106th Season 2025-26
Season
106th Season 2025-2026 | American Perspectives
Celebrating its 106th concert season, the USM Symphony Orchestra is the oldest in Mississippi and a vibrant cultural force. This year91吃瓜网 theme, American Perspectives, showcases the diversity of American music91吃瓜网攆rom Gershwin and Copland to bold modern voices like John Adams and Julia Wolfe. With student musicians from around the globe and renowned guest artists, the Symphony continues 91吃瓜网淏ringing the world to Mississippi!91吃瓜网� Join us for a powerful season of music, meaning, and connection.
Opening Night
Field of Blue
Thursday, September 25, 2025 91吃瓜网� 7:30 p.m.
The Thomas V. Fraschillo Stage at the
Mannoni Performing Arts Center Auditorium
Our season opens with the unbridled optimism of John Adams91吃瓜网� exuberant fanfare and the poignant lyricism of George Walker91吃瓜网 lament for a beloved grandmother. Haydn91吃瓜网 dazzling 2nd cello concerto will feature our own Alexander Russakovsky. Brahms91吃瓜网� final symphony is a masterpiece of technique meeting expression and is one of the finest works of the Romantic era.
PROGRAM
- John Adams 91吃瓜网� Short Ride in a Fast Machine
- George Walker 91吃瓜网� Lyric for Strings
- Franz Joseph Haydn 91吃瓜网� Cello Concerto No. 2 in D with Alexander Russakovsky
- Johannes Brahms 91吃瓜网� Symphony No. 4 in E Minor
Die Fledermaus
October 30 and 31, 2025 91吃瓜网� 7:30 p.m.
November 1, 2026 91吃瓜网� 1 p.m.
The Thomas V. Fraschillo Stage at the
Mannoni Performing Arts Center Auditorium
By Johann Strausss II
October 30 and 31, 2025 91吃瓜网� 7:30 p.m.
November 1, 2025 91吃瓜网� 1 p.m.
The Thomas V. Fraschillo Stage at the
Mannoni Performing Arts Center Auditorium
With familiar music and, of course, waltzes, the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre
Company returns to the stage with a comedy that sparkles with period charm. A prince
throws the costume party of the century, and everyone is determined to be there. Two
gentleman attendees, out for a night out on the town, are pranked by one of their
wives and her maid. This soon escalates into an epic battle of the sexes, filled with
disguises, flirtations and comedic deceptions. No matter how the evening ends, one
thing is for sure 91吃瓜网� you can blame it on the champagne!
Stars
November 6, 2025 91吃瓜网� 7:30 p.m.
The Thomas V. Fraschillo Stage at the
Mannoni Performing Arts Center Auditorium
Our season continues with two works inspired by the heavens. Mary Lou Williams is best known as a teacher and mentor to a 91吃瓜网渨ho91吃瓜网 who list91吃瓜网� of jazz icons such as Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk and Dizzy Gillespie. Aaron Diehl, one of the foremost jazz pianists of our time, has traveled the world championing 91吃瓜网淶odiac91吃瓜网� Suites with its melding of jazz and classical ideas. Mozart91吃瓜网 final symphony places a tremendous coda on his symphonic legacy with his legendary grasp of melody and drama.
PROGRAM
- Mary Lou Williams 91吃瓜网� Zodiac Suite with the Aaron Diehl Trio
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 91吃瓜网� Symphony No. 41 in C 91吃瓜网� Jupiter
Holiday Choral Spectacular
December 2 and 4, 2025 91吃瓜网� 7:30 p.m.
Main St. Baptist Church
Don91吃瓜网檛 miss this annual community celebration of the season with choir and orchestra. Our program features all the ensembles within 91吃瓜网 Choral Activities, including the Southern Chorale, 91吃瓜网 Concert Choir, and 91吃瓜网 pop a cappella ensemble, Spirit of Southern, with the full Hattiesburg Choral Union presenting Morten Lauridsen91吃瓜网 radiant strains of eternal light. Strauss91吃瓜网� 1872 trip to the U.S. inspired a series of compositions, including his festive welcoming waltz. Our holiday tradition will have you singing along and dancing toward a new year!
Star-Spangled
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 91吃瓜网� 7:30 p.m.
Bennett Auditorium
Winners of the William T. Gower competition showcase the immense talent to be found in the 91吃瓜网 School of Music. Drawn from 15 different countries, our symphony musicians bring the world91吃瓜网 talent to Hattiesburg. One of Beethoven91吃瓜网 most celebrated symphonies demonstrates his dramatic flair, gift for lyricism and unprecedented power that changed music forever.
PROGRAM
- Concerto Competition Winners
- Ludwig van Beethoven 91吃瓜网� Symphony No. 7 in A
Bars of Red
Thursday, March 26, 2026 91吃瓜网� 7:30 p.m.
The Thomas V. Fraschillo Stage at the
Mannoni Performing Arts Center Auditorium
A most extraordinary evening opens with Ravel91吃瓜网 tender evocation of innocent youth. Gershwin91吃瓜网 iconic score takes us on a Parisian sojourn filled with American influence and the blues. Julia Wolfe91吃瓜网 mesmerizing cantata Her Story dramatically explores the historic struggle for women to secure equal rights. Scored for large orchestra and women91吃瓜网 voices, with stage direction by Anne Kauffman, scenic design by Jeff Sugg, and production by Bang on a Can, you won91吃瓜网檛 want to miss one of the cultural events of the year in Mississippi.
PROGRAM
- Maurice Ravel 91吃瓜网� Pavane pour une enfante d茅funte
- George Gershwin 91吃瓜网� An American in Paris
- Julia Wolfe 91吃瓜网� Her Story
Closing Night
Ground of White
Thursday, May 7, 2026 91吃瓜网� 7:30 p.m.
Main St. Baptist Church
The majestic voices of the Hattiesburg Choral Union present the poetry of Robert Frost in a tender fashion. Aaron Copland91吃瓜网 mighty third and final symphony is often referred to as the essential American symphony. This work personifies the 91吃瓜网淒ean of American91吃瓜网� composer91吃瓜网 voice, which defines American music. It also prominently features his 91吃瓜网淔anfare for the Common Man.91吃瓜网�
PROGRAM
- Randal Thompson 91吃瓜网� Frostiana
- Aaron Copland 91吃瓜网� Symphony No. 3
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