Concerts & Events
Our Music Director, Elizabeth Schulze, has a fantastic season planned for you. Enjoy a variety of concerts, including great classical composers like Beethoven and Rachmaninoff, new favorites like Florence B. Price, lesser-known great composers like Ruth Gipps, and Quinn Mason, and the genius comedy of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin!
Season Finale
Classic and Applause Series
featuring Terrence Wilson, piano
Program
GAO HONG | Celebration
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF | Piano Concerto No. 2
NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV | Scheherazade
Celebration fuses lively rhythms, colorful melodies, and traditional Chinese elements with Western orchestration, creating a vibrant and joyful composition.
Dynamic and versatile pianist Terrence Wilson shows off his expressive interpretations, performing Rachmaninoff’s virtuosic and romantic Piano Concerto No. 2.
Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade captivates with exotic allure and vibrant musical imagery, featuring a spellbinding performance by ASO Concertmaster Ludek Wojtkowski.
Join ASO Education Consultant Susan Wingrove-Reed for insights, stories, and musicians' perspectives at ASO's FREE pre-concert lecture Words on Music LIVE, May 11th at 6:30pm.
Generously Sponsored by
Tradition & Innovation
Classic Series
featuring Mary Elizabeth Bowden, trumpet
Program
BOHUSLAV MARTINU | Thunderbolt P-47
VIVIAN FUNG | Trumpet Concerto
JEAN-BAPTISTE ARBAN arr DEJONG | Variations on a Theme from Bellini’s “Norma”
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN | Symphony No. 5
Martinu’s Thunderbolt P-47 is a thrilling piece capturing WWII fighter pilots’ spirit, courage, and heroism.
Originally scheduled to perform on our 2020 Season Finale, accomplished trumpet player Mary Elizabeth Bowden now joins us to perform Vivian Fung’s Trumpet Concerto, co-commissioned by the ASO commissioning club, Musica Nova.
Duh, duh, duh, duhhhh. Need we say more? Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No. 5 embodies his revolutionary spirit and mastery in crafting powerful and emotionally charged music.
Generously sponsored by
Doré & Kevin Meyers
Join ASO Education Consultant Susan Wingrove-Reed for insights, stories, and musicians' perspectives at ASO's FREE pre-concert lecture Words on Music LIVE, March 2nd at 6:30pm.
The Magic of John Williams
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, a composer created dozens of famous film and TV scores that made you afraid to go into the water, introduced you to the magic of Hogwarts, inspired you to be a Jedi, and made you a little less afraid of aliens.
Immerse yourself in the unparalleled genius of John Williams when your ASO brings to the stage the timeless melodies of Star Wars, Harry Potter, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Indiana Jones, Superman, and many more. It’s an evening of musical enchantment that transcends the screen and makes the magic of cinema come to life!
Dreamscapes
Classic and Applause Series
featuring Tim Fain, violin
Program
RUTH GIPPS | Song for Orchestra
TIM FAIN | Edge of a Dream
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS | Symphony No. 2, “A London Symphony”
Ruth Gipps’ introspective Song for Orchestra captivates with expressive dynamics and rich orchestration, leaving a lasting impression.
Acclaimed for his ability to enthrall audiences, violinist Tim Fain returns to the Atwood Concert Hall to perform his breathtaking piece, Edge of a Dream.
Vaughan Williams’ A London Symphony paints a vibrant musical portrait of the energetic, diverse, and iconic city of London.
Join ASO Education Consultant Susan Wingrove-Reed for insights, stories, and musicians' perspectives at ASO's FREE pre-concert lecture Words on Music LIVE, January 27th at 6:30pm.
FREE Neighborhood Concert
Fun for the Whole Family!
Saturday, January 20, 2024 - 2pm
West Anchorage High School Theatre
Doors open at 1:30pm.
This event is not ticketed. Seating is limited.
FUN, CASUAL, and FREE!
Join your ASO at WEST ANCHORAGE HIGH SCHOOL for a one-hour performance of audience favorites. This family-friendly concert includes music from Taylor Swift, William Tell, Sleeping Beauty, Disney's Frozen, Echoes, and, of course, we wouldn’t forget the Overture of 1812 with audience participation!
Seating is limited. Doors open at 1:30, concert begins at 2pm.
Silent Film Night
Rick Benjamin, guest conductor
featuring
Buster Keaton’s COPS showcases his incredible physicality, deadpan expression, and slapstick humor as he unwittingly finds himself pursued by the police.
Buster Keaton’s One Week is a hilarious and inventive comedy that follows the misadventures of a newlywed couple attempting to build their own home, leading to a series of disastrous and laugh-out-loud moments.
AND
Charlie Chaplin’s A DOG’S LIFE captures Chaplin’s effortless portrayal of the hardships faced by a tramp and his loyal canine companion while offering a reflection on friendship, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit.
American Perspective
Classic Series
featuring Karen Walwyn, piano
Program
QUINN MASON | A Joyous Trilogy for Orchestra
FLORENCE B PRICE | Piano Concerto in One Movement
WILLIAM GRANT STILL | Serenade for Orchestra
AARON COPLAND | Appalachian Spring
Concert pianist, composer, recording artist, and Florence B. Price scholar Karen Walwyn breathes life into Price’s Piano Concerto with insightful artistry, showcasing her exceptional talent.
Still’s Serenade for Orchestra captivates with a seamless fusion of classical, jazz, and folk, transporting listeners.
Copland’s Appalachian Spring evokes rural America with poignant melodies, heartfelt perspective, and the use of folk tunes.
Join ASO Education Consultant Susan Wingrove-Reed for insights, stories, and musicians' perspectives at ASO's FREE pre-concert lecture Words on Music LIVE, November 4th at 6:30pm.
Opening Night
Classic and Applause Series
featuring Sharon Isbin, guitar
Program
STEPHANIE BERG | Ravish and Mayhem
EMMANUEL CHABRIER | España
JOAQUIN RODRIGO | Concierto de Aranjuez
CHRIS BRUBECK | Affinity: Concerto for Guitar & Orchestra
LEONARD BERNSTEIN | Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Stephanie Berg’s Ravish & Mayhem mesmerizes with beauty and chaos, from the first notes to the explosive finale.
World-renowned guitarist Sharon Isbin brings her exceptional virtuosity to Joaquin Rodrigo’s masterpiece Concierto de Aranjuez and Chris Brubeck’s captivating Affinity.
The evening concludes with Leonard Bernstein’s thrilling journey through the rhythmic musical landscape of West Side Story.
Generously sponsored by
Kevin & Doré Meyers
and
Champagne Pops Gala
Country Legends
Celebrating some of Country Music’s greatest hits while raising money for your ASO!
Season Finale
Classic & Applause Series
Featuring Yuliya Gorenman, piano
ANNA CLYNE | Masquerade
TCHAIKOVSKY | Piano Concerto No. 1
RESPIGHI | Pines of Rome
Symphony of Wines
Symphony of Wines is Back!
Try over 100 wines while enjoying delectable hors d'oeuvre, live music, and a fantastic silent auction!
Family Concert
The Anchorage Symphony Family Concert is back! What are all those instruments on the stage? Learn this and more at the ASO premiere of Russel Peck's The Thrill of the Orchestra. The "thrill" continues with music from Harry Potter and Frozen, Flight of the Bumblebee, Copland's Rodeo, and much more!
Kaleidoscope 4.0
More chamber music with an ASO twist! Anchorage Symphony musicians from all sections of the orchestra showcase brilliant movements from contemporary and traditional chamber works.
Hidden Treasures
Classic Series
MENDELSSOHN | The Fair Melusina Overture
FARRENC | Symphony No. 3
BEETHOVEN | Symphony No. 7
Latin Vistas
Classic & Applause Series
Featuring Vanessa Perez, piano
GABRIELA LENA FRANK | Three Latin American Dances
de FALLA | Nights in the Gardens of Spain
MONCAYO | Huapango
REVUELTAS | La noche de los Mayas
Bach & Beyond
Classic Series
Featuring Dimitri Murrath, viola
Yaniv Attar, guest conductor
ARVO PÄRT | If Bach Had Been a Beekeeper
BACH | Orchestra Suite No. 2 in B minor (Mvt 1)
DOBRINKA TABAKOVA | Suite in Old Style for Viola, Harpsichord, & Strings
SCHUBERT | Symphony No. 5
Opening Night
Classic & Applause Series
Featuring Bella Hristova, violin
BERNSTEIN | Overture to Candide
MARY D. WATKINS | Five Movements in Color (Mvt 1 & 2)
KORNGOLD | Violin Concerto in D Major
DVOŘÁK | Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”
Champagne Pops
54th Annual Champagne Pops
Featuring Broadway Stars Scarlett Strallen and Hugh Panaro
and YOUR Anchorage Symphony conducted by Elizabeth Schulze