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PRINCETON NJ Announcement
PRINCETON, NJ — On Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 7:30PM in the Princeton University Chapel, Princeton University Concerts (PUC) presents a special event conceived of and led by world-renowned violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja. Described by The New York Times ?as "a player of rare expressive energy and disarming informality, of whimsy and theatrical ambition," Kopatchinskaja mines the essence of each artistic work, whether a fresh interpretation of a violin classic or an original staged production that crosses musical, theatrical, and interdisciplinary boundaries. At Princeton, Kopatchinskaja will collaborate with artists from around the world and across campus for the East Coast premiere of a one-of-a-kind dramatic event, Dies Irae.
In this soulful performance, Kopatchinskaja, on violin and percussion, along with eight double bassists, pianist Conrad Tao, the Princeton University Choir and Princeton University students and performance faculty comprising the Richardson Chamber Players will present the East Coast premiere of her Dies Irae project at the iconic Princeton University Chapel. This provocative, semi-staged performance offers a moving musical reflection on the challenges we face in our times: the devastation of global warming, resource wars, and the refugee crisis, to name a few. Drawing inspiration from the Gregorian Dies Irae chant, the program spans centuries of spiritual exploration. Through this music, Kopatchinskaja contemplates the end of civilization as we know it, with works from the 16th-20th centuries, from Heinrich Biber's Battalia à 10 to George Crumb's Black Angels. The evening's centerpiece is Galina Ustvolskaya's powerful Dies Irae, with Kopatchinskaja playing percussion alongside eight double basses and piano, creating a visceral and emotionally charged soundscape.
Dies Irae, which has toured the world, including the Lucerne Festival, the Ojai Festival, and Southbank Centre to great acclaim, is a bold, unflinching reflection on today's most urgent global issues, pushing the boundaries of classical music to challenge our understanding of the world and our role in shaping its future. As Kopatchinskaja says, "Most of all, it raises the question of how much time we have left."
"Over the centuries, in challenging times, people have turned to the healing power and wisdom of music," says PUC Director Marna Seltzer. "This remarkable ensemble of musicians, led by renowned violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja, offers us a unique space in which to reflect on the troubled state of the world and the need to protect and preserve our beautiful planet."
Remaining tickets to this special event ($37-$63 General/$16 Student) are expected to sell quickly; patrons are encouraged to buy them soon. Reduced cost tickets are available for those who qualify for PUC's Admit All ticket access program for low-income patrons. Visit puc.princeton.edu or call 609.258.9220 for tickets.
The 2025-26 PUC season includes the return of many fan-favorite string players and ensembles from past seasons: the Ébène Quartet (April 8, 2026), the Australian Chamber Orchestra (April 23, 2026), and violinist Lisa Batiashvili (April 29 and 30, 2026).
ABOUT THE MUSICIANS
Patricia Kopatchinskaja's focus is to get to the heart of the music, to its meaning for us—here and now. A visionary who thrives on experimentation and collaboration, she describes contemporary music as her lifeblood. Her artistic partnerships with living composers such as Francisco Coll, Luca Francesconi, Michael Hersch, Márton Illés, György Kurtág, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Aureliano Cattaneo have resulted in numerous world premieres. Kopatchinskaja directs staged concerts at venues on both sides of the Atlantic and collaborates with leading orchestras, conductors, and festivals worldwide. A virtuoso, storyteller, and all-around phenomenon, Kopatchinskaja continues to serve as Artistic Partner of the SWR Symphony Orchestra, designing her own programs in both established and innovative staged concert formats.
Dies Irae — a part-concert, part-installation presented at Princeton University — merges a fierce musical enactment of the Day of Judgment with a sharp critique of war and the climate crisis as drivers of human self-destruction. Drawing on works by Scelsi, Biber, Crumb, Hendrix, Lotti, Dowland, and Ustvolskaya, the provocative, semi-staged performance evokes a haunting ?"day of wrath" in response to global collapse, resource wars, and the refugee crisis. At the Salzburg Festival she revives another signature project, Les Adieux, confronting the rapid deterioration of the natural world. Following her tenure as Artist-in-Residence at the Prague Spring Festival 2025, Kopatchinskaja reunites with the Czech Philharmonic and Jakub Hr?ša for Fišer's Violin Concerto. She also champions new music with the world premiere of a violin concerto by Stefano Gervasoni with Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France as part of the Festival ManiFeste. Full bio.
Conrad Tao is a pianist and composer celebrated for his boundary-defying artistry as well as his powerful performances of traditional repertoire. Described by New York Magazine as "the kind of musician who is shaping the future of classical music," and praised by The New York Times for his "probing intellect and open-hearted vision," Tao appears regularly as a soloist with leading orchestras and at major venues across the world.
He makes his harpsichord debut at Princeton University in Patricia Kopatchinskaja's Dies Irae. Recent highlights include his return to Carnegie Hall with Debussy's 12 Études and his original composition Keyed In, as well as appearances with the San Francisco Symphony and Nicholas Collon, Philadelphia Orchestra and Marin Alsop, Boston Symphony and Dima Slobodeniouk, New York Philharmonic and Jaap van Zweden, and Cleveland Orchestra and Jahja Ling. He also tours Counterpoint, his collaboration with dancer Caleb Teicher, and performs regularly with the Junction Trio. Full bio.
Zachary Cohen, a native of the Bronx, won the position of principal bass of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in his senior year of Juilliard at the age of 22. He received his Bachelor of Music from Juilliard, where he studied with legendary bassist Homer Mensch. Cohen has performed at the Marlboro Music Festival, Grand Teton Music Festival, and The Dresden Musikfestspiele. Cohen has collaborated with a wide range of artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Richard Goode, Mitsuko Uchida, Midori, Mark O'Connor and members of the Guarneri and Mendelssohn quartets. He has also worked closely with some of today's most respected composers such as Henri Dutilleux, Osvaldo Golijov, and Mario Davidovsky. While attending Juilliard, Cohen became a member of the chamber group "The Knights." He has recently recorded two albums with them on Sony Classical.
American double bassist Nina Bernat, acclaimed for her interpretive maturity, expressive depth and technical clarity, has carved out a distinctive career as a soloist, redefining the role of her instrument on the world stage. She was hailed by the Star Tribune as a "standout" for her recent concerto debut with the Minnesota Orchestra, praising her performance as "exhilarating, lovely and lyrical... technically precise and impressively emotive."
Nina is a member of the Bowers Program of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and has appeared at renowned festivals. She performs on an instrument passed down from her father, Mark Bernat, attributed to Guadagnini. Full bio.
The Princeton University Chapel Choir offers Princeton undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty singers the chance to explore a varied and rich repertoire of sacred music, with special focus on artists who have historically been marginalized within the Western art music tradition. The choir provides music for the Ecumenical Chapel Worship Service, Opening Exercises, Baccalaureate, and the annual Service of Remembrance, as well as special concerts throughout the year. Singing with the Chapel Choir is about more than music, though: it is an opportunity for rest, renewal, and connection—a chance for singers to be valued for who they are, not just what they do.
Richardson Chamber Players
The Richardson Chamber Players group was co-founded by Nathan A. Randall and Michael J. Pratt during the 1994-1995 Centennial season of Princeton University Concerts. The ensemble comprises musicians who teach instrumental music and voice at Princeton University, distinguished guest artists, and supremely talented students. The repertoire largely consists of works for singular combinations of instruments and voices, which would otherwise remain unheard.
ADHD and Driving: 8 Tips From a Driver Rehabilitation Specialist
Teens have to learn many new skills in order to drive, from judging moving car distances to anticipating what other drivers are going to do. Most teens pick these up without too much difficulty. But trouble with executive function can make that harder for some teens with ADHD.
Teens with ADHD might focus all their attention on the pedestrian waiting to cross the street and not notice the brake lights ahead of them, for instance. Or they may not remember all the steps for parallel parking.
Special Flu Vaccination Clinic Monday in Montgomery
The flu season has hit across New Jersey and the nation earlier than usual. In addition, the H3N2 flu strain circulating is more likely to cause serious illness than usual.
This year's vaccine is your best protection against the flu. Montgomery Health Department encourages you to get your flu shot now if you haven't already done so. To help, the Health Department has scheduled a flu vaccination clinic on Monday, January 14 from 3:30-6:30 PM at the Otto Kaufman Community Center, 356 Skillman Road. The clinic is open to ages 4 to 104. (Under 18 must be accompanied by a parent).
To make an appointment, e-mail your name(s), date of birth, address and phone number to health@twp.montgomery.nj.us , and you will be assigned an appointment in the order received. Walk-ins will be accepted if extra vaccine is available. The clinic is free; donations to defray the cost will be accepted.
While prevention is the best medicine, here is further information from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention on taking care of yourself or a family member sick with the flu. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/whattodo.htm
Holiday Card Special on Special Holiday Cards
Holiday Card Special on Special Holiday Cards.
It’s that time of year again and yes, I have received my first holiday card, sent way ahead of the game by a classy gal called Jane! Well done Jane. The rest of us slackers are still sorting through the snaps trying to find a good one, or quickly tossing our family into piles of leaves as we grab the camera. This approach works quite well actually, and can create photos of people radiating joy. But wouldn’t it be great to have someone arrive and take care of it for you?
Just in the nick of time, Free Association Photography is offering a holiday special now through December 12th. Tasha Gajewski will provide 30 minutes of shoot time at a location of your choice, complete with 50 custom designed flat 5x7 cards (double sided) and plain envelopes for $185. Additional cards are sold in groups of 10 at $28 a group. Take a look at her work and you’ll see that she captures the magic of childhood in the most authentic and natural way.
You’ll have a gorgeous portrait to remember this year, and your holiday cards all in. Why not take making the cards off your list this time, so you can focus on turkey! Yum.
Scooped at:
Free Association Photography
609 468-2327
This specialty drink is so good, you may cry.
One of the greatest cocktails being shaken in NYC by Mo Kotb at NYC's Park Avenue Cafe.
This cocktail was served last night to a crowd of 200 to rave reviews. It is so fresh it almost makes this indulgence feel healthy!
2 chilled Martini Glasses
3 oz orange Vodka
1/2 oz Cointreau
2.5 oz fresh blood orange juice
2.5 oz fresh tangerine juice
splash of lemon juice
Shake well over ice and serve in a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a slice of blood orange.
Not only that, there is so much vitamin C it might just keep the swine flu at bay.
Aren't you glad I passed it on? Merry, Jingle, Ho!
Sending Your Child With Special Needs To Camp
You've done it - you've taken the plunge and decided to send your child to camp this summer. There are many types of camps to choose from, including camps intended just for your child's special needs to mainstream camps where your child will be with kids who have no special needs. You've done your research, and now that you and your child have made up your minds, what can you do to get ready?
Preparing Your Child - and Yourself
If you and your child haven't had the opportunity to visit the camp, make sure you get as much literature about the camp as possible, including a description of the layout and a video if the camp has one. You and your child should go over these materials together. Tell your child that you'll be checking in regularly with the camp staff and stress that he or she can always let the staff know if his or her needs aren't being met.
Talk to your child about his or her feelings. Find out if your child has any concerns, and do your best to reassure him or her that you and the camp staff will take every precaution to make sure he or she stays safe. You might find it helpful to talk about why your child is attending camp and what some of his or her goals might be, such as to try a new sport, to make new friends, or to just enjoy a break from doctors' appointments and therapy sessions.
If your child is intimidated by the thought of attending a residential camp or an inclusionary camp, you might consider starting him or her off in a day camp or a sports team for kids with special needs. This step can give your child the skills and confidence he or she needs to feel comfortable about going to a residential camp. Start with regular sports activities and day camp. Then use a special-needs camp to get your child used to being away before sending your child to an inclusionary camp.
Another option you might consider is sending your child to camp with a friend or a sibling. If your child is attending an inclusionary or mainstream camp, the buddy doesn't have to have a special need. Going with a friend can reduce stress for both you and your child, since your child and his or her camp buddy will be looking out for each other.
Sharing Information With Camp Staff
Some parents are reluctant to share too much information with camp staff for fear it will have negative repercussions for their child (for example, they may wonder if the camp will still take their child or if they're setting their child up for failure). But good camps will want and need to know as much as possible - the more information they have, the better.
Consult with your child's doctor and other specialists, such as a physical therapist, to make sure you provide the camp director and staff with all the necessary information, and check with the camp staff to make sure they know everything they need to.
You can help educate the staff by spending time with them and answering and asking questions before you drop off your child. This can be critical. For example, if your child will be attending a mainstream camp, you'll want to make sure that everything is accessible for your child and that the staff understands your child's needs.
Many camps have paperwork you can fill out to share information as well, including information about dietary and medical needs. And regardless of whether your child is going to a day or residential camp, you should give the staff a list of emergency phone numbers and email addresses, and make sure they know how to reach you at all times during your child's camp stay.
If your child takes any medication, include the phone number of your child's doctor, in the event the prescription is lost and needs to be refilled by camp staff. Check whether the camp infirmary stocks your child's medication, too. If it doesn't, make sure you send extra medicine with your child in case of an emergency.
What to Pack
Try to limit the special equipment your child brings, especially if it's expensive or breakable. If your child is attending a mainstream camp, he or she is likely to want to be like all the other kids, so do what you can to accommodate that desire. And mark or label everything with your child's name to make it easier to keep track of his or her belongings - that goes for everything from crutches to a retainer case.
If the camp hasn't sent you one, you should call ahead for a list of recommended items. Every camp has different requirements.
You also have the option to provide any support staff your child needs. If your child needs a therapist, you can have that person come in on a predetermined basis to provide care for your child. Or maybe your child needs more intensive, round-the-clock care - ask the camp director what you can do to accommodate these special needs.
Remember, however, that you may want to let your child have a vacation from therapy or other treatments. Before you decide to postpone any treatments, though, you should consult with your child's doctor.
Dealing With Anxiety and Homesickness
Many camps don't allow direct contact between parent and child while the camp is in session - they do this to help the campers stay focused on their activities. This can be a daunting prospect for parents of children with special needs, which is why it's important that you figure out, ahead of time, how you'll get information about your child's status. Will the camp call you with updates, or you can call on a regular basis to speak to the supervisor and camp staff regarding your child's performance?
Like any parent of a camper, though, parents of children with special needs can write letters to remind their kids that they're loved and missed, and that they can't wait to hear all about their campers' many experiences.
And just like any other child, your kid probably won't want you to cramp his or her style while away at camp. The best thing you can do is respect your camper's need for freedom and independence while he or she is in a safe camp environment.
