The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will return with live, in-person performances this fall.

The COVID-19 pandemic prevented indoor performances for much of the last 15 months. But the orchestra did produce concerts for streaming without an audience present. The Newark-based nonprofit symphony struggled as the pandemic wore on.

“The musicians took a major cut to their contract and unfortunately we had to let a number of our staff go, others on furlough and everyone is on pay cuts across the organization,” says president and CEO Gabriel Van Aalst.

The symphony has scheduled performances featuring some of classical music's best-known composers, as well as newly commissioned works for a season beginning in October. Van Aalst says certain safety protocols for the audience are still being worked out with theatres throughout New Jersey where the symphony regularly performs.

“It’s been such a journey to get back to the stage,” Van Aalst says.

Members of the orchestra are performing chamber concerts this summer in the garden of the Newark Museum of Art.