The Hindemithon at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey celebrates its 6th year with a special Gala Evening Concert on May 8th, 2008 at 7:30PM in Shea Center for the Performing Arts. The annual two-day festival is devoted to the life and works of composer Paul Hindemith. It was founded in 2003 by pianist Frank Pavese who is the festival's Artistic Director. Special guest this year is the legendary American soprano Cheryl Studer who will present a master class to William Paterson University students and guest singers covering vocal works by Hindemith and the standard operatic and art song repertoire. Ms Studer also performs on the evening gala concert in a segment entitled Hindemith and the great tradition of German lieder. Other featured performers include Garth Greenup, principal trumpet with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, pianists Frank Pavese, Gary Kirkpatrick and Itay Goren, violist Brett Deubner, saxaphonist David Demsey and flutist Karen Demsey.
Previous Hindemithons have included performances of Ludus Tonalis by Frank Pavese which Classical New Jersey called "one of the most impressive solo piano performances of a single work I have heard in a long time. The case for a very serious re-evaluation of Hindemith was made in that performance alone". Other festival highlights were a performance of the children's opera Let's Build a Town, lectures by Yale Professor Willie Ruff and composer Frank Lewin who were students of Hindemith and a transcription of Kleine Kammermusik for jazz septet by Itay Goren.

  Hindemith’s words “People who make music together cannot be enemies, at least while the music lasts” serve as a motto for the event.