• To be an inspiring presence in the wider community, to which young musicians will aspire and find new ways to express themselves
• To perform frequently at community events throughout the area
• To commission and perform works from composers of under-represented groups within classical music

• To facilitate collaborative and mentor-mentee relationships: both from professionals to our members, and our members to younger students
• To provide master classes, sectionals, visits to other orchestras,  plus other educational opportunities from world-class musicians
• To support local businesses through partnerships

Terrence Thornhill, a native of Maplewood, is an active cellist, conductor and educator in the New York metropolitan area. He is Vice President of Notes for Change, a teaching artist with the Paterson Music Project, and Founder, Conductor and Music Director of the Community Artist Ensemble. He is currently the Instrumental Director of Kent Place School in Summit and serves as Lead Teaching Artist of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Educational Outreach program.

Terrence has a Masters Degree in Cello Performance from SUNY Purchase, where he served as principal cellist and studied with Julia Lichten. At Montclair State University’s Cali School of Music, he graduated with a degree in Music Education, and studied cello with Nicholas Tzavaras.