The Livingston Symphony Orchestra opens its 2026-27 season Saturday, Oct. 24 at Heritage Middle School in Livingston.
The concert, titled "The Sounds of Freedom," ties two milestones together: America's 250th birthday and the 200th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven's death. Maestro Anthony LaGruth leads the nonprofit orchestra at 7:30 p.m. at the school, 20 Foxcroft Drive, according to the West Essex Tribune.
The program spans four works. It opens with John Williams' "March from 1941," drawn from Steven Spielberg's 1979 film. Next comes Charles Ives' "The Unanswered Question," followed by Beethoven's "Leonore No. 3 Overture." The evening closes with Dvorak's Symphony No. 7 in D minor, according to the orchestra's season page.
The season carries the banner "A Season of Celebrations," the orchestra said on its Facebook page. Programming pairs Beethoven's works with pieces by American composers including George Gershwin, Aaron Copland and John Williams across five concerts running through June 2027.
Tickets are available at the door or through the orchestra's website. Seniors and students receive discounted admission, and children under 12 accompanied by an adult get in free, according to the NJ Arts Maven newsletter.
Season ticket packages save 20%.
For more information, call (973) 980-1809.
Four more concerts follow the opener. "The American Sound" arrives Dec. 12 with works by Gershwin and Copland. A family matinee, "Meet Mr. Beethoven," is set for Feb. 21, 2027, at 2 p.m. "Rising from the Fire" on April 24, 2027, features violinist Evelyn Estava performing Beethoven's Violin Concerto. The season closes June 12, 2027, with "The Power of the Fifth," pairing Beethoven's Fifth Symphony with Shostakovich's Fifth.
All concerts take place at Heritage Middle School unless otherwise noted.
