Nearly 100 Musicians to Participate In Capital Philharmonic Season Opener “It’s always a fun challenge, and will be especially so this time because of the variety involved.” Grand is among five finalists for the position of music director of the orchestra. The search, which has been underway for more than a year, began with 75 applicants interested in coming to Trenton. “They were from every continent except Antarctica,” said Jill Aguayo, the orchestra’s executive director. “We narrowed it down to 10, including our current assistant conductor [Grand] and a guest conductor from last year. We did interviews with each one, so now we’re down to five.” As is the custom in this type of search, each finalist gets a chance to work with the musicians and conduct a concert. Scheduled to lead the annual New Year’s Eve performance is Ruth Ochs, familiar to Princeton audiences from her work leading the Princeton University Sinfonia and the Westminster Community Orchestra. Ochs debuted with the Capital Philharmonic last fall. Kenneth Bean, assistant conductor of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and conductor of the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey, is another finalist with a Princeton connection. Sections of Oh God… Beautiful Machine that include lyrics and spoken word are in multiple languages “paying homage to visionaries such as Paul Robeson, Herbie Hancock, and Carlos Santana, and explore styles ranging from Native American and Afro - Caribbean influences to the swinging rhythms of Bossa Nova and the soul-stirring sounds of Mississippi Gospel,” reads a press release. The piece is the second that Hilton created as a collaboration between di Mura and Komunyakaa. The first was Echoes of the Great Migration, an oratorio that is now turning into a theater piece and might be done at the New Federal Theatre in New York City in 2026, di Mura said. Producing Oh God…Beautiful Machine “is an incredible act of courage for the Capital Philharmonic,” di Mura said. “This is an orchestra that wants to make a mark. They’re taking a gigantic risk, and that alone deserves the support.” Oh God…Beautiful Machine is Saturday, October 25 at 7:30 p.m., following a lecture by di Mura at 6:45 p.m. Visit capitalphilharmonic.org for ticket information. —Anne Levin
BRIAN’S TREE SERVICE
Experience Princeton Seeks New Director
CREATIVE COLLABORATION: “Oh God…Beautiful Machine” brings together composer Vince di Mura, poet Yusef Komunyakaa, and artist John Gummere with the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey in an ambitious program on October 25.
CMAP Celebrates 25 Years of Two by Penelope Lively — Applying Precepts of BudExplore the humor, energy, dhist Thought for Well-BeEvergreen Forum Courses
The Center for Modern Aging Princeton (CMAP) has announced the Fall 2025 Evergreen Forum, marking 25 years of fostering curiosity, conversation, and community for older adults. This milestone season offers a rich variety of in-person, virtual, and hybrid courses that invite participants to engage their minds, share perspectives, and discover new ideas. Registration opens Tuesday, August 26, at 9:30 a.m., with participants able to select up to two courses. Telephone and mail ap plications will not be accepted. To register, visit cmaprinceton.org. This fall’s offerings include topics in literature, history, science, culture, politics, and personal well-being. Featured courses include: Ammonites and Cleopatra:
and insight of Booker Prize– winning author Penelope Lively through her memoir Dancing Fish and Ammonites and the novel Cleopatra’s Sister. Led by veteran educator Lynne Cullinane, this six-week virtual course invites readers to immerse themselves in vivid storytelling and thought-provoking themes. The Rule of Law: Historical Case Studies — Examine the foundations and evolution of the rule of law through pivotal historical moments, from 17th-century England to the modernday United States. Retired Princeton University history professor Stanley N. Katz and retired New Jersey judge Philip Carchman guide participants through constitutional struggles, revolutions, and contemporary challenges to this essential democratic principle.
ing — Learn how principles of patience, curiosity, and generosity from Buddhist philosophy can enhance your daily life and sense of belonging. Dr. Robin Shapiro, author of The Buddha Lives in New Jersey, brings decades of study and teaching to this engaging and practical course. Cours e Fee s : $95 for three- to four-week courses and $125 for five- to eightweek courses. Scholarships are available for those for whom the fee is a hardship — cost should never be a barrier to learning. CM A P, t he Center for Modern Aging Princeton (formerly Princeton Senior Resource Center), is a community nonprofit where aging adults and their families find support, guidance, education, and social programs to help them navigate life transitions and remain
BRIAN’S
A Full609-466-6883 Service Trees & Shrubs Tree, Lawn & Landscape Co. Trimmed, Pruned, and Removed Stump Grinding & Lot Clearing
Locally Owned & Operated for over 20 years!
TREE SERVICE
Trees & Shrubs Trimmed, Pruned & Removed Lawn & Landscape Maintenance, Cleanups, Stump Grinding & Lot Clearing Now Offering Landscape Free Estimates Design & Installation Fully Insured
609-466-6883
609-466-6883
Locally Owned and Operated for Over 25 years!
Trees & Shrubs
Trimmed, Pruned, and Removed
11 • TOWN TOPICS, PRINCETON, N.J., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2025
An ambitious new symphonic jazz work that celebrates the artistry of some locally-based cultural figures is the opening program of the coming season for The Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey. The orchestra will debut Oh God…Beautiful Machine at Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton on October 25. A collaboration of the orchestra with Yusef Komunyakaa, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, and Vince di Mura, resident music director and composer at Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts, the monumental piece includes full orchestra, jazz ensemble, traditional Chinese instrumentalists, and a women’s chorus. The performance is a tribute to the late Larry Hilton, a dedicated supporter of the arts in Trenton who died suddenly on July 5. The project, described as “a reflection on environmental peril, resilience, and reverence for life on Earth,” was his idea. “Larry had this brewing in his head for a long time,” said di Mura. “He asked Yusef to write a series of poems. At first, it was going to be just a jazz ensemble with members of the orchestra. Somehow it became a jazz ensemble and the entire orchestra. Yusef wanted to use more than just a single singer, so it was his idea that we employ a chorus. I just went along for the ride.” Asked what the piece is, di Mura pointed out what it is not. “It is not an activist protest work,” he said. “It is a very positive, very spiritual piece that tackles climate concerns and environmental concerns by simply asking the right questions. It’s a conversation with the audience. Musically, it is 10 large movements, and they are written in very different jazz vernaculars — which was not the intention. But I was responding to the text, and created a kind of diverse jazz vocabulary — Latin American vibes, fusion, blues, gospel.” Sebastian Grand, who has been acting music director of the orchestra since former conductor Daniel Spalding stepped down last year, will lead the piece. He describes it as “ambitious and unusual. Often, contemporary compositions are confined to the periphery of a program,” he said. “To dedicate an entire concert is really rare, and very special.” Members of the Capital Philharmonic usually don’t meet and rehearse until a week before a concert. “My responsibility is to pull it all together,” Grand said.
active, healthy, and engaged. The Evergreen Forum’s corporate sponsors for Fall 2025 are Bryn Mawr Trust; Home Instead; Homewatch CareGivers ; McCaf frey’s Food Markets; Peapack Private Bank & Trust; Penn Medicine Princeton Health; Princeton Theological Seminary; and Stark & Stark Attorneys at Law.
The Board of Experience Princeton (EP) is seeking a leader to serve as its next full-time executive director. Isaac Kremer, executive director for the past three years, recently resigned. This marks a new chapter in Experience Princeton’s history — building on the foundation of their first three years and stepping forward into a future defined by community building, economic vitality, and strategic promotion of Princeton as an ideal place to live, work, and play, or to visit for a day, evening, or weekend. E xperience Princeton’s mission is to shape, maintain, and grow a flourishing Princeton economy by offering an exceptional experience for residents and visitors, and by advocating for a diverse business community through strong partnerships. The next executive director will be charged with advancing this mission and ushering in the next phase of growth and impact. I n te r e s te d c a n d i d a te s should send their resumes to: info@experience princeton.org.
TOWN TOPICS is printed entirely on recycled paper.