We are thrilled to announce that our guest artist for the 2026-27 season is Trumpetist, Alex Bender, who is a trumpet performer active across Broadway, orchestral, and commercial music settings in New York City. He serves as Coordinator of Brass Studies and Artist-Teacher of Trumpet at The College of New Jersey. On Broadway, Mr. Bender is currently the lead trumpeter for Schmigadoon!, the 2026 Tony Award winner for Best New Musical. He has been a member of the Radio City Orchestra for eleven seasons. As an orchestral musician, Mr. Bender performs with ensembles including the New York City Ballet Orchestra and the American Symphony Orchestra, among others. Mr. Bender will perform the new River of Time Trumpet Concerto with our Symphonic Orchestra in January 2027, at TCNJ’s Kendall Hall.

The 2026-2027 season marks the seventh year of our partnership with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. We look forward to welcoming the new Princeton Symphony Orchestra Assistant Conductor Maestro Tomás García, who will lead our premiere ensemble, the Symphonic Orchestra. Mr. García is currently completing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Orchestral Conducting at Rutgers University. As a performing musician, he has collaborated with a wide range of ensembles in both
symphonic and operatic settings. Tomás is also the Associate Conductor of the Modus Operandi Orchestra in New York. Additionally, YOCJ is appreciative that the partnership provides PSO coaches for sectionals, and discount admission to the outstanding concerts of PSO’s upcoming season.