BEFORE THE MUSIC: A free lecture precedes the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey’s concert on Saturday, April 5 in the ballroom at Patriots Theater at the War Memorial. Joel Phillips, shown at the podium at a previous event, will talk in the downstairs lounge about Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5.

The Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey will present its Spring Concert on Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the War Memorial Ballroom in Trenton, led by music director finalist Kyle Ritenauer. The program pairs orchestral miniatures with one of the great Romantic symphonies, and offers a full evening of music, visual art, and educational programming.

Designed as an immersive cultural experience, the evening invites audiences to engage with the music in multiple ways.

Ticket holders can begin their evening with a free pre-concert lecture by musicologist Joel Phillips from 6:45–7:15 p.m. in the downstairs lounge, offering insights into the evening’s repertoire. The concert follows at 7:30 p.m.

On the program are Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Ballade in A minor, Zoltán Kodály’s Dances of Galánta, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64. Ritenauer, a finalist for the position of music director, will conduct.

“Kyle Ritenauer brings clarity and emotional depth to this program, which moves from Coleridge-Taylor’s lyrical Ballade through Kodály’s folk-infused dances to Tchaikovsky’s powerful Fifth Symphony,” said Jill Aguayo, executive director of the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey.

An exhibit in the lobby will feature artworks by Liz Aubrey and John Gummere. Tea-For-All will offer refreshments for purchase in the lobby, and a gift vendor will present items for sale.

Tickets are available at capitalphilharmonic.org.