Sarasota Orchestra Plans Joyous 2024-2025 Season 

April 24, 2024 – Sarasota

Sarasota Orchestra’s 2024-2025 season promises programming that will bring joy to newcomers and seasoned concertgoers alike. The new season will highlight beloved classical works, high-energy pops shows and more.

 “After celebrating our 75^th Anniversary this past season, we are elated to launch into the next 75 years of great music and exceptional artistry,” said President & CEO Joseph McKenna. “We are thrilled to welcome back many favorite guest artists and to share the stage with illustrious performers who will join us for the first time. From Ravel’s Boléro to a celebration of film scores by John Williams, it will be a truly joyous season of music-making.”

The 2024-2025 season is comprised of five popular concert series:

The Masterworks series offers rich symphonic experiences showcasing brilliant orchestral masterpieces, dynamic guest conductors and world-class soloists. This season’s Masterworks series features a breadth of renowned conductors and composers, as well as wide ranging programming offering something for everyone. Highlights include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, Ravel’s Boléro, and Holst’s The Planets. High-powered violinist Anne Akiko-Meyers will make her Sarasota Orchestra debut, and saxophonist Steven Banks will dazzle audiences with Billy Childs’ Saxophone Concerto. Masterworks performances take place at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and Neel Performing Arts Center.

Sounds of Nature– November 8, 9, 10
Rune Bergmann, conductor | Vadim Gluzman, violin
Sibelius – Finlandia
Tchaikovsky – Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35
Rautavaara – Cantus Arcticus
Respighi – Pines of Rome

Beethoven’s Seventh – December 7, 8
Peter Oundjian, conductor | Yefim Bronfman, piano
Carlos Simon – Fate Now Conquers
Brahms – Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15
Beethoven – Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92

Ravel’s Boléro – January 10, 11, 12
Shiyeon Sung, conductor | Natasha Paremski, piano
L. Boulanger – D’un matin de printemps
Dvořák – Symphony No. 6 in D Major, Op. 60
Ravel – Piano Concerto in G Major
Ravel – Boléro

Heroic Spirit – January 30, 31 and February 1, 2
Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor | Anne Akiko-Meyers, violin
Beethoven – Coriolan Overture, Op. 62
Arturo Márquez – Fandango for Violin and Orchestra
Shostakovich – Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47

Melting Pot of Music – February 21, 22, 23
Miguel Harth-Bedoya, conductor | Steven Banks, saxophone
Jimmy Lopez Bellido – Fiesta!
Billy Childs – Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra
R. Strauss – Suite from Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59
Ravel – La Valse

The Planets – March 6, 7, 8, 9
Peter Oundjian, conductor | Grace Park, violin
Vaughan Williams – Overture to The Wasps
Dvořák – Romance in F Minor, Op. 11
Ravel – Tzigane
Holst – The Planets

Grand Treasures – April 4, 5, 6
Earl Lee, conductor | Jon Kimura Parker, piano
Peter Boyer – Horizons (new co-commission)
Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37
Brahms – Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98   

The Pops series delivers crowd-pleasing shows featuring powerful vocalists and fan-favorite melodies that keep audience members humming long after the concert is over. This season’s Pops delivers soulful hits, showtunes and a program dedicated to beloved film composer John Williams. Three of Broadway’s brightest stars will take the stage to bring diva theatrics to Sarasota Orchestra. Pops performances take place at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

Kings of Soul – January 24, 25
Herb Smith, conductor
Michael Lynche and Darren Lorenzo, vocals

3 Divas from Broadway– February 28 and March 1
Christopher Confessore, conductor
Alli Mauzey, Dee Roscioli, Scarlett Strallen, vocals

Tribute to John Williams – April 18, 19Stuart Chafetz, conductor

The Discoveries series features bite-sized programs of great chamber orchestra repertoire. In 75 minutes without intermission, this season’s performances explore the artistic genius and influences of three great composers, and are designed to delight both devotees and newcomers with an engaging potpourri of shorter works. The three programs celebrate George Gershwin, precocious young composers and performers and Vivaldi’s sonic musings on the seasons. The Mozart on the Road program will feature 14-year-old pianist Anwen Deng, who made history as the youngest performer to be accepted into Julliard’s pre-college program at age six. Discoveries performances take place at the Sarasota Opera House.

Gershwin’s American Dream – October 5
David Alan Miller, conductor | Kevin Cole, piano
Gould – First Movement from Symphonette No. 2 (American)
Bernstein – The Great Lover from Three Dance Episodes from On the Town
Cuong – Next Week’s Trees
Suesse – Andante (The Blues) from Concerto in Three Rhythms
Daugherty – GOLD for Orchestra from The Adventures of Jesse Owens
Gershwin – Piano Concerto in F Major

Mozart on the Road – January 5
David Alan Miller, conductor | Anwen Deng, piano
Mozart – Overture from Don Giovanni
Haydn – Finale from Symphony No. 86 in D Major, Hob I:86
Bach – Contrapunctus I from Art of the Fugue, BWV 1080
Mozart – Allegro from Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466
Isaac Thomas – (new commission)
Mozart – Symphony No. 38 in D Major, K. 504, (Prague)

Vivaldi Inspired – May 17
Kalena Bovell, conductor | Amaryn Olmeda, cello
Vivaldi – La primavera (Spring) from The Four Seasons
Stravinsky – Sinfonia and Gavotte from Pulcinella Suite (1949)
Coleridge-Taylor – Idyll, Op. 44
Holst – Brook Green Suite
Respighi – Italiana and Siciliana from Ancient Airs and Dances for the Lute, Suite No. 3
Vivaldi – L’estate (Summer) from The Four Seasons

The Great Escapes series is one of Sarasota Orchestra’s most popular, offering a mix of popular tunes, light classics and conductor commentary. The coming season includes programs titled Merry and Bright, TV Tunes and Treasures and A Musical Comedy. Great Escapes performances take place at Holley Hall.

Reel Intrigue – October 16-19
Matthew Troy, conductor

Merry and Bright – December 11-15
Stuart Chafetz, conductor

TV Tunes and Treasures – January 15-19
Evan Roider, conductor

Crazy for You – February 12-16
Michelle Merrill, conductor

A Musical Comedy – March 12-16
Tamara Dworetz, conductor

Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.s) – May 7-10
Christopher Confessore, conductor

Chamber Soirées offer the opportunity to get up close and personal with Sarasota Orchestra musicians as they perform magnificent small-ensemble works. This season includes six programs featuring string and piano quartets, classics for wind and brass instruments, masterworks from 20^th-century composers and more. Chamber Soiréesperformances take place at Holley Hall.

Baroque Banquet – September 29
Byrd – Earl of Oxford March
Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048
Philador – March for Two Pairs of Timpani
Stravinsky – Pulcinella Suite (1949)

Mendelssohn and Maslanka – October 13
Ewazen – Frost Fire for Brass Quintet
Maslanka – Wind Quintet No. 4
Mendelssohn – String Quartet No. 6 in F Minor, Op. 80

Schubert Octet – November 3
Schubert – Octet in F Major, Op. 166, D. 803

Beethoven and Brass – December 22
Farkas – Early Hungarian Dances from the 17th Century
Beethoven – Piano Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op. 16
arr. Luther Henderson – Selections from A Canadian Brass Christmas

Poulenc and Dvořák – February 6
Poulenc – Sextet for Piano and Winds
Dvořák – String Quintet in G Major, Op. 77

20^th Century Masters – March 20
Ligeti – Six Bagatelles
Shostakovich – String Quartet No. 7, Op. 108
Bozza – Sonatine for Brass Quintet
Ravel – Introduction and Allegro

In addition to the main series, the Orchestra will present additional special concerts including Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, two family concerts, and the annual Thrill of a Lifetime concert.

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – October 25-26 | Van Wezel

Family Concert 1 – October 11 | Van Wezel

Thrill of a Lifetime – February 9 | Riverview High School
with Sarasota Youth Philharmonic

Family Concert 2 – March 23 | Holley Hall

Outdoor Pops – May 2-3 | Ed Smith Stadium