The Discovery Orchestra
About The Discovery Orchestra
Transforming Listening, Enhancing Lives
In our present day culture of instant gratification and short sound bites, we believe in the power of listening to help us connect with each other and ourselves. Noticing the many expressive details of classical music can touch deep emotional chords within us, creating powerful ‘peak experiences.’ Since 1996 Artistic Director George Marriner Maull and The Discovery Orchestra have helped audience members to personally encounter “Aha!” moments in music through interactive Discovery programs, television shows, online educational videos, podcasts and on the radio.
The omnipresence of electronically reproduced music in today’s society has trained us to merely hear music as a background that accompanies dining, driving, reading, texting…virtually every activity. We’ve been conditioned to ignore music. Devoting time to classical music listening is a rarity in American homes and schools. Generations have grown up without experiencing just how meaningful classical music listening can be. The Discovery Orchestra creates transformative experiences for audience members of all ages, from novices to knowledgeable classical fans.
The Orchestra was founded in 1987 as the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey, a professional ensemble that presented traditional symphonic concerts. Beginning with our first Discovery Concert® in 1996, and culminating with our name change in 2006, all programs now feature interactive instruction.
The Discovery Orchestra presents: Discovery Concerts, Intimate Afternoon Chamber Music Recitals and Community Outreach programs for underserved youth and seniors. Nationally and internationally, from 2003 to the present, millions of viewers have experienced musical discovery through broadcasts and sales of our television programs: Bach to the Future (Emmy nomination), Discover Beethoven’s 5th (Emmy nomination and three Telly Awards), Discover Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (Emmy Nomination and three Telly Awards), Fall in Love with Music (two Telly Awards) and Discover The Firebird (two Telly Awards). We also reach audiences through our Discovery Orchestra Chat short-form videos, available on YouTube and Amazon Prime, and streamed to classrooms by Films Media Group. Maestro Maull’s radio program, Inside Music, is broadcast on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month at 7:30pm on WWFM The Classical Network, and can be streamed online at wwfm.org. Notes from Under the Piano, a new video and podcast series, premiered in 2020 and features Maestro Maull sharing personal stories about his life as a performer, conductor and music educator.
The Discovery Orchestra receives support from businesses, foundations, individuals and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. It is a priority to provide free or discount tickets to underserved constituents for many of our programs. We invite you to call us at 973-379-2200 or visit our website at DiscoveryOrchestra.org.
Virginia Johnston received her Bachelor of Music (Summa Cum Laude, University Scholar) from Syracuse University and her Master of Music (with Honors) from Boston University in both composition and clarinet performance. She has also studied choral conducting at Westminster Choir College through their Continuing Education department. Starting as an Administrator with the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey (TDO’s predecessor organization) in 1992, she assumed the responsibilities of Managing Director in 1999 and Executive Director in June, 2009. She brings strong organizational, problem-solving and grant writing skills to The Discovery Orchestra. Virginia worked as Music Director at the Springfield Emanuel United Methodist Church for 7 years and is a professional free-lance clarinetist, conductor and composer in the tri-state area. Her works have been performed by the Society for New Music, the Tunnel Vision Writer’s Project of Montclair and the New Jersey Youth Symphony at Alice Tully Hall, among others. Several of her compositions have been published by Ethos Publications and Earnestly Music. In 1992, she co-founded Triad Arts Ensemble, a non-profit performing arts organization. Through Triad, Virginia has co-chaired the annual Canticles for Life AIDS Benefit Concerts in New Jersey since 1997. To date, over $150,000 has been raised in this effort. Since 1995, she has been Conductor of the Triad Vocal Ensemble, a mixed adult community choir specializing in accessible contemporary repertoire as well as traditional works, with a focus on female composers and New Jersey composers. Through the Triad Vocal Ensemble,Virginia has commissioned several new works from emerging New Jersey composers. Additionally, Ms. Johnston performs locally as a singer-songwriter in folk/rock and jazz styles and has released two CD’s of original material. Virginia served on the Board of Trustees of the Newark Boys Chorus School and lives in Maplewood, NJ with her family. email: Ginny@DiscoveryOrchestra.org
A Cum Laude graduate of Montclair State University, Christine comes to us with considerable corporate experience, first at Merrill Lynch/Bank of America in New York City where she served as Assistant Vice-President, Executive Services; Vice-President/Group Administrator; and Director, Global Conference, Dining and Training Services. She has also formerly been Administrative Assistant of Student Services at the Unity Charter School in Morristown and will continue as part-time remote Club Administrator of the Kellogg Club in Morristown as she now serves The Discovery Orchestra part-time. Email: Christine@DiscoveryOrchestra.org .
Michael Avagliano, a graduate of Indiana University and Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, is currently Music Director and Conductor of both the Summit Symphony Orchestra and the Somerset Symphony and was formerly Music Director and Conductor of the Manalapan Symphony Orchestra. He was formerly Executive Director of the New Jersey State Youth Orchestra. In addition he is a professional violinist and violist and a member of the Madison String Quartet. He is also the Director of the Drew University Orchestra and an Adjunct Lecturer at Drew. Email: Michael@DiscoveryOrchestra.org .
Stumbled upon this quite by accident on our Maryland PBS station. What a joy! Firebird is my favorite piece of music and your wonderful program just enhanced my appreciation of Stravinsky’s genius. Thank you and keep up your great work of feeding our souls!