By Anne Levin
Following an extensive national search, the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey (CPNJ) has named Kyle Ritenauer as its new music director. The 37-year-old conductor will begin his tenure with the Trenton orchestra in the coming fall season.
“I’m thrilled,” Ritenauer said during a phone interview this week. “Trenton has an undiscovered orchestra. Through programming and collaborations, we will be building excitement one concert at a time.”
CPNJ, which performs at Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, was formed in September 2013 by musicians from the former Greater Trenton Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Daniel Spalding, who stepped down in 2024. Other finalists for the music director post were Ruth Ochs, Joshua Gerson, Kenneth Bean, and Sebastian Grant. Each led concerts during the past two seasons. Ritenauer’s concerts were this past April, conducting a program that included Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Ballade in A minor, Zoltán Kodály’s Dances of Galánta, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5.
“From the very first rehearsal, I felt a connection with the musicians, a kind of natural rapport,” Ritenauer said. “I do pride myself on extremely efficient rehearsing and a level of conducting where I don’t get in their way. I am confident that with this new chapter, rehearsals will get even better. As we get to know each other more, the relationship becomes more efficient.”
Ritenauer’s resume includes director of orchestra studies at Montclair State University, where he leads the Symphony Orchestra, conducts the Cali Opera Program, and heads graduate orchestral conducting studies. A regular presence at Lincoln Center, he led more than 20 performances with the New York City Ballet last season, and has conducted over a dozen performances at The Juilliard School. He has also conducted the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, and recently made his debut as guest conductor with the New Jersey Symphony. Ritenauer has served on the conducting staffs of Opera de Montreal, the Des Moines Metro Opera, and The Juilliard School Vocal Arts Program. He has been a member of the artistic staff of the Manhattan School of Music since 2021 and has served on the conducting faculty of The Pierre Monteux School since 2024.
“Kyle brings an impressive combination of artistic vision, collaborative spirit, and organizational experience,” said John Hatch, president of the Capital Philharmonic Board of Trustees, in a press release. “We are excited to welcome him as the next music director of the Capital Philharmonic and to begin this new chapter together.”
Asked what he considers the biggest challenge of the job, Ritenauer said he thinks the word “responsibility” is more appropriate. “It’s my responsibility to make sure that orchestral and classical music continue to grow in Trenton,” he said. “They have one orchestra. As music director, I need to not just take care of the musicians, but also make sure we gain traction in the community. We have something special here, and over the next few years it will only get better. For me, it’s about incremental improvement.”
The first concert of the season is a sequel to last year’s opening concert with two world premieres by Vince di Mura, one of which includes participation of students from Trenton’s Foundation Academy. The second brings together the orchestra and a Cuban band. Of the orchestra’s annual New Year’s Eve concert, “We will always try to make it accessible and entertaining, but also heighten the experience,” said Ritenauer. “And then we have a very exciting collaboration with The Capital Singers in March, to celebrate their 25th anniversary.”
Ritenauer is also planning a focus on the work of composer Johannes Brahms. “The story of his life is very ‘podcastable,’ and his music is good for the soul,” he said. “For me, his music at first was difficult to fully understand. I stayed with it, and it has meant more and more to me as I go on. I’m trying to replicate my experience with that into the community.”
CPNJ oboist Melissa Bohl, who led the search committee, said, “We are especially grateful to everyone who participated in this search. The process reflected the care and seriousness with which our musicians, board, and staff approached this decision. We are confident that Kyle will be an excellent artistic leader for the orchestra and an engaged presence in our community.”