Lima, OH (April 26, 2023) – The Lima Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to announce its 2023-2024 season. The season features high-profile guest artists and conductors, new music, original commissions, and favorite repertoire classics.

Music Director Andrew Crust

“The 23/24 season will be one of the LSO’s most exciting seasons to date, featuring two Grammy Award-Winning guest artists (violinist Charles Yang and conductor Michael Repper), with such enduring masterworks as Beethoven’s Ninth, Schubert’s Erlkönig and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth, living composers such as Missy Mazzoli, Valerie Coleman and Evan Williams (from whom we’ve commissioned a world premiere), lesser-known masterworks from Clara Schumann, Johannes Brahms and Antonin Dvorak and fun for the whole family with our energetic and exciting ‘Superheroes and Supervillains’ program. We open the season with a concert of classic Hollywood themes from films such as Casablanca, Psycho, Howl’s Moving Castle and The Godfather, welcome Steve Lippia to the stage to perform the music of Frank Sinatra on New Year’s Eve, and of course, ring in the holidays with a joyful, thoughtful and entertaining Bells Brass and Bows featuring a piano soloist and our beloved Lima Symphony Chorus. We’ve got something for absolutely everyone this season––bring a friend, you’re not going to want to miss it!”

As Maestro Crust enters his 4th season with the LSO, the orchestra has continued to explore new and diverse repertoire, composers, and performers – inviting audiences to experience the rich offerings of the Classical music field. The upcoming season continues this mission, bringing the highest quality and variety of Classical music to our community and enriching Lima’s cultural and artistic offerings.

Season subscriptions are currently on sale, and ticket sales for individual concerts will go on sale on August 1st.

Season Outline:

Saturday, October 14, 2023 “Korngold and the Hollywood Sound”

Charles Yang, violin

Journey to the Golden Era of Hollywood with the Lima Symphony Orchestra and crossover superstar Grammy-winning violinist Charles Yang. Experience the sounds that made the classics: the lush romanticism of Casablanca, the spine-tingling strings of Psycho, the haunting nostalgia of The Godfather, and the lyrical virtuosity of Korngold’s Violin Concerto.

Max Steiner                             Casablanca Suite

Bernard Hermann                   Psycho Suite for Strings

Nino Rota                               Godfather Suite

                                                            Love Theme (The Godfather)

                                                            End Title (The Godfather, Part II)

Joe Hisaishi                             Joe Hisaishi                             Symphonic Variation “Merry-Go-Round” from “Howl’s Moving

Castle”

Erich Wolfgang Korngold        Violin Concerto

                                                Charles Yang, violin

Saturday, November 4, 2023 “Musically Speaking”

Experience the Lima Symphony in a whole new way as Music Director Andrew Crust leads the orchestra in an innovative concert of music discovery. Through images and sound bites, learn about 19th-century master Tchaikovsky, whose concert and theatrical music remain popular to this day. Uncover the secrets, tragedy, and triumphs of the man and his work before listening to a complete performance of Tchaikovsky’s enigmatic fifth symphony. 

Tchaikovsky                             Symphony No. 5 in E Minor

Saturday, December 9, 2023 “Bells, Brass and Bows”

Michael Repper, Conductor

Lima Symphony Chorus

Celebrate the season with Lima’s favorite holiday tradition: Bells, Brass & Bows. Featuring the Lima Symphony Chorus, guest conductor Michael Repper leads a joyful program of Christmas sing-a-longs, sacred carols, and popular sounds of the season.

Arr. Sheldon                            A Most Wonderful Christmas

Leontonych/Hayes                  Ukrainian Bell Carol

Arr. Richman                           Christmas Sing-Along

Guaraldi/Tunney                     Peanuts Concerto

Movement III, “Christmas”

Delvyn Case                             Rocket Sleigh

Handel                                     Messiah

                                                For Unto Us a Child is Born

                                                And the Glory of the Lord

                                                Hallelujah!

Tsfasman                                 Suite for Piano and Orchestra No. 1

Movement I, “Snowflakes”

Rutter/Willan                          What is this Lovely Fragrance?

Arr. Simeone                           Do You Hear What I Hear?

Leroy Anderson                       Sleigh Ride

arr. Harris                               We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Sunday, December 31, 2023“The Music of Sinatra”

Antoine T. Clark, conductor

Steve Lippia, Vocals

Ring in the New Year with the iconic sounds of the “Chairman of the Board” – Frank Sinatra. Grammy-nominated vocalist Steve Lippia and the Lima Symphony Orchestra bring the smooth style of ‘Ol Blue Eyes to the stage for an evening of your favorite American Songbook standards!

Saturday, January 20 and Sunday, January 21, 2024 “Music by Candlelight”

Experience Classical music as it was meant to be heard as the Lima Symphony invokes tradition and warmth in its annual presentation of “Music by Candlelight.” Taking place in beautiful and historic local venues, the lush and graceful sounds of Brahms and Dvořák invite listeners to connect with music in intimate and transformative ways.

Valerie Coleman                     Umoja

Johannes Brahms                    Serenade No. 2, Op. 16

Antonín Dvořák                       Serenade, Op. 44

Sunday, February 11, 2024 “Superheroes and Supervillains”

Connect to your inner superhero as we traverse the musical landscape of “Superheroes and Supervillains.” Music Director Andrew Crust leads the orchestra on a daring adventure where the Avengers take on Darth Vader, Cruella de Vil faces off against Spiderman, and baby Yoda softens the hearts of even the most treacherous characters. Who will win the day?

Williams                                  Main Title from Star Wars Suite

Elfman arr. Bartek                  Theme from “Batman”, Main Title

Elfman                                     Spider-Man Theme

Silvestri                                   Theme from “The Avengers”                         

Williams                                  Imperial March from Star Wars Suite

Williams                                  Leia’s Theme from Star Wars Suite

Williams                                  Across the Stars Love Theme from Star Wars Ep. II

Görransson/Longfield             Theme from “The Mandalorian”

Silvestri                                   Captain America – March

Giacchino/Moss                      The Incredibles “Main Theme”

Conley                                     Cruella de Vil

R. Gregson-Williams               Wonder Woman Suite

Williams/Rothrock                  Superman Suite – Main Title

Saturday, March 9, 2024 “Joyful, Joyful”

Lima Symphony Chorus

Summer Aebker, solo soprano 

Kira McGirr, solo mezzo soprano

Benjamin Bunsold, solo tenor

Sam Dhobhany, solo bass-baritone

Music Director Andrew Crust conducts the orchestra and chorus in a powerhouse of 19th-century symphonic choral works. The first half of the program explores the darker side of imagination, from Schubert’s haunting Erlkönig to Brahms’ funeral song Nänie, which laments the inevitability of death. The program concludes with Beethoven’s iconic 9th Symphony featuring the triumphant Ode to Joy, encapsulating all that is worth living for.

Franz Schubert                        Erlkönig

                                    Sam Dhobhany, solo bass-baritone

Clara Schumann                      Die Lorelei

                                    Summer Aebker, solo soprano

Johannes Brahms                    Nänie

Ludwig Van Beethoven           Symphony No. 9 “Choral”

Saturday, April 6, 2024 “Fauré and Dvořák”

Tower Duo (Erin Torres, solo flute, Michael Rene Torres, solo saxophone)

The Lima Symphony’s season finale features one of our own as principal flutist Erin Torres and duo partner saxophonist Michael Torres bring a world premiere by award-winning composer Evan Williams to our stage. Bookending our duo are two of Classical Music’s most endearing works, Fauré’s delicately wistful Pavane and Dvořák’s tragic Symphony no. 7.

Gabriel Fauré                          Pavane           

Missy Mazzoli                         Sinfonia for Orbiting Spheres

Evan Williams                         Mountains Upon Mountains Like Waves Upon Waves

                                                Concerto for flute, saxophone and orchestra

                                                Tower Duo

Antonín Dvořák                       Symphony No. 7, B. 14

The Lima Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to preserving musical excellence as a living part of our community. Serving communities throughout West Central Ohio, the Lima Symphony annually presents five subscription concerts, a family concert, Candlelight concerts, and an annual New Year’s Eve Pops concert.

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For more information about the Lima Symphony Orchestra or for tickets, please contact the Lima Symphony at 419-222-5701 or www.limasymphony.com.