- By Mabel Pais
The New Jersey Youth Symphony (https://whartonarts.org/programs/new-jersey-youth-symphony – NJYS), a program of Wharton Arts, will embark on its 2026 international concert tour from June 27 through July 3, performing in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania under the direction of Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Helen H. Cha-Pyo.
In addition to performing in prestigious concert halls throughout the Baltic region, NJYS musicians will participate in educational exchanges with the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. The orchestra will present four public concerts and three community performances, including appearances at the Vilna Gaon Tolerance Center and Santariškės Hospital in Vilnius, providing students with opportunities for artistic growth, cultural discovery, and meaningful connection with local communities.
“As the New Jersey Youth Symphony embarks on this tour, we travel not only as musicians, but as cultural ambassadors,” said Cha-Pyo. “One of the greatest gifts of youth orchestra participation is the opportunity to experience the world through music, build bridges across cultures, foster understanding, and celebrate our shared humanity. Through performances, educational exchanges, and community engagement, our students will discover firsthand how music transcends borders, creates community, and inspires hope. These experiences offer invaluable opportunities for artistic growth while helping young people develop a deeper understanding of the world and their place within it.”
The orchestra’s tour repertoire reflects both the musical heritage of its host countries and the richness of the American tradition. The program features Estonian composer Veljo Tormis’ “Overture No. 2,” inspired by Estonian folk traditions; George Gershwin’s iconic “Rhapsody in Blue” featuring 15-year-old pianist Taige Wang; and Howard Hanson’s “Symphony No. 1,” “Nordic” – a work that beautifully blends Nordic influences with the rich tradition of American symphonic writing. As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, the orchestra will conclude performances with John Philip Sousa’s beloved “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”
The international tour continues NJYS’s longstanding tradition of providing exceptional performance and educational opportunities for young musicians. Through rehearsals, performances, cultural exchanges, and travel experiences, students gain valuable artistic, personal, and global perspectives while representing New Jersey and the United States abroad.
Founded in 1979, the New Jersey Youth Symphony is one of the premier youth orchestra programs in the region, serving talented young musicians through a comprehensive orchestral training program that emphasizes artistic excellence, leadership, and community engagement.
Tour Schedule
June 27, 2026
Helsinki Music Centre Concert Hall – Helsinki, Finland
June 29, 2026
Community Concert at Viimsi Artium – Viimsi, Estonia
June 29, 2026
Estonia Academy of Music and Theatre Concert Hall – Tallinn, Estonia
June 30, 2026
St. Peter’s Church – Riga, Latvia
July 2, 2026
Community Concert – Vilna Gaon Tolerance Center – Vilnius, Lithuania
July 3, 2026
Community Concert – Santariškės Hospital – Vilnius, Lithuania
July 3, 2026
Vilnius Congress Concert Hall – Vilnius, Lithuania
For more information about the New Jersey Youth Symphony and Wharton Arts, visit https://whartonarts.org/programs/new-jersey-youth-symphony.
New Jersey Youth Symphony
The New Jersey Youth Symphony, a program of Wharton Arts, provides orchestral training and performance opportunities for talented young musicians from across New Jersey and the surrounding region. Through rigorous musical instruction, inspiring performance experiences, and a commitment to artistic excellence, NJYS prepares the next generation of musicians, leaders, and engaged citizens.
Wharton Arts’ mission is to offer accessible, high quality performing arts education that sparks personal growth and builds inclusive communities.
Wharton Arts’ vision is for a transformative performing arts education in an inclusive community to be accessible for everyone.
Wharton Arts is New Jersey’s largest independent non-profit community performing arts education center serving over 2,000 students through a range of classes and ensembles. The 15 ensembles of the New Jersey Youth Symphony, which serve nearly 600 students in grades 3–12 by audition, inspire young people to achieve musical excellence through high-level ensemble training and performance opportunities.
Wharton Arts is located in Berkeley Heights, New Providence, and Paterson, NJ and reaches students from 12 counties. All of Wharton Arts’ extraordinary teaching artists, faculty members, and conductors hold degrees in their teaching specialty and have been vetted and trained to enable our students to achieve their personal best.
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THE HARVARD HAPPINESS STUDY EXPLORES WHAT GIVES US TRUE JOY IN “THE GOOD LIFE” FILM
- By Mabel Pais
“The Good Life,” a new film directed by Emmy and Peabody Award winning producer/director Mark Mannucci, explores what makes our lives on this planet worthwhile, giving us true joy. This film screening will take place on Tuesday, June 23 at 6 pm at the Victoria Theatre of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), the executive producer of the film.
We now live years, maybe decades longer than our ancestors. How do we make all our years worthwhile? The film “The Good Life” attempts to answer this question — for retirees, for mid-career strivers, for everyone engaged in the never-ending process of growing up.
Screening
This is an invite to a free community screening of “The Good Life.” The film chronicles ordinary and extraordinary lives, giving the audience a glimpse of the profound connections between love and community, between happiness and longevity, and exploring how to make every year of your life a time of wonder and discovery.
Watch the teaser below:
https://vimeo.com/1192366547/6a56a6a428?fl=pl&fe=cm
Harvard Study
“The Good Life” is based on the findings of the Harvard Study of Adult Development — better known as the “Harvard Happiness Study,” an eight-decade-long scientific investigation into what brings us genuine joy. The film illustrates the study’s results through the stories of five people at different stages of life, from Christopher Taylor, a 25-year-old Newark native who dances with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, to D’yan Forest, a 91-year-old stand-up comedian.
In between, study directors Drs. Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz discuss their discoveries — and celebrities including Oscar-winner Rita Moreno, former New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams, comedian Susie Essman and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson talk about what’s fueled their long careers.
Registration
Registration is required though the screening is free.
Register @ https://njpac.org/event/the-good-life/#register
Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Education, Spirituality, Health and Wellness, Business, and Cuisine.
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