There’s nothing like grooving to Beyoncé or Billie Eilish during summer, but sometimes the senses call for something more quietly powerful: Bach, Beethoven or another classical composer, perhaps.
Across New Jersey, classical music concerts offer a more refined alternative to the summer jam, whether it’s an evening under the stars with a symphony orchestra or an intimate chamber performance in a historic venue. For those seeking a different tempo this season, classical might just be the summer soundtrack you didn’t know you needed.
Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27, Boardwalk Pavilion, Ocean Grove. The Ocean Grove Summer Band, a brass and wind ensemble, takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday this month. The Aug. 20 show is a special performance in the Great Auditorium.
Aug. 7, Morris Museum, Morristown. Latin Grammy Award winners and renowned international classical music ensemble Cuarteto Latinoamericano will perform at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Back Deck series. The program will include selections composed by George Gershwin, Antonin Dvorak and Heitor Villa-Lobos, among others.
Aug. 13, Provost Square Plaza, Jersey City. The New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players performs “The Music of India with Kulture Kool” as part of the Chamber Music After Hours series. The outdoor show, which starts at 6 p.m., will include themes from Bollywood, plus works for string quartet that feature Hindustani melodies and rhythms.
Aug. 16, Rotary Park, Cape May. Listen, dance and soak up the sounds as the Tri-County Symphonic Band performs at 7 p.m. at the gazebo in Cape May. Bring your chairs and blankets to the show, part of the City of Cape May’s free music in the park series.
Aug. 29, Borough Park, Waldwick. The 71-year-old Waldwick Community Band will hold a 7 p.m. concert, performing a selection of familiar big band favorites, timeless classics and original compositions. If you can’t make it to this show, the band will perform the following night, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. in Closter’s Memorial Park.
Sept. 5, Greenwood Gardens, Short Hills. Enjoy a stroll through the gardens and soak up the sounds of the New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players, who’ll play “Ladies First.” The program features the work of women who composed over the course of history, from the 1500s to today. The concert starts at 5:30 p.m. and is part of the “Music in the Garden” series.
Sept. 27, The Presbyterian Church, Westfield. Close out summer and open the New Jersey Festival Orchestra’s 2025-26 season at “The Gypsy Spirit.” Starting at 7 p.m. The NJFO and Imperial Brass will present Janáček’s “Sinfonietta” followed by the expressive depth of Bruch’s beloved Violin Concerto No. 1. The NJFO will present an encore performance on Sept. 28 at the Sieminski Theater in Basking Ridge.
Interested in upcoming home and garden shows, museum exhibits and more? Click here to read the latest issue of NJ HOME and stay tuned for our September issue.