Masterworks I
Triumphant Beginnings

Gleb Ivanov, piano

The 2009-2010 season opens with the celebration of new beginnings- Rimsky-Korsakov’s Russian Eastern Overture followed by the popular Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story where love triumphs over all.  Emerging Russian start, pianist Gleb Ivanov, whose talent has been called “larger than life,” concludes the evening with the powerful Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3.

Masterworks II
Signature Strings

Euclid Quartet

Strings dictate the evening’s musical selections starting with the beautiful Vaughn William’s Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.  Continuing the string theme is Martinu’s Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra, performed with the “electric” personality of South Bend’s own Euclid Quartet at Indiana University South Bend.  Ending the concert is the romantic Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 2.

Masterworks III
Scottish Fantasy

Kyoko Takezawa, violin

An evening with a distinctly Scottish flair, complete with bagpiper Sean Meehan, opens with Maxwell Davies’ An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise.  Kyoko Takezawa, one of the most sought after violin soloists, brings her amazing interpretive insight and indisputable talent to Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy- playing with a richness of virtuosic feeling combined with fiery intensity.  The concert concludes with a perennial favorite, Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony No. 3.

Special Pre-Concert Dinner
6:00 Pm
Fiddler’s Hearth
127 N. Main Street

$25.00 per person for 4 course dinner
$50.00 per person with a ticket to Scottish Fantasy Concert

Masterworks IV
Brahms Requiem

Sara Hibbard, soprano
Philip Kraus, baritone

An evening filled with peace and hope is the theme of this celebration of holiday music featuring Brahms A German Requiem.  Over two hundred combined voices of the Notre Dame Glee Club, the Notre Dame Chorale, The Notre Dame Liturgical Chorale, The Notre Dame Women’s Liturgical Chorale and St. Mary’s Women’s Choir join in Brahms greatest choral composition.

Masterworks V
Grande Finale

James Tocco, piano

Ending the season in grand style is our salute to the season with Morton Gould’s Cheers!  A Celebration March, and the magnificent favorite, “Emperor” Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5.  Renowned pianist, orchestra soloist and chamber music performer, James Tocco, joins the orchestra for this memorable performance.  The evening finishes with Stravinsky’s beloved Petrouchka..

Pops I
Latin Exposure

Tito Puente, Jr. and Band

Heat up your evening with Latin hits like Ran Kan Kan, and Oye Como Va! Latin rhythms by Tito Jr. and his five member band will have you doing the Cha-cha-cha in your seat. Tito Jr. plays passionately, keeping the great legacy left by his father alive. He succeeds in this mission by exposing new generations to the lush, vibrant Latin beats of his father. Come see why audiences rave about his performance.

Pops II

Broadway Rocks

Capathia Jenkins, Julia Murney, Gary Mauer and IU South Bend University Chorus

Experience the best of Broadway all in one evening! Join the South Bend Symphony and Capathia Jenkins, Julia Murney, and Gary Mauer, three of Broadway’s best singers for great moments from the hit musicals including The Phantom of the Opera, Tommy, Rent, Lion King, Mamma Mia, Jekyll and Hyde, The Wiz, Hairspray, Chess, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Dreamgirls. The background vocals for this concert will be provided by the IU South Bend University Chorus directed by Dr. Marvin Curtis.

Pops III
Benny Goodman Tribute

Dave Bennett, clarinet

Swing into an evening of jazz classics; be transported by Dave Bennett’s stage presence, complete with wire-rim glasses, spats and double-breasted suit. Dave Bennett is a Michigan native and musical sensation who brings to life the classic sound of Benny Goodman. The beautiful tone of his clarinet will take you back to the time of Goodman’s “swing era” with tunes like Moonglow and I’ve Got Rhythm, Body and Soul.

Chamber I
German Romance

Aaron Brant, horn

Enjoy music of the romantic era from three German composers: Wagner, Strauss and Weber. Aaron Brant, principal horn from the SBSO will be performing as a soloist. Featuring, Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, and Weber’s Symphony No. 1 and Strauss’ Horn Concerto No.
Click here for program notes.

Chamber II
French Impressions

Ketevan Badridze, piano

An afternoon filled with French melodic music includes Faure’s Masques et Bergamasques, Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin, and Debussy-Ravel’s Sarabande. Ketevan Badridze, native of Tbilisi, the Republic of Georgia and faculty member of Indiana University at South Bend will perform Piano Concert No. 2 by Saint Saëns.
Click here for program notes.

Chamber III
Viennese Vignettes

Mark Portolese, violin

Immerse yourself in an afternoon of indulgent Viennese inspired tunes such as Dvork-Schmid’s Humoresque, Mendelssohn’s Wings of Song, Kreisler’s Praeludium & Allegro, and Mozart’s Symphony NO. 25 (Haffner) and many more. This light hearted selection of music is enriched by violin solos performed by Mark Portolese of the SBSO.
Click here for program notes.

This year our annual side-by-side concert is supersized! Join us to see if we reach our goal of 1000 performers on stage, by combining high school and university orchestral players from the entire Michiana region.

Austin Huntington has studied cello for 11 years and is the recipient of National and International Grand Prize Awards. Austin made his solo orchestral debut at age 10 and has performed as guest soloist with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, the LaPorte Symphony, the New World Youth Symphony, and the South Bend Youth Symphony.  Austin has performed in Italy, France, and the United States, and had his New York debut at Carnegie Hall this past spring.  Austin is a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and Encore, the CYSO’s premiere performing ensemble.  Austin was one of eight cellists representing the United States invited to compete in the 2009 Rostropovitch International Cello Competition held in Paris, France.  Austin was invited to perform in the 2010 Kronberg Academy Masterclass to be held in Kronberg, Germany, September 2010.  Austin has studied cello at the prestigious Perlman Music Program, summer residency on Shelter Island, New York, and will attend the Perlman Program’s Winter Residency in Sarasota, Florida in December.  In past summers Austin has studied in France, New York, and Aspen, Colorado.  Austin studies cello privately with Richard Hirschl of Chicago, Illinois.  Austin’s previous teachers are Hans Jorgen Jensen of Northwestern University and Emilie Grondin of Mishawaka, Indiana.  Austin is fifteen years old and a tenth grade student at Saint Joseph’s High School in South Bend, Indiana.

Home for The Holidays
Anita Johnson, soprano and the South Bend High School Festival Chorus

Our annual Holiday concert, soprano, Anita Johnson, a native of Ypsilanti, Michigan and the South Bend High School Festival Chorus, back by popular demand, will get you in the holiday spirit with a variety of yuletide favorites.  Ms. Johnson has been blessed with a voice of unfailingly lyrical grace and an onstage persona which has been described as “pure charm.”  She also had the honor of performing with Stevie Wonder in February at The Whitehouse. Don’t miss it. Read Our "Be Sharp" Article for the Holiday Concert.