Wharton Arts
Wharton Arts Performing Arts School, 60 Locust Ave, Berkeley Heights, NJ 7922
About
Wharton Arts offers instrumental and vocal instruction, musical theater, drama, private music lessons, sectional classes, and ensemble education. The program also includes auditioned orchestral and jazz education and an auditioned choral ensemble program for students in grades 3–12, along with instrumental and vocal instruction, musical theater, drama, and other courses for ages 4 and up. The Performing Arts School offers in-person and online private music lessons in both instruments and voice for all ages and abilities, and Wharton Arts serves nearly 2,000 students with nearly 50 faculty members providing one-on-one instruction and group classes, including over 300 summer campers annually at the Performing Arts School.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Office hours vary by program, with options Monday–Thursday and on weekends
Wharton Arts is comprised of four core programs: the Performing Arts School, New Jersey Youth Symphony, Paterson Music Project, and New Jersey Youth Chorus. Its programs include private lessons and group classes, high-level ensembles, and educational experiences, including auditioned orchestral and jazz education and an auditioned choral ensemble program for students in grades 3–12, as well as private music lessons, sectional classes, and ensemble education for students in grades 1–12 in Paterson schools. Wharton Arts describes its mission as offering accessible, high quality performing arts education that sparks personal growth and builds inclusive communities, and its vision as transformative performing arts education in an inclusive community being accessible to everyone.
Wharton Arts is New Jersey’s largest independent non-profit community performing arts education center and is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. It is the Founding School for The Royal Conservatory of Music Development Program. New Jersey Youth Symphony has won First Prize in 2014 and 2017 in the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Festival and Competition in Vienna and has performed at venues including the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Carnegie Hall, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. New Jersey Youth Chorus singers have performed at the White House, Carnegie Hall, the Super Bowl, The Today Show, NJPAC, and The Kennedy Center, and the chorus is now celebrating nearly 35 years of musical excellence and exceptional performance experiences.
Wharton Arts states that it provides award-winning performing arts education for students of all ages and backgrounds and that over 25% of its youth musicians receive free programming, scholarships, and financial aid. Wharton Arts reports that for every year more a student is in the Paterson Music Project, that student receives higher standardized test scores, and that Paterson Music Project partner schools have increased from 1 to 17 since January 2013. Wharton Arts states that it is committed to being accessible to all patrons, students, parents, and visitors, and that all programs, classes, events, and concerts are accessible. It also states that it is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive community where neurodivergent students are welcomed, nurtured, and valued, and that New Jersey Youth Chorus is home to choristers from throughout northern and central New Jersey. Wharton Arts notes that it is grateful for generous community partners who have helped bring music to singers, performers, and music lovers of all ages.
Last updated July 10, 2026.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Office hours vary by program, with options Monday–Thursday and on weekends
Wharton Arts is comprised of four core programs: the Performing Arts School, New Jersey Youth Symphony, Paterson Music Project, and New Jersey Youth Chorus. Its programs include private lessons and group classes, high-level ensembles, and educational experiences, including auditioned orchestral and jazz education and an auditioned choral ensemble program for students in grades 3–12, as well as private music lessons, sectional classes, and ensemble education for students in grades 1–12 in Paterson schools. Wharton Arts describes its mission as offering accessible, high quality performing arts education that sparks personal growth and builds inclusive communities, and its vision as transformative performing arts education in an inclusive community being accessible to everyone.
Wharton Arts is New Jersey’s largest independent non-profit community performing arts education center and is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. It is the Founding School for The Royal Conservatory of Music Development Program. New Jersey Youth Symphony has won First Prize in 2014 and 2017 in the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Festival and Competition in Vienna and has performed at venues including the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Carnegie Hall, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. New Jersey Youth Chorus singers have performed at the White House, Carnegie Hall, the Super Bowl, The Today Show, NJPAC, and The Kennedy Center, and the chorus is now celebrating nearly 35 years of musical excellence and exceptional performance experiences.
Wharton Arts states that it provides award-winning performing arts education for students of all ages and backgrounds and that over 25% of its youth musicians receive free programming, scholarships, and financial aid. Wharton Arts reports that for every year more a student is in the Paterson Music Project, that student receives higher standardized test scores, and that Paterson Music Project partner schools have increased from 1 to 17 since January 2013. Wharton Arts states that it is committed to being accessible to all patrons, students, parents, and visitors, and that all programs, classes, events, and concerts are accessible. It also states that it is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive community where neurodivergent students are welcomed, nurtured, and valued, and that New Jersey Youth Chorus is home to choristers from throughout northern and central New Jersey. Wharton Arts notes that it is grateful for generous community partners who have helped bring music to singers, performers, and music lovers of all ages.
Last updated July 10, 2026.
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