(SUMMIT, NJ) — Led by Founder and Artistic Director George Marriner Maull, The Discovery Orchestra makes a welcome return to the concert stage after a pandemic hiatus for an exploration of French composer Camille Saint-Saëns’ epic masterpiece Symphony No. 3 in C minor (there “Organ Symphony). The New Jersey-based Summit Orchestra, which has introduced millions around the world to the joys of listening to classical music, is offering free tickets to individuals and groups for the concert on Sunday, September 18 , which will be taped for broadcast for its sixth national public television special. With a 90-piece orchestra and recorded at the Hauser Auditorium at the Pingry School in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Discover Saint-Saëns’ “Organ” Symphony is set to begin three-year national distribution by US public television in May 2023.

Comprised of a diverse roster of virtuoso musicians, The Discovery Orchestra brings classical music to the masses through entertaining and informative interactive performances, or Discovery Concerts. His television specials are Emmy nominated and Telly Award winning and include Bach into the future, Discover Beethoven’s 5th, Discover the four seasons of Vivaldi, fall in love with music and Check out The Firebird.

Discover Saint-Saëns’ “Organ” Symphony will feature New Jersey organist Mark Miller and West Nyack concertmaster Peter Winograd. Composed in 1886 and premiered the same year in London, this majestic masterpiece was so successful that Saint-Saëns is said to have said: “I gave it everything I was capable of giving. What I’ve done here, I’ll never do again. In this hour-long special directed by Maull, The Discovery Orchestra will share an interactive exploration of the breathtaking Final of Symphony No. 3which was musically adapted for use in the score for the 1995 family film baby and its 1998 sequel Baby: Pig in the city.

“The Saint-Saens” Symphony No. 3 Final is one of the most uplifting compositions ever written by a composer, and we aim to transport the audience to the heart of this piece for a powerful boost to all who are going through these most difficult times,” said Maull.

Free tickets – for individuals and groups of up to 25 people – are available online or by calling 973-379-2200. Only ages 8 and up will be admitted. Participants are asked to arrive on time on their Sunday best for check-in, which takes place from 2:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Pingry’s Hauser Auditorium is located at 131 Martinsville Road, Basking Ridge. Pingry is an accessible facility and The Discovery Orchestra is committed to accessibility. Upon request and with two weeks notice, specific accommodations for large print programs, Braille material and audio description services will be made, subject to available group resources.

The concert is made possible by the generous support of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, an agency partner of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as Michael J. Johnston, Kosloski Family Foundation, David & Ellen Williams, Bill & Patricia O’ Connor Charitable Fund, FM Kirby Foundation, Bob and Cynthia Hamburger, Main Street Wealth Management and Mr. and Mrs. Sterling L. Pierson.

The Discovery Orchestra® (the Orchestra) is a 501(c)(3) music education organization based in Summit, New Jersey, teaching mindful listening skills that help people of all backgrounds better understand, experience and connect emotionally to classical music. Under the direction of Artistic Director George Marriner Maull, the Orchestra uses a welcoming and humorous approach to the appreciation of classical music for the general public. Founded in 1987, the Orchestra engages audiences through live interactive concerts, intimate encounters, community outreach events, and television and digital content. Its Emmy-nominated programs Bach into the future, Discover Beethoven’s 5th and Discover Vivaldi’s Four Seasons; Discover the Firebird; and the series in eight episodes fall in love with music; are available on Amazon Prime Video. fall in love with music, Discover Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Discover the Firebird can be viewed on PBS Passport.

American Public Television (APT) is the leading syndicator of high-quality, premium programming for the country’s public television channels. Founded in 1961, APT distributes 250 new program titles annually and more than a third of the top 100 rated public television titles in the United States APT’s diverse catalog includes documentaries, performances, dramas, programs practices, classic films, children’s series and news and current affairs shows. Doc Martin, Midsomer Murders, America’s Test Kitchen, AfroPoP, The Europe of Rick Steves, Pacific Heartbeat, Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Television, Legacy List with Matt Paxton, Lydia’s kitchen, Kevin Belton’s New Orleans Kitchen, Simply Ming, The best of painting pleasure with Bob Ross, Live from the artists lairby James Patterson Kid’s Stew and NHK News are a sample of APT programs, considered among the most popular on public television. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide services and distributes Create(R) TV — showcasing the best in public television lifestyle programming — and WORLD(TM), public television’s premier news, science and documentary channel.