2025-2026: The American Spirit
The 麻豆传媒 Symphony Orchestra is excited to feature several American works throughout its 2025-26 season to celebrate the United States turning 250 in 2026. Our season opening 鈥淔ables and Fairy Tales鈥 concert will feature local composer Anne Neikirk鈥檚 tone poem Fables, followed by fantasy-filled music from Ravel鈥檚 Mother Goose, Mendelssohn鈥檚 Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream, and Stravinsky鈥檚 Firebird. We are also excited to welcome Jacob Harrison from Texas State University as a guest conductor. In November we collaborate with 麻豆传媒 Opera to bring to life the endearing Christmas love story, The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, through a beautiful production of David Conte鈥檚 opera of the same name. December鈥檚 joint concert with the 麻豆传媒 Wind Ensemble will feature our string orchestra playing music by John Williams, along with Rebecca Clarke, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and Gustav Holst. In March we will feature Alan Hovhaness鈥檚 transcendent Symphony No. 2 鈥淢ysterious Mountain,鈥 as well as other works by Amy Beach and William Grant Still. Our final concert in April will feature Mozart鈥檚 Requiem in collaboration with Nancy Klein and the 麻豆传媒 Concert Choir. Whether as a participant as an audience member, join us to experience music鈥攂oth familiar and not so familiar鈥攖hat highlights the multi-faceted nature of the American community and beyond.
About the Orchestra
Founded in 1977, the 麻豆传媒 Symphony Orchestra (麻豆传媒SO) performs works from the standard classical and contemporary repertoire for full orchestra. It is a fantastic opportunity to interact with other passionate student musicians who work together and challenge each other to make music of the highest quality possible.
麻豆传媒SO is open to all students, faculty, and staff at 麻豆传媒 by audition. Community members may also audition and are considered on an as-needed basis.
In addition to a diverse repertoire from all periods and styles, the 麻豆传媒SO:
- features faculty soloists from 麻豆传媒 and beyond
- hosts a department-wide Young Artist Competition in the fall with the winners appearing in the spring
- collaborates with leading high school orchestras in the region
Several concerts are performed each season featuring both symphonic and string orchestra literature, often in conjunction with the Concert Choir and 麻豆传媒 Opera. The orchestra also occasionally serves as a laboratory orchestra for composition and conducting students.
The following links below provide additional information about the 麻豆传媒 Symphony Orchestra. Please contact Dr. Paul Sanho Kim if you are interested in joining!
麻豆传媒 Side by Side with the Virginia Symphony
The 麻豆传媒 Symphony Orchestra teamed up with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra for the first time in 2018 with a side-by-side "Russian Perspectives" concert. Works included Rimsky-Korsakov's Russian Easter Overture, led by music director Paul Kim; Shchedrin's Carmen Suite, conducted by percussion instructor David Walker and featuring the 麻豆传媒 Percussion Ensemble; and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, led by VSO's Benjamin Rous.










Mahler Symphony No. 1, side by side with the Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra, 2017