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Concerts and Events.

Upcoming Events and Performances

Mary Lyon Concert: Musical Mavericks

Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Abbey Memorial Chapel - South Hadley, MA

Thursday, November 30, 2023 - 8:00 PM

     The Phoenix Rising - Stella Sung        

     Symphony No. 3 in C minor - Florence Price​

Pops! Goes the Holidays

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL
Saturday, December 2, 2023 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, December 3, 2023 - 3:00 PM

Music and Mystery

New England Philharmonic

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Tsai Performance Center at Boston University - Boston, MA

Sunday, December 10, 2023 - 3:00 PM

     Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, 1st movement - Mozart

     Violin Concerto in D minor, first movement - Sibelius        

     Mystery of the Missing Music - Jordan Kuspa

 

The Hunchback of Notre Dame - 1923 Silent Film with Live Orchestra

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL

Saturday, January 20, 2024 - 7:30 PM

     The Hunchback of Notre Dame - Matthew Wardell & Bradley DeLoatche​

Rhythmic Tides

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Danielle Moreau, marimba

Joshua Mazur, organ

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL
Saturday, February 24, 2024 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, February 25, 2024 – 3:00 PM

     Adagio for Strings and Organ - Tomaso Albinoni

     KOHOLA: Spirit of the Ocean - Stella Sung

          *Premiere performance of revised score with projected video by Annie Crawley

     Concerto for Marimba and Strings - Emmanuel Séjourné

     Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis - Ralph Vaughan-Williams

Night Music

Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Abbey Memorial Chapel - South Hadley, MA

Friday, March 1, 2024 - 8:00 PM

     D’un soir triste - Lili Boulanger

     Night on the Bare Mountain - Modest Mussorgsky

     El Rostro de la Luna - Arturo Rodriguez

From Hogwarts to a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL
Saturday, March 9, 2024 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, March 10, 2024 – 3:00 PM

Season Finale: Mendelssohn, Bruckner and Beethoven

Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Abbey Memorial Chapel - South Hadley, MA

Friday, April 19, 2024 - 8:00 PM

     The Hebrides Overture - Felix Mendelssohn

     Three Pieces for Orchestra - Anton Bruckner​

     Symphony No. 7 in A Major - Ludwig van Beethoven

To the End of the Earth

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Jackie Glazier, clarinet

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL
Saturday, April 27, 2024 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, April 28, 2024 – 3:00 PM

     Short Ride in a Fast Machine - John Adams

     Fin de la Tierra - Jenni Brandon

          *World Premiere*

     Manfred Symphony - Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Symphony Under the Stars

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Ocala Golf Club - Ocala, FL

Sunday, May 12, 2024 - 7:00 PM​​​​​

Past Performances

Monsters' Ball

Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Chapin Auditorium - South Hadley, MA
Saturday, October 28, 2023 - 8:00 PM

     On the Beautiful Blue Danube - Johann Strauss Jr. 

     The Crystal Spell: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - John Williams

     Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl - Klaus Badelt

     The Wild Dove - Antonin Dvorak

     Shark Theme from JAWS - John Williams

     Tales from the Vienna Woods - Johann Strauss Jr.

     Harry Potter Symphonic Suite - John Williams

Mahler and the Breath of Life

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Anthony Offerle, baritone

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL
Saturday, October 21, 2023 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, October 22, 2023 - 3:00 PM

     The Breath of Life - Paul Richards

          *World Premiere*

     Symphony No. 1, "Titan" - Gustav Mahler

A New Season!

Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Leona Chen, piano

Rodef Shalom - Pittsburgh, PA

Saturday, September 9, 2023 - 7:30 PM

     Hommage á Mozart - Anna Clyne 
     Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor K.466 - Mozart
     Symphony No. 41 K.551 “Jupiter” - Mozart

Red, White and Ocala Symphony Blue

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL
Sunday, July 2, 2023 - 3:00 PM

Symphony Under the Stars

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Ocala Golf Club - Ocala, FL

Sunday, May 14, 2023 - 7:00 PM

     Back to the Future Suite - Alan Silvestri

     A Tribute to Henry Mancini - Calvin Custer

     Pirates of the Caribbean - Klaus Badelt

     Themes from 007 - arr. Calvin Custer

     Hollywood Blockbusters - James Horner

     Beauty and the Beast - Alan Menken

     My Fair Lady - Frederick Loewe

     Harry Potter Symphonic Suite - John Williams

     Moon River - Henry Mancini

     Music from Aladdin - Alan Menken

     Star Trek Through the Years - arr. Calvin Custer

     Stars and Stripes Forever - John Philip Sousa

Pop Music Americas: From Rio to the Big Apple

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL
Saturday, April 29, 2023 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, April 30, 2023 - 3:00 PM

     Rhapsody in Blue - George Gershwin
     Danzón No. 2 - Arturo Marquez
     Bachianas Brasileiras No. 7 - Heitor Villa-Lobos
     Fifteen - Michael Daugherty

Youthful Renderings

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Winners of the 32nd Annual OSO Concerto Competition

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL

Saturday, March 18, 2023 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, March 19, 2023 - 3:00 PM

     Die Zauberharfe - Schubert

     Tzigane - Ravel

     Viola Concerto - Walton

     Rendering - Berio

The Sounds of Hollywood

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre
Saturday, February 25, 2023 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, February 26, 2023 – 3:00 PM

     The Bride of Frankenstein: The Creation of the Female Monster - Franz Waxman

     The Wizard of Oz Concert Suite - Harold Arlen and Herbert Stothart

     Casablanca Suite - Max Steiner

     Vertigo Suite - Prelude, The Nightmare, Scéne d'amour - Bernard Herrmann

     Lawrence of Arabia Overture - Maurice Jarre

     Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Excerpts - John Williams

     Out of Africa: Main Title - John Barry

     Aladdin Orchestral Suite - Alan Menken

     Interstellar Suite - Hans Zimmer

     Back to the Future Suite - Alan Silvestri

Bowie and Glass - Ticket Link
Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and The Voltron Collective

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall - Ft. Myers, FL

Saturday, February 11, 2023

     Symphony No. 4 "Heroes" - Glass

     Selections from the catalogue of David Bowie

EMMA Concert Association - 44th Season

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Kristin Stoner, flute

Stewart Kitts, violin

Lewis Auditorium - St. Augustine, FL

Saturday, February 4, 2023

     La Gazza Ladra - Rossini

     Fantasy for Flute and Orchestra - Hue

     Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana - Mascagni

     The Sorcerer’s Apprentice - Dukas

     Zigeunerweisen - Sarasate

     Francesca da Rimini - Tchaikovsky

New Works Recording Project

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

University of Florida Composition Studio

Matthew Wardell, Music Director and Conductor+

Joshua Mazur, Conductor*

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL

Saturday, January 21, 2023

     esTrANGO - Rafael Abdalla+

     Cope - Michael Sauer+

     glitchpop I for Orchestra - Gabriel Gekoskie+

     Harold of Dawn - Pho*

     Lethologica for Orchestra - Emelia Ulrich+

     Film Score 1990 - Shelton*

     Phantom Connections - Brock Nofsinger+

     Gravitational Dances - Townsend+

     A Young Man's Journey - Castro*

     lineage for Orchestra - Brendan Sweeney+

     It Starts with L - Jane K (Evgeniya Kozhevnikova)*

Pops! Goes the Holidays

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL
Saturday, December 3, 2022 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, December 4, 2022 - 3:00 PM

     Holiday Fanfare Medley No. 1 - Stephenson

     In the Bleak Midwinter - Stephenson

     A Christmas Scherzo - Sebesky

     'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Holcombe (Rickie Santiago, narrator)

     Russian Christmas Music - Reed

     Minor Alterations No. 2 - Lovrien

     The Little Drummer Boy - White

     Night Star - Hardin

     The Twelve Days of Christmas - Lavender

     A Holly Jolly Sing Along - Stephenson 

     Sleigh Ride - Anderson, Leroy

Symphony Under the Lights

Ocala Symphony Orchestra and Ocala Youth Symphony

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Jenkins Open Air Theatre - Ocala, FL
Friday, December 2, 2022 - 7:30 PM

  With Combined Groups:

     Christmas at the Movies - Krogstad, Bob (arr.)

     A Bach Christmas - Christiansen, Susan (arr.)

     All is Calm, Based on Silent Night - Smith, Robert W. (arr.)

     Holiday Mash-Up - Roszell, Patrick (arr.)

     Christmas Classics - O'Reilly, John (arr.)

  OSO Alone:

     Holiday Fanfare Medley No. 1 - Stephenson

     The Bells of Christmas - Krogstad

     Sleigh Ride - Anderson, Leroy

     Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! - Sayre

     I'll Be Home for Christmas - Gold

     Jingle Bells Forever - Smith

     A Holly Jolly Sing Along - Stephenson 

Georgia Tech Concert Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Ferst Center for the Arts - Atlanta, GA

Wednesday, November 16, 2022 - 7:30 PM

     The Moldau - Smetana

     Slavonic Dances Op. 46, No. 2 & 3 - Dvorak

     Symphony No. 7 - II. Allegretto - Beethoven

     Sarka - Smetana

Georgia Tech Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Ferst Center for the Arts - Atlanta, GA

Monday, November 14, 2022 - 7:30 PM

     Hansel and Gretel Overture - Humperdinck

Czech Delights

The Gainesville Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall, Santa Fe College - Gainesville, FL
Friday, November 11, 2022 - 7:30 PM

     Overture to the Bartered Bride - Smetana

     The Noon Witch - Dvorák

     Symphony No. 8 - Dvorák

Spellbinding Beginnings

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL
Saturday, October 29, 2022 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, October 30, 2022 - 3:00 PM

     The Sorcerer’s Apprentice - Dukas

     Francesca da Rimini - Tchaikovsky

     Night on Bald Mountain - Mussorgsky

     The Golden Spinning Wheel - Dvorák

Georgia Tech Concert Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Ferst Center for the Arts - Atlanta, GA

Thursday, September 29, 2022 - 7:30 PM

     Symphony in D minor (Reformation) I. - Mendelssohn
     Othello Suite - Coleridge-Taylor

     Star Trek Through the Years - Custer (arr.)

John Williams Composer Focus
Ocala Symphony Community Music Conservatory Lecture

Reilly Arts Center - Ocala, FL
Wednesday, July 27, 2022 - 6:00 PM

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Beginnings of Film Music
Ocala Symphony Community Music Conservatory Lecture

Reilly Arts Center - Ocala, FL
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 - 10:00 AM

Red, White and Ocala Symphony Blue

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL
Sunday, July 3, 2022 - 3:00 PM

     Esprit de Corps - Robert Jager

     The Patriot - John Williams

     Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" - Antonin Dvorak

          II. Largo

          IV. Allegro con fuoco

     American Salute - Morton Gould

     Victory at Sea Suite - Richard Rodgers

     God Bless America - arr. Healey

     Armed Forces Salute - arr. Lowden

Musical Storytelling
Ocala Symphony Community Music Conservatory Lecture

Reilly Arts Center - Ocala, FL
Tuesday, June 28, 2022 - 6:00 PM

Development of the Symphony
Ocala Symphony Community Music Conservatory Lecture

Reilly Arts Center - Ocala, FL
Wednesday, June 15, 2022 - 10:00 AM

2021 - 2022 Season

Symphony Under the Stars

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Ocala Golf Club - Ocala, FL

Sunday, May 8, 2022 - 7:00 PM

     Highlights from West Side Story

     Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

     Princess Leia’s Theme

     Curtain Up!

     Adventures on Earth from E.T. 

     Suite from Hamilton

     Moon River

     It’s About Time

     Love Is All You Need

     Grease!

     Imperial March

     Stars and Stripes Forever

UF Concerto Competition Winners

University of Florida Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

University Auditorium - Gainesville, FL

Thursday, April 14, 2022 - 7:20 PM

     Tomasi - Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra

     Chopin - Piano Concerto No. 2

     Ravel - Piano Concerto in G

21st Century Anthology

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Danielle VanTuinen, tuba

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL
Saturday, April 9, 2022 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, April 10, 2022 - 3:00 PM

     Missy Mazzoli - River Rouge Transfiguration

     Michael Daugherty - Reflections on the Mississippi

     Mason Bates - Anthology of Fantastic Zoology​​

Coffee with the Conductor

Matthew Wardell, lecturer

Marion Theatre - Ocala, FL

Friday, April 8, 2022 - 10:00 AM

Subject: Missy Mazzoli, Michael Daugherty, Mason Bates and the Anthology of Fantastic Zoology​

Cosi fan tutte

Ocala Symphony Orchestra and University of Florida Opera Theatre

Matthew Wardell, conductor

University Auditorium - Gainesville, FL

Friday, April 1, 2022 - 7:20 PM

Saturday, April 2, 2022 - 7:20 PM

     Mozart - Cosi fan tutte (staged)

 

Bowie and Glass
Ocala Symphony Orchestra and The Voltron Collective

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL

Saturday, March 5, 2022

     Symphony No. 4 "Heroes" - Glass

     Selections from the catalogue of David Bowie

Coffee with the Conductor

Matthew Wardell and Adam Volpe, lecturers

Marion Theatre - Ocala, FL

Friday, February 25, 2022 - 10:00 AM

Subject: David Bowie and Phillip Glass​​​​​

90 Years of John Williams

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL
Saturday, February 19, 2022 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, February 20, 2022 - 3:00 PM

     Main Title from Star Wars: A New Hope

     Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

     Marion’s Theme from Raiders of the Lost Ark

     Theme from Schindler’s List

     Han Solo and the Princess from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

     Shark Theme from JAWS

     The Crystal Spell from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

     Theme from The Lost World: Jurassic Park

     A Whirl Through Academe from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

     Buckbeak’s Flight from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

     Adventures on Earth from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

     Harry’s Wondrous World from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

     The Jedi Steps and Finale from Star Wars: The Force Awakens

A John Williams Celebration

University of Florida Symphony Orchestra
Matthew Wardell, guest conductor

First Presbyterian Church - Gainesville, FL

Sunday, February 13, 2022 - 4:00 PM

     Williams - Excerpts from Close Encounters of the Third Kind

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Coffee with the Conductor

Matthew Wardell, lecturer

Marion Theatre - Ocala, FL

Friday, February 11, 2022 - 10:00 AM

Subject: Film Music, John Williams, JAWS, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind​​

The Four Temperaments

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL
Saturday, January 29, 2022 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, January 30, 2022 - 3:00 PM

     Tchaikovsky - Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture

     Paul Richards - Symphony No. 3 "Symphony of Selves" *World Premiere* (Live Recording w/ Score)

     Nielsen - Symphony No. 2 "The Four Temperaments"

Coffee with the Conductor

Matthew Wardell & Raymond Chobaz, lecturers

Marion Theatre - Ocala, FL

Friday, January 14, 2022 - 10:00 AM

Subject: The Four Temperaments in Music

Pops! Goes the Holidays

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Reilly Arts Center - Ocala, FL
Saturday, December 4, 2021 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, December 5, 2021 - 3:00 PM

     Anderson - Christmas Festival Overture

     Humperdinck - Hansel and Gretel Overture

     Blake - The Snowman (full score with film)

     Coleridge-Taylor - Christmas Overture

     Hayman - Carol of the Bells

     Stephenson - Silent Night

     Holcombe - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

     Stephenson - A Charleston Christmas

     Stephenson - Holly Jolly Sing-Along

Symphony Under the Lights

Ocala Symphony Orchestra and Ocala Youth Symphony

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Jenkins Open Air Theatre - Ocala, FL
Friday, December 3, 2021 - 7:30 PM

     Cerulli - Once Upon a December

     Williams - Santa at the Symphony

     Silvestri - Polar Express

     Herbert - March of the Toys

     Kinkel - Mad Russian's Christmas

     Anderson - Christmas Festival Overture

     Hayman - Carol of the Bells

     Chase - Around the World at Christmas Time

     Anderson - Sleigh Ride

     Hayman - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

     Holcombe - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

     Sayre - Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

     Stephenson - Holly Jolly Sing-Along

Variations on Opening Night

Ocala Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Jasmin Arakawa, piano

Reilly Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre - Ocala, FL
Saturday, November 20, 2021 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, November 21, 2021 - 3:00 PM

     Ives - Variations on America

     Rachmaninoff - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

     Elgar - Variations on an Original Theme / Enigma Variations

Coffee with the Conductor

Matthew Wardell, lecturer

Marion Theatre - Ocala, FL

Friday, November 5, 2021 - 10:00 AM

Subject: Variation Form, Ives, Rachmaninoff, and Elgar

A Little Night Music

University of Florida School of Theatre and Dance

Matthew Wardell, conductor

Constans Theatre - Gainesville, FL
Friday, October 22, 2021 - 7:30 PM

Saturday, October 23, 2021 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, October 24, 2021 - 4:30 PM

Tuesday, October 26, 2021 - 7:30 PM

Wednesday, October 27, 2021 - 7:30 PM

Thursday, October 28, 2021 - 7:30 PM

Friday, October 29, 2021 - 7:30 PM

Saturday, October 30, 2021 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, October 31, 2021 - 4:30 PM

     Sondheim - A Little Night Music (staged)

Beethoven's 9th and Relevancy

Matthew Wardell, lecturer

Phillips Center for the Performing Arts - Gainesville, FL

Thursday, October 7, 2021 - 7:00 PM

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