Issuu

26/27

Season at-a-glance The Music of Studio Ghibli September 19, 2026 Pease Auditorium

Queens & Rach February 19, 2027 Hill Auditorium

Appalachian Spring & Pathétique October 11, 2026 Hill Auditorium

Disney’s Frozen in Concert March 20, 2027 Michigan Theater

Lord of the Rings Symphony October 23, 2026 Hill Auditorium

Sketches of Spring April 3, 2027 Hill Auditorium

Holiday Pops December 19, 2026 Hill Auditorium

In Recital: Nobu Tsujii April 18, 2027 Rackham Auditorium

Beethoven’s Pastoral January 23, 2027 Pease Auditorium

Seascapes May 1, 2027 Hill Auditorium

Artist and repertoire subject to change. 2. a2so.org | (734) 994-4801

Welcome We’re thrilled to welcome you to our 2026/27 Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra season. First and foremost, this season was designed to celebrate YOU — our community — to explore all that makes this place our collective home so special. Beyond the resiliency of the human spirit and splendor of nature lies the healing power of music, the kind that changes us in profound and wonderful ways. We've worked to include these transformative moments in this deeply human and thoughtfully-curated season; we invite you to open your hearts to exploration and journey with us through both the new and timeless works that remind us of the beauty that is life. Life here in Ann Arbor and beyond. Now in our 98th year, we know how many lives music enriches throughout the Ann Arbor and Southeast Michigan communities. Over the years, we’ve come together and made each other, and our home, better. The A2SO collective of musicians, staff, Board, and volunteers remains deeply committed to the artistic excellence that blends a wide variety of experiences and moments of belonging here. And we’ll continue to grow alongside and with each other — this season and beyond. Thank you, for all that you do to make that spirit soar! No matter where you join together with us — on or off the stage — know that we’re grateful to have you in the audience with us and so pleased to have you along on this near 100-year journey. Come back once again as a longtime friend, or give us a try and join us for the first time; we know you’ll be happy you came and we’ll be so glad to have you there. Here’s to a wonderful season ahead. See you at the Symphony!

Earl Lee Music Director

Sarah Calderini Executive Director Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra 26/27 season 3.

The Music of Studio Ghibli

スタジオジブリ

Saturday, September 19, 2026 Pease Auditorium | 3:00 & 7:30 PM Wilbur Lin guest conductor Music from Spirited Away My Neighbor Totoro Howl’s Moving Castle Kiki’s Delivery Service

Back by popular demand! Joe Hisaishi’s spellbinding scores to Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award-winning films are brought to life by the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor Wilburn Lin. This season, we’re bringing all your favorite Studio Ghibli soundtracks to Ypsilanti! Featuring music from My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Kiki’s Delivery Service, this concert will capture the hearts of Studio Ghibli fans of all ages!

4. a2so.org | (734) 994-4801

POPS SEASON OPENER

MAINSTAGE SEASON OPENER photo: Marco Borggreve

Appalachian Spring & Pathétique Sunday, October 11, 2026 Hill Auditorium | 3:00 PM Amaryn Olmeda violin Earl Lee conductor & Music Director Aaron Copland Appalachian Spring Suite Samuel Barber Violin Concerto Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6, Pathétique

A concert designed to move you. Music Director Earl Lee and the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra present three cornerstone works that chart a powerful journey through human emotion. Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite evokes the optimism and quiet strength of a young nation, with open, luminous textures and the unmistakable Shaker melody “Simple Gifts.” Lauded for her “commanding stage presence, infallible technique, and interpretive ability” (Violinist.com), violinist Amaryn Olmeda makes her Ann Arbor debut in Barber’s Violin Concerto, a work of striking contrasts – its soaring lyricism giving way to a dazzling, frenetic finale. The evening culminates in Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, the composer’s fated final work. From moments of profound beauty and grace to its haunting, subdued conclusion, it’s no wonder Tchaikovsky proclaimed this to be his most sincere work.

Sponsored by University of Michigan Medicine Centers of Excellence

Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra 26/27 season 5.

illustration: Alan Lee Moria

Friday, October 23, 2026 Hill Auditorium | 7:30 PM Kaitlyn Lusk mezzo-soprano U-M Men’s Glee Club chorus U-M Women’s Glee Club chorus Rob Boardman guest conductor

A symphonic journey from the Shire to Mordor. Journey to Middle-earth as the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra brings Howard Shore’s unforgettable Lord of the Rings soundtrack to life at Hill Auditorium along with mezzosoprano Kaitlyn Lusk and the U-M men’s and women’s glee clubs. The score for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy has been hailed as some of the greatest film music ever written. Sweeping in scope, it is a musical interpretation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth – an operatic tapestry of cultures, histories, languages, and people.

6. a2so.org | (734) 994-4801

photo: Charlotte Smith

Holiday POPS Saturday, December 19, 2026 Hill Auditorium | 7:00 PM PRISM chorus Earl Lee conductor & Music Director

Sing and laugh along with Maestro Lee and the Orchestra! Join the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Earl Lee, and Detroit-based community chorus PRISM as we deck Hill Auditorium with holiday cheer. Ring in the holidays with an evening of sing-alongs, symphonic showstoppers, and plenty of cheer. It’s a chance to enjoy great music and spend time with family and friends as the season gets into full swing.

Sponsored by

Tom & Debby McMullen

Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra 26/27 season 7.

Saturday, January 23, 2027 Pease Auditorium | 7:30 PM Aaron Berofsky violin Earl Lee conductor & Music Director Iman Habibi Jeder Baum Spricht (Every Tree Speaks) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5, Turkish Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 6, Pastoral

A hint of spring in the midst of winter. “No man loves the country more than I; for do not forests, trees, rocks re-echo that for which mankind longs.” — Beethoven Full of lightness and joy, Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony captures the emotional power of nature’s abundance, with each movement evoking scenes from the countryside: babbling brooks, chattering birds, friendly country folk, and a brief, tumultuous storm. Written in dialogue with this masterwork, U-M alum Iman Habibi’s Jeder Baum Spricht offers a fresh perspective, inviting us to reflect on the climate crisis through the lens of Beethoven’s sixth symphony. At the center of it all, longtime A2SO concertmaster Aaron Berofsky performs Mozart’s spirited Violin Concerto No. 5, renowned for its Turkish-inspired finale, bursting with exotic color and percussive energy.

8. a2so.org | (734) 994-4801

photo: Kelvin J. Baker

Beethoven’s Pastoral

Friday, February 19, 2027 Hill Auditorium | 7:30 PM Karen Slack soprano Aristo Sham piano Earl Lee conductor & Music Director

photo: Fay Fox photo: Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

Queens & Rach

Blacknificent 7 African Queens Sergei Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3

The A2SO welcomes two world-class artists to Hill Auditorium this month. Acclaimed soprano, 2022 Sphinx Medal of Excellence winner, and 2025 GRAMMY® Award winner Karen Slack presents African Queens, a song cycle celebrating the legacies of powerful African queens. Each piece is composed by a member of the Blacknificent 7: Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter, Jessie Montgomery, Shawn Okpebholo, Dave Ragland, Carlos Simon, and Joel Thompson.

photo: Kia Caldwell

Two powerhouse performances await you.

Following his magnificent solo recital at Rackham Auditorium, 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition gold medalist Aristo Sham makes his highly anticipated debut with the A2SO, performing Rachmaninoff’s virtuosic and hauntingly beautiful Piano Concerto No. 3.

Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra 26/27 season 9. Ann Ann Arbor Arbor Symphony Symphony Orchestra Orchestra 26/27 26/27 season season 9. 9.

Saturday, March 20, 2027 Michigan Theater | 3:00 & 7:30 PM Jacob Joyce guest conductor

Do you want to build a snowman? Experience Disney’s Frozen like never before as the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra performs Christophe Beck’s GRAMMY®-nominated score live to film! Fearless optimist, Princess Anna, sets off on an epic journey – teaming up with rugged mountain man, Kristoff, and his loyal reindeer Sven – to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter.

10. a2so.org | (734) 994-4801

photo: Andrej Grilc

SEASON FINALE

photo: Andrej Grilc photo: Andrew Miller

SEASON FINALE

Sketches of Spring Saturday, April 3, 2027 Hill Auditorium | 7:30 PM Brooklyn Rider Johnny Gandelsman violin Colin Jacobsen violin Nicholas Cords viola Michael Nicolas cello Dane Lam guest conductor Gioachino Rossini Semiramide Overture Nico Muhly Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra Antonín Dvořák Symphony No. 8

One world premiere. Two artist debuts. Three works. Often referred to as his “pastoral” symphony, Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 is boundlessly joyful and draws inspiration from Bohemian folk music and nature. Guest conductor Dane Lam champions this masterwork in his Ann Arbor debut alongside New York-based string quartet Brooklyn Rider in the Midwest premiere of the A2SO co-commissioned Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra by prolific American composer Nico Muhly. Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra is commissioned by La Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, and Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra.

Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra 26/27 season 11.

Sunday, April 18, 2027 Rackham Auditorium | 3:00 PM Nobuyuki Tsujii piano Frédéric Chopin Nocturn No. 7 Chopin Nocturn No. 8 Chopin Andante spianato and Grande polonaise brillante Maurice Ravel Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn Ravel Pavane pour une infante défunte Ravel Jeux d’eau Nicolai Kapustin 8 Concerto Etudes

An intimate matinee piano recital. Described by The London Observer as the “definition of virtuosity,” Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii (Nobu) makes his Ann Arbor debut in solo piano recital at Rackham Auditorium. Blind since birth due to microphthalmia, Nobu won the joint gold medal at the 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and has gone on to earn an international reputation for the passion and excitement he brings to his live performances.

This performance is not part of the A2SO subscription series. Season subscribers can receive early access tickets to Nobu’s recital. For more information, visit page 16.

12. a2so.org | (734) 994-4801

photo: Harald Hoffmann

In Recital: Nobuyuki Tsujii

photo: Andrej Grilc

SEASON FINALE

photo: Benjamin Ealovega

SEASON FINALE SEASON FINALE

Saturday, May 1, 2027 Hill Auditorium | 7:30 PM Eric Lu piano Earl Lee conductor & Music Director Vivian Fung Aqua Johannes Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 Tod Machover FLOW Symphony Claude Debussy La Mer

photo: Andrej Grilc photo: Andrej Grilc

Seascapes

A shimmering finale you won’t want to miss. In the season-concluding concert of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra’s 98th season, embark on a dazzling symphonic journey showcasing nature’s profound influence across every realm of experience – from human emotion and artistic expression to the architecture we build and the technologies we create. Fung’s mystifying and imaginative Aqua plays off of the architectural beauty and dizzying height of Chicago’s award-winning, 82-story Aqua Tower. Machover’s FLOW Symphony invites AI onto the stage to interact with the orchestra, creating unique aquatic soundscapes that transport listeners to an immersive experience like no other. Debussy’s La Mer evokes the splendor of the ocean’s power and majesty with shimmering orchestral color. Lauded for his “astonishing command of keyboard tone and color” (The Guardian), pianist and 2025 International Chopin Piano Competition gold medalist Eric Lu returns to Ann Arbor to take on Brahms’ monumental Piano Concerto No. 1, widely regarded as one of the most expansive and demanding works in the piano repertoire.

Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra 26/27 season 13.

Additional A2SO Appearances Throughout the 2026/27 season, you can find us making additional appearances with our Ann Arbor arts colleagues. The following performances are not included in the A2SO 26/27 subscription series. Mozart’s Requiem Earl Lee conductor & A2SO music director November 13, 2026 | Hill Auditorium Tickets: ums.org

While Mozart is not primarily known for sacred music, his final composition — the Requiem Mass — stands among his most sublime achievements.

Handel’s Messiah December 5-6, 2026 | Hill Auditorium Tickets: ums.org

Composed in 1741, Handel’s enduring masterpiece has enraptured audiences for centuries with its sublime beauty and profound spirituality.

Ralph Vaughan Williams’s A Sea Symphony February 13, 2027 | Hill Auditorium Tickets: ums.org

Inspired by the sea poems from Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, Vaughan Williams transforms Whitman’s ecstatic verse into music of sweeping grandeur and intimate reflection, a meditation on setting forth into the unknown with courage and hope.

DMA Piano Concerto Concert March 5-6, 2027 | Hill Auditorium Free admission

Students pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in Piano Performance / Pedagogy will perform piano concertos in collaboration with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra.

14. a2so.org | (734) 994-4801

Vijay Gupta The A2SO is proud to host violinist, speaker, and writer Vijay Gupta in a threeday residency as part of the A2SO’s newly launched Music & Wellness initiative. Beginning on October 1, Vijay will take the stage of the Penny Stamps Speaker Series at Michigan Theater; this event officially kicks off the 2nd annual Michigan Arts Festival hosted by the U-M Arts Initiative. During his visit, Vijay will also host a Baroque music masterclass at U-M School of Music Theater & Dance, and participate in a special roundtable discussion alongside other Ann Arbor arts and wellness community leaders. A recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship, he is the founder and Artistic Director of Street Symphony, a nationally recognized nonprofit that brings music into shelters, clinics, county jails, state hospitals, and reentry programs across Los Angeles. Vijay’s work weaves together music, neuroscience, and lived experience to explore how people learn, adapt, heal, and transform by finding meaning under pressure. His memoir Restrung is set for release by Da Capo Press in June 2026.

Penny Stamps Speaker Series October 1, 2026, 5:30 p.m. Michigan Theater Baroque Music Masterclass October 2, 2026 Location and time TBA Fireside Chat October 3, 2026 Rackham Auditorium

Interested? Subscribe to our mailing list to stay in the know! Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra 26/27 season 15.

Subscribe & Save Become a subscriber today and save 10% on tickets, regardless of where you book in our halls. Simply bundle 4 or more concerts to activate subscriber discounts. Subscribe online anytime at a2so.org or call the A2SO office at (734) 994-4801 for assistance with your order.

Subscriber discounts

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Renewing subscribers: Save 10% First-time subscribers: Save 50% Students (18 and over): Save 50% Kids (under 18): Save 50% Groups (10 or more): Save 20%

Priority access to concerts Easy exchanges Premium savings Invitations to exclusive events

Single tickets go on sale July 14, 2026.

26/27 Season Concerts

The Music of Studio Ghibli (9/19/26 — PA)

Appalachian Spring & Pathétique (10/11/26 — Hill)

115

Lord of the Rings Symphony (10/23/26 — Hill)

Holiday Pops (12/19/26 — Hill)

Beethoven’s Pastoral (1/23/27 — PA)

Queens & Rach (2/19/27 — Hill)

Frozen: In Concert (3/20/27 — MT)

Springtide (4/3/27 — Hill)

In Recital: Nobu Tsujii (4/18/27 — RA)

Seascapes (5/1/27 — Hill)

115

Prices shown are all inclusive. No additional fees will occur during transaction.

In Recital: Nobu Tsujii April 18, 2027 | 3 PM | Rackham Auditorium This recital is not included in subscription series. Receive early access to tickets when you subscribe today. Tickets for this recital will go on sale to the general public July 14.

16. a2so.org | (734) 994-4801

Seating charts Hill Auditorium

Michigan Theater

STAGE

Main Floor

Mezzanine Main Floor

Balcony

Pease Auditorium STAGE

Balcony

Rackham Auditorium STAGE

Main Floor

Balcony

Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra 26/27 season 17.

Learning & Community The A2SO’s Learning & Community (L&C) programs inspire and engage people of all ages to grow in their knowledge and appreciation of classical music. When we design an L&C program, we aim to make it as exciting and accessible as possible so that every individual can experience the joys of music and creative expression.

A2SO @ School Small ensembles of A2SO musicians present special programs at schools across Washtenaw and four additional counties.

Chamber Series Free initimate performances featuring A2SO Concertmaster Aaron Berofsky and A2SO musicians.

Farmers Markets A2SO woodwind, brass, and string ensembles present free programs in neighborhood farmers markets.

Instrument Petting Zoos Accessible, approachable, and empowering opportunities for people to explore the instruments of the orchestra.

KinderConcerts Offered at libraries across the region, these interactive programs introduce kids five and under to orchestra instruments.

Meet the Maestro High school and middle school orchestras participate in performance workshops with A2SO Music Director Earl Lee.

Music & Wellness NEW A2SO musicians share the healing power of music in healthcare settings throughout Washtenaw county.

Young Artist Competition Michigan-based students have the opportunity to take the stage with the A2SO. Winners also take home a cash prize.

Youth Concerts Dynamic and engaging symphonic experiences for students grade 3-5, featuring appearances by young soloists.

Want to learn more?

Visit our L&C page. a2so.org/learning-and-community

18. a2so.org | (734) 994-4801

Support the Orchestra Each season, ticket revenue only covers a small portion of the cost of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra’s unforgettable concerts and innovative Learning & Community programs. We rely on the support of individuals, foundations, and corporations to bring life-changing musical experiences to more than 70,000 listeners each year across the Southeast Michigan region.

Individual Giving Support our Annual Fund, pay tribute to a loved one, or sponsor a piece of music, an artist, or a concert with individual giving. A variety of options are available to make your gift giving as easy and intuitive as possible.

Donor Spotlight Patrick & Demetrike Wells-O’Brien

Corporate Sponsorship Invest in your community, connect directly with A2SO audiences, and express client appreciation through our corporate sponsorship opportunities while enjoying high-visibility brand placement in prominent digital, radio, and print locations.

Planned Giving Planned giving preserves the A2SO’s work for future generations by including the Symphony in your estate plans, creating a meaningful financial legacy that builds the thriving culture of tomorrow.

Podium Promise Endowment Fund Make a meaningful investment toward the future of your A2SO with a gift to our Podium Promise Endowment Fund. This endowment ensures that the artistic leadership of the A2SO remains ambitious, vibrant, and visionary.

Make a gift to the A2SO! Online Make a secure gift anytime at a2so.org

“We expected world-class music from the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. What we didn’t expect was the immediate and warm welcome within this amazing community! We’ve met wonderful friends, making memories with each experience. For us, the symphony is more than exquisite concerts. We support it because it does amazing work with kids of all ages and elevates our community. We share the A2SO’s deeply held belief that concerts are places for everyone. We hope you will join us for a performance and become more involved.”

Mail Send a check payable to: Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra 35 Research Dr STE 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Stock Transfer A gift of appreciated securities that will also provide tax benefits to you

Want to learn more?

Visit our Support page. a2so.org/support/ ways-to-give.

Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra 26/27 season 19.

35 Research Drive, Suite 100 Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Subscribe today Priority access Easy exchanges Premium savings Invitations to exclusive events

(734) 994-4801 a2so.org/subscribe

Single tickets go on sale July 14, 2026

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