Announcing Final Classical Concerts of 2026 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center: Itzhak Perlman, Max Richter, and More

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) to Host Final Classical Concerts of 2026 Featuring Itzhak Perlman, Max Richter, American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME), and Canadian Brass

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), One Center Street, Newark, NJ, 07102

Tickets: Reserve tickets by visiting NJPAC.org or call 1-888-696-5722.

NEWARK, NJ (For Release 05.05.26) — The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) is proud to announce the final classical concerts of the 2026 season, featuring a lineup of world-renowned composers, virtuoso soloists and ensembles. As the year draws to a close, these performances offer a final opportunity for audiences to experience the power and intimacy of live orchestral and chamber music in NJPAC’s acclaimed venues.

MON 6.26 at 7:30 p.m. MAX RICHTER WITH THE AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY MUSIC ENSEMBLE

Max Richter – piano
Ben Russell – violin
George Meyer – violin
Kal Sugatski – viola
Andrew Janss – cello
Caleb van der Swaagh – cello 

Max Richter is one of the most influential and acclaimed composers of all time. In his NJPAC debut performance, he plays his original works on piano with one of today’s leading contemporary classical groups, the American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME). Richter’s fusion of classical technique and electronic technology, heard across genre-defining solo albums and countless scores for film, dance, art and fashion, has won him legions of fans around the world and blazed a trail for a generation of musicians. His score for the film Hamnet earned him for nominations for 2026 Best Original Score by the Academy Awards, Critics Choice Awards, and Golden Globe Awards.

Since 2004, led by cellist and artistic director Clarice Jensen, ACME has risen to the highest ranks of American new music through a mix of meticulous musicianship, artistic vision, engaging collaborations, and unwavering standards in every regard. NPR calls them “contemporary music dynamos,” and Strings reports, “ACME’s absorbing playing pulsed with warm energy. . . Shared glances and inhales triggered transitions in a flow so seamless it seemed learned in a Jedi temple.” ACME has been honored by ASCAP for the “virtuosity, passion, and commitment with which it performs and champions American composers.” Location: Prudential Hall.

SUN 10.25 at 3:00 p.m. AN AFTERNOON WITH ITZHAK PERLMAN & ROHAN DE SILVA
Itzhak Perlman – violin
Rohan De Silva – piano 

Following the success of his visit in 2023, the undeniably reigning virtuoso of the violin Itzhak Perlman returns to NJPAC for this Sunday matinee concert. This continuation of the acclaimed multimedia program interweaves storytelling with personal photos, clips from the GRAMMY®- nominated Itzhak documentary, and performances with his pianist and friend, Rohan DeSilva. Audiences will learn more about the legendary “man behind the music,” and how he overcame the struggles of his Jewish childhood in Israel to become the world’s greatest violinist. From his longtime relationship with the Israel Philharmonic, to his performances with every major symphony in the world, to his mentorship of young musicians — Itzhak continues to build bridges with his remarkable artistry and irrepressible joy for making music.

Having performed with every major orchestra and at concert halls around the globe, Perlman has been honored with 16 GRAMMY® Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Kennedy Center Honor, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Genesis Prize. Perlman has received multiple distinctions from U.S. Presidents over the years: A Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian honor, by President Obama in 2015, a Kennedy Center Honor in 2003, a National Medal of Arts by President Clinton in 2000, and a Medal of Liberty by President Reagan in 1986. Location: Prudential Hall. 

SAT 12.12 at 3:00 p.m. CHRISTMAS WITH THE CANADIAN BRASS Holiday
Joe Burgstaller – trumpet
Mikio Sasaki – trumpet
Jeff Nelsen – horn
Keith Dyrda – trombone
Chuck Daellenbach – tuba

The renowned all-brass quintet has been making spirits bright for four decades and counting. In this afternoon concert, they’ll play cheerful carols and classics that will delight the entire family. With an international reputation as one of the most popular brass ensembles today, the renowned Canadian Brass has truly earned the distinction of “the world’s most famous brass group.”

With a discography of over 130 albums and an extensive worldwide touring schedule, Canadian Brass is a pioneer in bringing brass music to mass audiences. They've sold more than 2 million albums globally, including 1.2 million in the Nielsen SoundScan era alone (since 1991). Their 2010 recording Stars & Stripes: Canadian Brass Salute America spent 8 weeks in the Top 25 on the Billboard Classical Chart, peaking at #2.

Touring legends with an enthusiastic fan base, Canadian Brass plays to packed houses across the USA, Canada, Europe, and Japan. They’ve also toured Australia, South America, the Soviet Union, and the Middle East. In a historic moment, they were the first brass ensemble from the West to perform in the People’s Republic of China, and the first brass group to perform on the main stage at Carnegie Hall. Location: Victoria Theater.

About NJPAC
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is an anchor cultural institution for both the city of Newark and the state of New Jersey. It is an artistic, cultural, educational and civic center where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings communities together both on and off our campus – on stages, in schools and community settings – providing access to the arts for all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists, while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Social Impact programs, NJPAC leverages the arts to advance positive outcomes in education, health and well-being, civic engagement and community development. NJPAC has attracted more than 12.7 million visitors (including more than two million children) since opening its doors in 1997. Learn more at njpac.org.               

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