He expressed his appreciation that the New Year’s Eve tradition has been revived.
“It’s excellent news that Capital Philharmonic is holding its annual New Year’s Eve concert at the Trenton War Memorial. I really missed this event in 2020! I hope that as many people as possible join in the fun. This concert is always exciting and enjoyable—just what we need to start a new year.”
Amid growing concerns of the growing variant, CPNJ board members and artistic leadership have kept a diligent watch on best practices for performing arts organizations as they approach another winter with the coronavirus. All performers are vaccinated, and masks and proof of vaccination are required of audience members.
“We are so excited to be playing great music for live audiences again!” Music Director Daniel Spalding notes. “New Year’s Eve is the hallmark calendar day during which we look forward with hope to the start of something new in our lives and our community.”
Gusciora echoed these sentiments. “Trenton is coming back from COVID and CPNJ has been doing what it can to offer our city wonderful concerts—indoors and outside. It is appropriate that they are doing what they can to keep us safe by requiring proof of vaccination for everyone in the theatre and mandating wearing of masks, too. I hope our community will join me for a safe event to welcome in 2022. May it be a turning point for our great city.”
This concert—held on the anniversary of the launch of the orchestra in 2013—is the third concert of the 2021/22 season for the orchestra, which suspended its series in March 2019 in response to the COVID pandemic. Tickets are available by calling 215-893-1999 or at www.capitalphilharmonic.org.
Capital Philharmonic is the anchor performing arts organization in residence at Patriots Theater in the historic Trenton War Memorial (1,800-seat venue) and produces a full season of symphonic programming. CPNJ presently presents a six-concert season (October to May) at the War Memorial with occasional smaller orchestra performances elsewhere. Its 70+ professional musicians are drawn from the region between Philadelphia and New York City and are led by Music Director Daniel Spalding. The orchestra is governed by a board of directors from the greater Trenton area.
Tickets available at www.capitalphilharmonic.org
CPNJ Board Member Bernard McMullan delivers tickets for the orchestra’s Annual New Year’s Eve Concert to Mayor Reed Gusciora.