Concert series to open with violinist

FREEHOLD – The Downtown Concert Series has announced its 2017-18 season with concerts that will feature an internationally celebrated violinist, a virtuosic pianist, a cutting-edge saxophone quartet and an energetic chamber orchestra from the area.

The concerts will take place at historic St. Peter’s Church, Throckmorton Street, Freehold Borough.

The series will open its eighth season with a performance by Canadian born violinist Lara St. John on Sept. 23. St. John has performed as a soloist with orchestras throughout the world.

The series will continue on Nov. 18 with an evening of music by pianist Xiayin Wang, who has brought audiences to their feet with playing in the grand Romantic tradition, according to a press release.

She has performed throughout the world with the Baltimore, Houston, and Pittsburgh symphonies, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma.

Guests will enjoy the sounds of the East End Quartet on Feb. 17. Formed in 2014 among graduate students at the Eastman School of Music, the East End Quartet presents concerts described as “deep and powerful, sweet and high, fast and madcap,” East End features close collaboration with composers, in-house arrangements and an eclectic range of their own transcriptions for the saxophone quartet, according to the press release.

The New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra will conclude the season when they perform “music that matters” on May 19. The orchestra’s repertoire runs the gamut from masterworks by Handel through Shostakovich, but its real focus is music that has recently been commissioned, according to the press release.

Tickets for each concert are $25, and $10 for students 18 and younger. Seating is limited and tickets should be purchased in advance. A season subscription is available at $80 for adults and $30 for individuals 18 and under.
 To purchase tickets, visit downtownconcertseries.org or call 732-431-8383.