Family Fun Orbits the UCPAC with Winter Special 'Galaxies of Joy: The Planets in Concert'
‘Tis the season where families are in search of outings that the whole brood can enjoy, and the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) is prepared to deliver. A musical journey through the cosmos entitled “Galaxies of Joy: The Planets in Concert” will be presented on December 13th by the New Jersey Youth Symphony, conducted by Helen H. Cha-Pyo, in partnership with the UCPAC.
“The Planets” is the best-known orchestral suite of the English composer Gustav Holst. Whether you are a contemporary classical aficionado or a newcomer to orchestral music, this particular concert will be a special treat as it will be accompanied by stunning NASA imagery taking audiences on both an astronomical and astrological journey.
Easy as it may be to conflate astronomy and astrology, this performance promises to highlight both the NASA-proven astronomical beauty of the stars, planets, and galaxies in addition to the astrological storyline of the music. It must be noted that Holst named each movement after a planet in the solar system, prior to the discovery of Pluto and its subsequent reclassification as a dwarf planet, and its astrological counterpart. The musical movements are as follows:
1. “Mars, the Bringer of War” (1914)
2. “Venus, the Bringer of Peace” (1914)
3. “Mercury, the Winged Messenger” (1916)
4. “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity” (1914)
5. “Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age” (1915)
6. “Uranus, the Magician” (1915)
7. “Neptune, the Mystic” (1915)
Upon performing Holst’s suite, conductors are left to contend with the choice of whether to acknowledge Pluto or leave the dwarf planet in the dust. New Jersey Youth Symphony conductor Helen H. Cha-Pyo, who is also the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Wharton Arts, made the decision to offer the musicians of the Youth Symphony a chance to compose their own three-minute movement in honor of Pluto. One student among the one hundred ten musicians in the orchestra stepped forward. Oliver Kahng, a Wharton Arts violinist and senior at Regis High School, will present the world premiere of his composition “Pluto, The Gatekeeper to the Underworld,” named in keeping with Holst’s astrological homage.
As the Artistic Director of Wharton Arts, Cha-Pyo has known and worked with Kahng for five years. He was only in the eighth grade when he first told her that he had written his first symphony, in the key of C. Impressed by his prowess at such a young age, it was then that she encouraged him to pursue writing. Years later, she will be conducting the first public performance of his symphonic work.
“I don’t have the words to fully express this journey, having known him since the seventh grade and now watching as he prepares to graduate and go off to college.” Cha-Pyo gushes about the young musician as one might expect of a proud mentor. “We are going to open the concert with this piece. He’ll have a proper introduction, a moment to speak about the piece and then we will premiere Oliver’s rendition of Pluto. From then on, we will move uninterrupted from Mars all the way to Neptune.”
When asked why a performance centered around the galaxy might be a holiday treat, Cha-Pyo explains that "music alone means nothing if it is not consumed, or shared, together. In that spirit, it doesn’t really matter what kind of music we are performing or sharing. It is the superpower of music to bring people together."
"I chose 'The Planets' for many different reasons. It is a timeless masterpiece that sparks imagination across generations! So, a family can come and enjoy this one-hour concert [55 minutes], with seven movements exploring every planet. It is one really beautiful way for family or friends to come and enjoy together, because what happens afterwards is that there is so much to talk about. It’s an opportunity to have something beautiful and creative to open conversations that you may not normally talk about at dinner tables."
The evening of space exploration and musical delight should prove to be a thrilling and educational night out. Opening the concert with a student-led composition makes it clear that Wharton Arts takes education very seriously. Anything is possible, especially during the holidays, and performances like this may be more than an evening of entertainment. For many, a concert like this could open the door to a passion or even a career path as yet undiscovered. Private lessons are available to students of all ages; adults are not excluded! Whether you are a beginner looking into voice lessons, instrumental music lessons, or an experienced musician looking to join a symphony or choir, Wharton Arts can accommodate.
"Music is a beautiful tool with which we can teach our students about life, character building, and most importantly, getting to know yourself. Self-awareness is real when you do music," explains Cha-Pyo. No matter your age, if you have a love of music and the desire to learn, you may be on that stage next.
