Metropolitan Orchestra Celebrates 40th Season

The Metropolitan Orchestra of New Jersey will celebrate its 40^th Season with its first concert in a school auditorium since it started calling Millburn home in 2009.

The orchestra will play scores from the masters on Sunday at in Short Hills with guest soloist Evelyn Estava featured on Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5.

“We’re excited about our first concert at the school,” said Ed Rummel, french horn player and orchestra board member. "The has been great to us, but this space is really better for the orchestra."

Other pieces include Rossini’s Semiramide Overture and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Opus 92.

According to her bio, Violin virtuoso Estava has earned recognition as one of the top performing artists in her native Venezuela. She has made many guest soloist appearances with orchestras in North and South America, including the Mexico State Symphony and the Simón Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela. She began playing on a national stage at age 15.

The Metropolitan Orchestra of New Jersey reorganized in 1972 and until its move to Millburn, practiced and played at the Jewish Community Center in West Orange When it moved to Millburn it started having its concerts at the Community Congregation Church and its rehearsals at the Bauer Center.

Under the baton of Maestro Michael Stratechuk, the orchestra performs three concerts per year (fall, winter and spring) featuring some of the most popular and beautiful orchestral selections from major composers.

The orchestra has gained a following in Millburn, Short Hills, Livingston, Maplewood, South Orange, Summit, Chatham and towns beyond, and still has fans from West Orange and towns futher north in Essex County, Rummel said. Musicians live throughout the region and range in age - with one violinist as old as 90.

The concert begins Sunday at 3 p.m. at Hartshorn School, 400 Hartshorn Drive,  and is free, although the orchestra accepts donations.