RIVER VALE—The summer sounds of Strauss, movie magic, and classical favorites filled the air at Upper Grove Field on Saturday, June 28, as the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra performed before a crowd of more than 200 residents. The free outdoor concert, Strauss to the Silverscreen, marked the orchestra’s second annual visit to River Vale—and a return engagement is already confirmed for next summer.
Presented by the Township of River Vale, the late-afternoon event invited residents to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the music under sunny skies. Though it was a warm day, the early summer date offered a welcome break from the blistering heat of last year’s July concert.
“River Vale is so close to our home in Ridgewood, and the department is so easy to work with and enthusiastic,” said Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra president Jane Rodin. “It’s fun to bring our music to a new, varied audience that may not know about us, and to see children enjoying classical music.”
The family-friendly atmosphere included cotton candy and drinks available for purchase, and many attendees stayed through the evening to enjoy the park and connect with neighbors.
Cultural Affairs Director Amy Salib called the event “a lovely day,” noting that the Ridgewood Symphony’s return speaks to how well the community has embraced this now-annual tradition. “It’s so nice to see families relaxing on the grass, hearing live music, and making memories together.”
The RSO’s 2025–26 season launches this October at West Side Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood with Orchestral Fantasies, a program featuring Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade and Strauss’s Horn Concerto No. 1, performed by New Jersey Symphony Orchestra soloist Chris Komer.
Later concerts this season include a choral evening (Songs of Destiny), a March program pairing Mahler’s Titan with Rachmaninoff’s beloved Piano Concerto No. 2, and a spring finale titled Celebrating America’s 250 Years, featuring DvoёЗk’s New World Symphony and a newly commissioned work.
Founded more than 80 years ago, the RSO is a regionally based auditioned ensemble that showcases professional soloists and offers educational outreach through its Young Musicians Festival. The orchestra is supported by donations, ticket sales, and grants—including those that help make free community concerts possible.
To learn more about the orchestra’s season or to donate, subscribe, or advertise, visit ridgewoodsymphony.org.