John Williams News

Tenri Cultural Institute proudly presents The Chamber Music of Dana Dimitri Richardson on Sunday, October 14th at 3pm. The program features world premieres and recent works performed by pianists Craig Ketter, Simon Mulligan, and Cathy Callis, soprano Jacqueline Milena Thompson, saxophonist Mark Engebretson, and Canta Libre Chamber Ensemble.

Nearly a decade ago a story ran in NJ's most widely circulated print newspaper which opened with the statement "New Jersey doesn't have a state music director, but it would seem that Jason Tramm is out to create the position… as he leads opera, choral and orchestral concerts from Morris County to Ocean Grove." Prescient in their observations, The Star Ledger's 2009 article provided a snapshot of Tramm at the beginning of his career.  In spirit, the image resonates today, albeit with a decidedly expanded geographic reach.

In 1962 West Side Story won 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Musical. Is it still worth seeing more than half a century later? Sure is! Jerome Robbins' energetic choreography remains riveting, and Leonard Bernstein's marvelous score is a perfect frame for Sondheim's affecting lyrics. A live performance of its musical soundtrack by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra gave the film an even greater impact. The dances seemed that much more energetic and exciting, and the closing Romeo and Juliet-like death scene more wrenchingly emotional. I don't think I've ever before heard more audible signs of a movie audience trying to repress tears.

The World Soundtrack Academy announces  first wave of the 2018 World Soundtrack Award Nominees, which includes multiple Academy Award® winners and nominees, the best of contemporary film and television music as well as Pulitzer prize winner Kendrick Lamar and other pop artists. 

Wonderful cast directed by Tina Landau is a nice diversion from presidential politics.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and Cincinnati Pops continue to celebrate for the first time, single ticket sales to ANY and ALL season concerts. Previously only available as part of a subscription, the CSO and Pops are celebrating in a fun and unique way with:

There's something about a great Christmas album that transcends time and becomes part of the soundtrack for holiday memories for years to come. Paul Cardall has crafted such an album with his stunning new collection Christmas.

The Harry Potter Film Concert Series returns to Davies Symphony Hall with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Concert, the third film in the Harry Potter series. On Saturday, August 10, 2019 and Sunday, August 11, 2019, Justin Freer will conduct a live symphony orchestra in performing this magical score live from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban while the entire film plays in high-definition on a 40-foot screen.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic will present screenings of the complete films in HD on the Hollywood Bowl's big screen "A New Hope" and "The Empire Strikes Back" with Oscar -winning composer John Williams' score performed live to the film. The concerts will be conducted by David Newman.

State Theatre New Jersey unveiled its 2018-2019 Classical Series, featuring five fantastic world-renowned performers.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic will start selling single tickets today, Wednesday, August 1, 2018, to its 13 performances from September 2018 - May 2019 through The Smith Center Box Office. This will be the orchestra's 20th anniversary concert season and Donato Cabrera's 5th season as Music Director for the Las Vegas Philharmonic.

PBS just recently announced its fall 2018 GREAT PERFORMANCES line-up, which will commence on Fridays, November 2, and continue on November 9, 16 and 23 (9:00-11:00 p.m. ET).

Star Wars: Episode IX will begin filming at London's Pinewood Studios on August 1, 2018. J.J. Abrams returns to direct the final installment of the Skywalker saga. Abrams co-wrote the screenplay with Chris Terrio.

Relive the magic of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial on the big screen accompanied by a magnificent, live performance by Pacific Symphony.

Tanglewood's season-long Bernstein centennial celebration will culminate in a gala concert on Bernstein's actual 100th birthday, August 25, to be recorded by Great Performances for an exclusive U.S. broadcast premiere December 28 at 9 p.m. on PBS

There's a lot of rock'n'rollin' on the Jersey Shore every summer, but for classical music lovers the best place to go is The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association (OGCMA). And OGCMA's always-crowd-pleasing 'Summer Stars Classical Series' will continue with a bright new sound and blend when the dynamic young classical guitarists Alex & Wesley Park strum into The Great Auditorium on Thursday, July 26, at 7:30 pm

Chi Phil is thrilled to present Side by Side with the Chicago Philharmonic at Columbus Park Refectory on Sunday, August 5, in Chicago's west side for the fourth year straight. This signature outreach program, presented as part of the Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks series, invites diverse musicians of all ages and backgrounds to rehearse and perform alongside Chi Phil musicians in Chicago's beautiful parks. This concert is the third of six Side by Side concerts in 2018, with the first two successful concerts of the year reaching over 130 community musicians and nearly 1000 audience members.

MUSE/IQUE, Pasadena's pioneering live music organization and counter-conventional orchestra, continues STATES/UNITED: Mapping Musical America, its inaugural summer series at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, on July 28 with MOVEMENT/ALOUD!, at the Brown Garden Lawn, adjacent to the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art.

Maestro Kirk Muspratt, Illinois Council of Orchestras' 2018 Conductor of the Year, and New Philharmonic, the professional orchestra in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), perform a free concert of pops music, movie scores and more at the Lakeside Pavilion, 425 Fawell Blvd., on the campus of College of DuPage, Friday, July 20, at 7:30 p.m. Preceding the concert, at 7:15 p.m., there will be a vocal performance by Addison's Caryna Martinez Rios, Third Place winner of the March 2018 Apollo Live COD Student Talent Competition.

PBS today announced its fall 2018 schedule lineup, anchored by THE GREAT AMERICAN READ (Tuesdays, September 11- October 23). Exploring the power, passion and joy of reading, the series is hosted by Meredith Vieira and features reflections from everyday Americans as well as notables. Margaret Atwood, Lauren Graham, John Irving, Bill T. Jones, Devon Kennard, Gayle King, Diane Lane, George R.R. Martin and many more reflect on their favorite books. The series will culminate with the results of the first-ever national vote for “America's Best-Loved Novel.”