FIRST AMERICAN TOUR: Cellist Andrei Ionita is the soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Romania, coming to the State Theatre in New Brunswick Wednesday, January 16 as part of its first visit to the United States.

State Theatre New Jersey presents the National Symphony Orchestra of Romania with cello soloist Andrei Ioni on Wednesday, January 16, at 8 p.m. Conductor Cristian Macelaru leads the orchestra in their American tour debut. Tickets range from $17.50-$70.

The program includes Enescu’s Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 in A Major, Op. 11; Dvorák’s Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191 with cello soloist Andrei Ionita; Strauss’s Suite from Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59; and Ravel’s Boléro.

Acclaimed as one of the world’s top youth ensembles, the National Symphony Orchestra of Romania tours regularly at venues throughout Europe. The orchestra’s mission is to attract the best Romanian musicians between the ages of 18-35 to create a unique creative experience in the common pursuit of musical excellence.

The orchestra was founded in 2008 following an initiative by cellist Marin Cazacu with the support of the Friends of Music from the Serafim Antropov Foundation. The orchestra’s academic program strives to offer young musicians the opportunity to explore demanding repertoire through master classes and concerts, and more importantly, to perform under conductors such as Lawrence Foster, Kristjan Järvi, and Cristian Macelaru, and with soloists including Pinchas Zukerman, Sarah Chang, David Garrett, Elizabeth Leonskaja, and Andrei Ionita.

The orchestra’s concerts at the Romanian Athenaeum and the George Enescu International Festival are regularly sold out and international tours have brought them to the Gustav Mahler International Festival, Ravello International Festival, Vienna Konzerthaus, Berlin Konzerthaus, and Grande Theatre de Provence in Aix-en-Provence. Forthcoming tours will see them perform in France including their debut at the Philharmonie de Paris and in Germany, Spain, Brussels, and Austria.

The State Theatre is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. Visit STNJ.org for information and reservations.