2016 Princeton Festival Begins This Week

Princeton, NJ -- The 2016 season of The Princeton Festival begins with the best of a cappella vocal jazz, the preliminary rounds of the Festival’s annual Piano Competition for Young Performers, and two free events, an Artists Round Table and a Festival Preview. 

The weeks ahead will be filled to the brim with Benjamin Britten’s great opera "Peter Grimes," Stephen Sondheim’s musical comedy "A Little Night Music," jazz vocalist Cécile McLoren Salvant, Concordia Chamber Players, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, The Passion of Joan of Arc/Voices of Light, the classic silent film accompanied with a live performance of Richard EInhorn’s oratorio, baroque orchestra and choral concerts, an organ recital by Kristiaan Seynhave, and more free lectures and events

Festival events begin on Wednesday, June 1, with an Artists Round Table. Members of the opera’s cast, director and production staff informally discuss how they work to make Peter Grimes come to life on stage.  Marian Burleigh-Motley, Head of Academic Affairs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, moderates the discussion in the Erdman Center, Princeton Theological Seminary at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 2, brings another free event for Festival-goers, a preview of "Peter Grimes" and "A Little Night Music" with scenes performed by members of the casts and commentary by the directors at 7 p.m. in the Princeton Public Library.

Break from Blue Collar and The Fonic present the best in all-male a cappella on Saturday, June 4, 8 p.m. in Taplin Auditorium, Fine Hall on the Princeton University campus.

Break from Blue Collar’s mix of barbershop and rock and roll recently won awards at the Barbershop Harmony Society, Mid-Atlantic Division competition.

In contrast, The Fonic, a five-man vocal band from New York City mixes pop, rock, and soul, and does them all with high style and beautiful blend.

Young pianists from the mid-Atlantic region and beyond gather on Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and 5, in the Clark Music Center at The Lawrenceville School for preliminary rounds of the Festival’s Piano Competition for Young Performers.

They compete in six age categories for trophies and cash. The preliminary rounds are free and open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The final round will take place on Sunday, June 12, 3 p.m. in Clark Music Center.

For more information about the three weeks of the Festival and a link to ticket sales handled by McCarter Theater, visit www.princetonfestival.org.

To purchase tickets by phone, call McCarter Theatre at 609-258-2787.