New Jersey Youth Symphony Will Present GALAXIES OF JOY: THE PLANETS IN CONCERT This December
The program will feature Holst’s The Planets with NASA imagery and a world premiere by NJYS composer Oliver Kahng.
Wharton Arts’ New Jersey Youth Symphony will present Galaxies of Joy: The Planets in Concert on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 7 p.m. at UCPAC’s Main Stage in Rahway.
Led by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Helen H. Cha-Pyo, the event will feature Holst’s The Planets with synchronized imagery from NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio, transforming the hall into a visual and musical exploration of the solar system.
The program will also include the world premiere of Pluto: The Gatekeeper to the Underworld by Oliver Kahng, a senior at Regis High School and a member of the NJYS Youth Symphony. Kahng’s new composition extends Holst’s concept with a contemporary reflection on Pluto’s mythological and scientific associations.
Cha-Pyo noted that this presentation will bring together music, imagination, and student creativity, including a new work by an NJYS composer. Executive Director Gina Caruso highlighted the immersive experience of combining Holst’s score with NASA’s space imagery and emphasized the significance of premiering a student-led composition within the program.
Tickets are $24 for adults and $19 for students and seniors and are available at UCPAC.org.
EVENT DETAILS
Galaxies of Joy: The Planets in Concert
NJYS Youth Symphony, conducted by Helen H. Cha-Pyo
Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 7 p.m.
UCPAC’s Main Stage, Rahway, New Jersey
Tickets: $24 Adults; $19 Students & Seniors
Wharton Arts serves nearly 2,000 students across its performing arts programs, including the New Jersey Youth Chorus, New Jersey Youth Symphony, Paterson Music Project, and the Wharton Performing Arts School. The organization offers performing arts training across multiple disciplines for students of all ages and abilities and provides need-based scholarships to ensure accessible arts education throughout its communities.
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