Monday, Oct 26, 2026
First Westminster Community Orchestra concert of the season to be held on November 8, 2026
The Westminster Community Orchestra (WCO), conducted by Dr. Ruth Ochs, will present their first concert of the season on Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. at their new performance home, Gill Memorial Chapel, on the Rider University campus.
Titled “New Horizons” the concert will feature Richard Rodgers’ music from Carousel, Scott Joplin’s Overture to Treemonisha, selections from Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt, and the third and fourth movements from Brahms’ Symphony No. 1. The concert will also include the world premiere of Sean Haugh’s ’26 “Overture for a New Home” (Air on “The Lord Bless You and Keep You”).
“While the orchestra has always had a connection with Rider University, I conceived this program to highlight the optimism we have for our future rehearsing and performing on the Rider campus, and for the new collaborations that we will cultivate with the student body and faculty,” says Ochs. “The musical selections vary from movements of an epic symphony by Brahms to the overture to Scott Joplin’s only opera, to a classic of American musical theater and a world premiere by Westminster Choir College alumni Sean Haugh, yet they are all united by the way that they musically navigate toward hope. The principal melody of Sean’s new piece, in fact, is a hymn that is dear to the choral experience at Westminster. We are happy to add our voice to the tradition, as we celebrate our new home.”
Sean Haugh ’26 has sold compositions and arrangements worldwide, including choral and instrumental works. Recently, he worked with Grammarly Inc to compose Writing’s Not That Easy, recorded by Soulfege Acappella and published on all major streaming platforms. In April 2026, Sean was the first-place recipient for Westminster’s Composition Competition with his saxophone quartet piece, The Verdant Gale.
“This new interpretation and re-composition within Overture for a New Home is meant to symbolize the transition of the entire Westminster community over the last decade,” says Haugh. “Within the piece, listen to the familiar melodies of Westminster’s past, but begin to recognize the new melodies that provide hope, brightness, and a future on the Westminster Community’s new home.”
Dr. Ochs holds degrees in Musicology from Princeton University, Orchestral Conducting from the University of Texas at Austin, and Music from Harvard University. Now in her 22nd season as the WCO’s music director, Dr. Ochs has led the group in performances of major orchestral and choral-orchestral works. Under her leadership, the orchestra features a diverse and new repertory, alongside symphonic favorites, creating a rich concert experience for all. She is currently a senior lecturer in the Princeton University Department of Music, where she is in her 25th season as the conductor of the Princeton University Sinfonia.
The Westminster Community Orchestra, now in its 40th season, is known for performances that showcase the artistry, commitment and passion of a true community ensemble. The group presents popular programs noted for their diverse repertoire and widespread appeal. Members are professional and gifted amateur musicians from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They come from all walks of life but share a common goal: the desire to make wonderful music for themselves and their community.
Tickets to the concert are available by calling the Rider University Performing Arts Box Office at 609-896-7775, online at https://www.rider.edu/about/events/westminster-community-orchestra-new-horizons, or at the door the day of the concert. For more information about the concert, visit WCO, visit rider.edu/arts; for more information about the WCO, visit https://www.facebook.com/Westminstercommunityorchestra.