Overview

The Colonial Symphony is a true "teaching orchestra", with music education programs in Chatham, Madison, Montclair, Morristown, Newark, Paterson, and Randolph.  The programs are designed as "partnerships" with schools, which ensures that the teaching enhances the curriculum requirements.

Adult education is also an important element of the orchestra's mission. From its founding in 1950, the Colonial Symphony has always had pre-concert lectures. As usual, the Colonial Symphony was in the vanguard, since this is now a normal feature for orchestras. Martin Bookspan, the well-known musicologist and longtime "Voice of Lincoln Center" was the Colonial Symphony's pre-concert lecturer from 1988 through 2004, and he will be followed by an equally prestigious musicologist.

The Colonial Symphony also was innovative when, in 1998, it designed a Composer-in-Residence program that includes education, promotion, and nurturing of contemporary music in addition to composing. The Morristown-based, highly honored composer David Sampson is the current Composer-in-Residence.

The education program is now under the direction of the new music director, Paul Hostetter. Watch for exciting developments as the program expands and develops in the months ahead.