From The South Orange Performing Arts Center:
The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is pleased to announce a performance by the Julian Lage Quartet on Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 7:30PM, making the guitarist’s Mainstage debut at SOPAC. This concert is co-presented with NJPAC Productions and will anchor SOPAC’s annual celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, underscoring the organization’s ongoing commitment to presenting exceptional jazz artists in an intimate, community-focused setting.
Julian Lage Quartet
This concert represents the second co-presented event between SOPAC and NJPAC Productions, reflecting a growing partnership rooted in shared values around artistic excellence, audience access, and regional collaboration. “NJPAC is proud to partner with other New Jersey not-for-profits to bring first class entertainment to New Jersey”said Evan White, NJPAC Vice President, Programming.
Widely regarded as one of the most distinctive guitar voices of his generation, Julian Lage has built a career that bridges tradition and innovation with remarkable ease. For this performance, he is joined by an acclaimed quartet of longtime collaborators: bassist Jorge Roeder, drummer Kenny Wollesen, and keyboardist John Medeski. Together, the ensemble explores music that is dynamic, conversational, and deeply collaborative — music that evolves in real time through interplay and shared intuition.
“Presenting Julian Lage as part of Jazz Appreciation Month feels especially meaningful,” said Dan Stankus, SOPAC Programming Director. “His work embodies everything we love about jazz — deep listening, risk-taking, and an openness that invites audiences into the moment. Bringing this quartet to our Mainstage is a thrill, and doing so in partnership with NJPAC strengthens what we can offer our community.”
The quartet’s recent work highlights a more intimate musical framework, where each musician contributes equally to the shape and direction of the performance. The result is a sound that feels both grounded and adventurous, drawing on folk traditions, modern jazz language, and a spirit of collective exploration.
“This performance speaks directly to SOPAC’s long-standing relationship with jazz and our mission to present artists who are shaping the future of the form,” said Lana Rogachevskaya, Executive Director of SOPAC. “We are proud to continue building our partnership with NJPAC Productions and to bring artists of this caliber to South Orange.”
SOPAC encourages patrons to reserve tickets in advance. To view SOPAC’s full 2025-26 season calendar, patrons can visit SOPACnow.org/events.
Julian Lage
Julian Lage is an internationally acclaimed guitarist and composer whose work blends lyricism, technical mastery, and fearless improvisation. First gaining attention at a young age, Lage has gone on to build a genre-defying career that draws from jazz, Americana, and experimental music, creating performances that are as spontaneous as they are deeply considered. His newest album, Scenes From Above, will be released January 2026 featuring anticipated music from the Julian Lage Quartet.
About NJPAC Productions
NJPAC hosts world-class performances on their Newark stages, but they also take their show on the road, producing and presenting exciting work across the country and around the world, including touring the tristate area and the country, producing shows throughout the New York metropolitan area, and serving as the premier filming location for today’s top comedians and performers.
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About SOPAC
The South Orange Performing Arts Center offers audiences exhilarating and diverse arts entertainment in its intimate venue, serving as the cultural heartbeat of the greater South Orange/Maplewood region and contributing to the economic and social vibrancy of its highly diverse community.
SOPAC is an accessible cultural destination that presents world-class artists in an intimate and welcoming environment. The Jennifer & Tony Leitner Performance Hall is a 439-seat mainstage theatre with superb acoustics, sight lines and seating. Audiences remark that performances in this space are like having their favorite artists right in their own living room. Artists acknowledge that the atmosphere encourages conversations with audiences. The Loft at SOPAC is a 2,185 square-foot multi-purpose space used for performances, rehearsals, classes, and special events.
The unique architecture of SOPAC’s building, which includes a stunning 3-story glass-enclosed atrium, is also home to the Herb + Milly Iris Gallery. Beyond the building, SOPAC co-produces local events such as South Orange Summer Nights and serves students and schools through its arts education residencies.
SOPAC is invested in arts education. SOPAC serves students and schools in our region through a School Performance Series, performing Arts Residencies, and an annual juried art exhibit entitled INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition. SOPAC also collaborates with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts each year to host the Region 5 Poetry Out Loud competitions. The Seton Hall University Arts Council presents a diverse range of events at SOPAC with seasoned professionals, students, and faculty.
Nearly twenty years in the making, SOPAC first opened its doors in 2006. South Orange Village Trustees, in partnership with Seton Hall University, envisioned SOPAC as the center of an ambitious redevelopment plan. Through collaborative leadership and community support, SOPAC has become a cultural centerpiece for the region, an economic driver for the community, and a catalyst for artistic opportunity.
