Where has all this time gone, and how did these thirty years go so quickly?
As this is my final season with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, my mind and heart are filled with such vibrant memories of the musicians of this orchestra playing at the highest level to make the music they create reach your hearts and minds. I have so much gratitude to them, and especially to you for receiving our music so openly and enthusiastically.
Each concert this season features works that have special meaning for me, and we are joined by artists for whom I have extraordinary affection and respect.
Thank you for making the ASO and me part of your lives; you will always be an essential part of mine.
A message from CEO/Executive Director Justus Zimmerman
After 30 years at the podium, Peter Bay's legacy is woven into this orchestra, this city, and the lives of everyone who has ever sat in these seats. His final season is a celebration worthy of that legacy— and knowing Peter, that means music performed at the highest level for the audiences he has treasured most. Don't miss a single downbeat.
Finding his successor will be deliberate. Artistry and vision worthy of this city will guide us. We're in no hurry. Getting it right matters more than getting it done fast. In the meantime, there is an extraordinary final season ahead of you. Settle in and enjoy every moment of it.
The Austin Symphony Orchestra remains what it has always been: Central Texas' only professional, union orchestra. Certified Prime. The real deal. Subscribe now, and we'll see you in the hall.
Season-at-a-Glance
SEP 11 & 13 / MW1
Geneva Lewis, violin; Brahms's Violin
Concerto in D Major
OCT 16 & 17 / BP1
Batman in Concert (1989)
OCT 18 / SE1
Halloween Children's Concert
Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf
OCT 23 & 25 / MW2
Jaime Bernstein, director/narrator;
Leonard Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti
NOV 18 / SE2
An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma
DEC 1 / SE3
Handel’s Messiah
DEC 15 & 16 / BP2
Elf in Concert
JAN 15 & 17 / MW3
Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition
MW / MASTERWORKS SERIES
BP / BUTLER POPS SERIES
FEB 19 & 20 / MW4
Joshua Bell, violin; Beethoven's Violin
Concerto in D Major
MAR 5 & 6 / MW5
Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé
APR 2 & 3 / BP3
Jurassic Park in Concert
APR 9 & 10 / MW6
Mahler's Symphony No. 9
APR 15 / ABT
Nico Muhly and Brooklyn Rider with the ASO
MAY 14 & 15 / MW7
Beethoven's Symphony No. 9
MAY 21 & 22 / BP4
Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert
JUNE 11 & 12 / MW8
Anton Nel and Jon Kimura Parker, pianos
Mozart's Concerto for Two Pianos
SE / SPECIAL EVENT
ABT / ASO ABOUT TOWN
Brahms & the Nordic Masterpiece
SEPTEMBER 11 & 13 (Fri. at 8 pm, Sun. at 2 pm)
Geneva Lewis, violin
THEOFANIDIS Rainbow Body
BRAHMS Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 82
To Have and to Hold
OCTOBER 23 & 25 (Fri. at 8 pm, Sun. at 2 pm)
Jamie Bernstein, director/narrator; Alex Maynegre-Torra, piano (Saint-Saëns)
BERNSTEIN Trouble in Tahiti
“The Carnival of Marriage” Verses by Ogden Nash J. STRAUSS, JR. Champagne Polka, Op. 211
DOHNÁNYI The Veil of Pierrette, Op. 18: No. 4
“Wedding Waltz”
SAINT-SAËNS Wedding Cake, Op. 76
ELGAR Salut d’Amour, Op. 12
GRIEG/Huppertz Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, Op. 65, No. 6
MENDELSSOHN A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61: “Wedding March”
Pictures at an Exhibition
JANUARY 15 & 17 (Fri. at 8 pm, Sun. at 2 pm)
Yifei Xu, piano
BRAHMS/Rubbra Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24
LISZT Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major, S. 125
MUSSORGSKY/Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition
Joshua Bell Plays Beethoven
FEBRUARY 19 & 20 (Fri. & Sat. at 8 pm)
Joshua Bell, violin
VERDI La forza del destino: Overture
LUTOSLAWSKI Concerto for Orchestra
BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61
Mary Hoofnagle
Stephen Hamilton Peter Bay ROCKS
There is simply no one like you Maestro Bay. Thank you for the music and joy!
Audience reactions on social
Peter Bay, conductor
Daphnis & Gloria
MARCH 5 & 6
Chorus Austin
MAZZOLI The Shield of the Heart is the Heart (for string orchestra)
MOZART/Boss The Boy Who Said Wow (Masonic Funeral Music, K. 477) [based on a true story]
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 (Choral)
With Love and Gratitude
JUNE 11 & 12
Anton Nel and Jon Kimura Parker, pianos
PUTS “… this noble company”
MOZART Concerto for Two Pianos in E-flat Major, K.365
conductor Presented by:
RACHMANINOFF
Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
Carolyn Bryant
Can't wait to see this one. I love movies with the score played live - and Austin Symphony Orchestra does it so well!
I got to experience this wonderful conductor at work during the "Return of the Jedi in Concert" event in Austin last year. Phenomenal performance and experience.
Audience reactions on social
Performances begin at 7:30 pm in the Michael & Susan Dell Hall
manapazza
Batman in Concert (1989)
Friday, October 16
Saturday, October 17
Relive the incredible performances of Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, and the rest of the stellar cast that helped define one of DC Comics’s most popular superhero characters, enhanced by your Austin Symphony Orchestra performing the legendary music by composer Danny Elfman.
Elf in Concert
Tuesday, December 15
Wednesday, December 16
Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. Relive this heartwarming holiday classic on a giant screen as every note of John Debney’s wonderful score is played live to picture by your Austin Symphony Orchestra in: Elf in Concert!
Jurassic Park in Concert
Friday, April 2
Saturday, April 3
The action-packed adventure of Jurassic Park pits man against prehistoric predators in the ultimate battle for survival. Experience it now, projected in HD with your Austin Symphony Orchestra performing John Williams's iconic score live to picture.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert
Friday, May 21
Saturday, May 22
Thirty years after the fall of the Empire, the First Order rises under Snoke and Kylo Ren. As General Leia Organa’s Resistance fights back, Rey and Finn join Han Solo and Chewbacca to deliver a droid carrying a map to Luke Skywalker. Hear John Williams’s score performed live by your Austin Symphony Orchestra.
Peter Bay, conductor
An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 | 8 pm
Michael & Susan Dell Hall
Peter Bay, conductor
HOVHANESS And God Created Great Whales, Op. 229, No. 1
BIZET L'Arlésienne: Suite No. 1
BIZET L'Arlésienne: Suite No. 2 (excerpts)
DVOŘÁK Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op. 104, B. 191
Experience a truly unforgettable evening with one of the most revered musicians of our time, Yo-Yo Ma. In a rare and highly anticipated appearance, the legendary cellist brings his unparalleled artistry to Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B Minor, a work of sweeping lyricism and emotional depth that has become synonymous with his name. This is more than a performance. It is a moment in musical history.
Surrounding this centerpiece, the program offers a rich and evocative journey through sound. Hovhaness’s And God Created Great Whales immerses listeners in a haunting, otherworldly soundscape, blending orchestra with the voices of nature. Bizet’s beloved L’Arlésienne Suites Nos. 1 and 2 add brilliance and charm, brimming with vibrant melodies and irresistible energy.
Join us for an evening where a living legend takes the stage, elevated by a program as compelling as it is diverse. Secure your seats now for this extraordinary event.
Halloween Children’s Concert
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18 | 3 pm
Michael & Susan Dell Hall
Peter Bay, conductor
Celebrate Halloween with a playful musical adventure the whole family will love. Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf springs to life with vivid orchestral storytelling, introducing young listeners to the instruments of the orchestra. Come early for fun pre-concert activities, and don’t forget to wear your favorite costume. Spooky surprises, lighthearted thrills, and festive favorites round out this engaging program, filled with music, laughter, and a touch of Halloween magic.
Handel’s Messiah
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 | 8 pm
Hyde Park Church
Chorus Austin; Ryan Heller, conductor
HOLIDAY TRADITION
Your Austin Symphony Orchestra presents its holiday tradition, Handel’s Messiah, accompanied by Chorus Austin for you and your family!
Both a holiday classic and a city favorite, this night of musical magic will comfort you through its familiarity and fill you with the joy of rediscovery. Let us begin your holiday with a performance full of rejoicing.
ASO ABOUT TOWN (chamber orchestra concert)
Nico Muhly and Brooklyn Rider
THURSDAY, APRIL 15 | 7:30 pm
Location TBD
Nico Muhly, composer; Brooklyn Rider, string quartet; Peter Bay, conductor
Experience ASO About Town by Candlelight, an intimate evening with your Austin Symphony Orchestra featuring Brooklyn Rider in a mesmerizing new work by Grammy-nominated composer Nico Muhly, performed in the glow of candlelight.
Subscriber Info
Subscriber Benefits
(Super Series, Masterworks Series, Butler Pops Series & Flex Package)
• Season Discount — Save up to 43% off the single ticket price.
• Guaranteed Seating — Avoid the disappointment of sold-out performances.
• Ticket Exchange — Schedule conflict? We will exchange your season tickets for tickets to another performance within your purchased series at no additional cost.
• Tax Receipt — Receive a tax receipt for any season ticket(s) that you are unable to use. Simply notify us before 4 pm on the day of your performance.
• Lost Ticket Replacement — If you have lost a ticket, call (512) 476-6064 and the Box Office will replace your ticket at no additional cost.
• Additional Discounts and Access — Subscribers and donors can purchase additional tickets at a 10% discount with no additional fees and also receive priority access for special events.
• Priority Seating — Current subscribers receive first priority in subscribing for the next season. All subscribers receive the best seats at considerable savings.
• Early Renewal Vouchers – Renew early in 2027 and be rewarded with two complimentary tickets to any performance in your purchased series.
Additional Info
• Concert Conversations — Get the most out of each Masterworks Series concert by attending Concert Conversations hosted by Jeffrey Blair. Each pre-concert talk is free of charge for ticket holders and begins at 7:10 pm in the concert hall. Concert Conversations are informative, provide a behind-the-scenes look at classical music, and often include a Q&A opportunity with the guest artist.
• Parking — Parking is available in the city-owned Palmer Events Center garage and at One Texas Center for $12. Valet parking is available for $20-$40.
How to Order
ASO Website: austinsymphony.org/packages By Phone: (512) 476-6064, Ext. 3
In Person: 1113 Red River St., Austin, TX 78701 Monday - Friday 9 am to 5 pm
SEATING & PRICING
Super Series (12 concer ts) Includes 8 Masterworks Series and 4 Butler Pops Series concerts.
PARTERRE DD–JJ
LOWER MEZZANINE AISLES A–E
LOWER MEZZANINE A–D
LOWER MEZZANINE C–E
UPPER MEZZANINE LOWER BALCONY UPPER BALCONY
Masterworks Series (8 concerts) Includes 8 Masterworks Series concerts.
Sarah
& Ernest Butler
Pops Series
(4 concerts) Includes 4 Butler Pops Series concerts.
UPPER
AISLES A–E
LOWER MEZZANINE A–D
LOWER MEZZANINE C–E
UPPER MEZZANINE
LOWER BALCONY
UPPER BALCONY
PARTERRE/MEZZANINE BOX BALCONY BOX
UPPER
Flex Package
Choose 4 performances from the Masterworks & Butler Pops Series performances.
*For Masterworks and Super Series, portions of the Orchestra, Parterre, Lower Mezzanine, and Boxes require a tax-deductible donation in addition to each seat price. Some restrictions may apply. For details, call the Box O ce at (512) 476-6064, Ext. 3. The total subscription price you see is exactly what you’ll pay—no hidden fees at checkout. The price includes a $4 per ticket Long Center Maintenance Rental Surcharge fee and a $2 per ticket ASO Ticketing Platform fee.
Impact From Annual Programs
1,700 Average attendance at Michael & Susan Dell Hall performances
18+ Guest artists each season
44 Free community presentations
23 Subscription concerts each season
1.2M+ Schoolchildren that have attended an ASO performance in the past 25 years
>50% of attending students are economically disadvantaged (according to state data)
245+ Out-of-state zip codes, 450+ Texas zip codes outside of Central Texas
25,000+ Schoolchildren reached by ASO education programs each season
1,500+ Tickets donated to veterans and active military via VetTix
1,600+ Students attending through $10 student ticket offers
200,000+ People reached each season
Include a tax-deductible gift with your subscription to help ensure that programs like these remain a vital part of the ASO's mission.
12,000 4th & 5th graders at the annual Young People's Concerts
Support The Austin Symphony Orchestra
Music has the power to move us, unite us, and shape the cultural life of our city. When you join the Symphony Society, you become part of a community that believes in that power — and ensures it thrives in Austin.
With annual support beginning at $250, your generosity sustains the Austin Symphony Orchestra’s artistic excellence and community educational programs while inviting you into experiences that go beyond the concert hall.
Throughout the 2026–2027 season, you’ll encounter extraordinary soloists, inspiring composers, and unforgettable performances — made possible by patrons like you.
Ticket sales and subscriptions cover only a portion of what it takes to bring this music to life. Your support fuels every rehearsal, every performance, and every education program reaching thousands of children across our community.
We invite you to join us.
Learn more at austinsymphony.org/membership or contact the ASO Development Team at development@austinsymphony.org (512) 476-6064, Ext. 1218
Symphony Society Benefits 26–27
The Symphony Society brings together visionary patrons whose generosity sustains the Austin Symphony Orchestra’s artistic excellence and community impact. As your leadership grows, so does your access — opening the door to deeper engagement, elevated hospitality, and extraordinary behind-the-scenes experiences with the musicians and artistry that bring the Symphony to life. Benefits increase at each level and include those from preceding levels.
OVERTURE — $250+
Recognition in the concert program Premium seat eligibility with season subscription
ALLEGRO — $500+
• Eligibility to join the Prelude Luncheon Series (formerly known as the Arbor Series)
• Invitation for two to the season opening Masterworks guest reception
CRESCENDO — $1,000+
• Invitation for two to the season closing Masterworks guest reception Two complimentary tickets to a Masterworks concert (includes guest reception for concert)*
PRESTO — $2,500+
VIP self-parking for all Masterworks and Butler Pops concerts
• Invitations for two to all Masterworks guest receptions
• Four Masterworks guest reception passes annually
Invitations to select special events
VIRTUOSO — $5,000+
• Choice of valet or VIP self-parking for all Masterworks and Butler Pops concerts
Invitation for two to an exclusive rehearsal or backstage experience
• Priority access to limited-capacity donor experiences
CONCERTMASTER — $10,000+
• Recognition associated with one Masterworks guest artist (includes eight tickets to the performance and guest reception)
Invitations to select education concerts (Halloween and Young People’s Concerts)
• Ten Masterworks guest reception passes annually
Artist meet-and-greet or backstage experience for up to eight guests
SOLOIST — $15,000+
Recognition associated with one Masterworks concert (includes eight tickets to the performance and guest reception)
• Pre-concert Green Room experience for up to eight guests
Maestro meet-and-greet or backstage experience for up to eight guests
Recognition associated with one Masterworks concert featuring a guest artist (includes eight tickets to the performance and guest reception) Invitation for two to a Prelude Luncheon
• Private dinner for four with ASO leadership
• Invitation to the annual Maestro’s Circle Dinner (Spring 2027)
MAESTRO’S CIRCLE — $50,000+
Exclusive recognition associated with one Masterworks concert weekend (includes twelve tickets to the performance and guest receptions)
• Private salon with Maestro Peter Bay and a featured musician, curated for you and 10 guests
• Invitation for four to a Prelude Luncheon
• Unlimited Donor Lounge access Dedicated concierge ticketing and patron services throughout season
*Tickets are subject to availability and exclude the February & May Masterworks Series performances.
Get Involved
Paul and Clara Bancroft along with the BancroftClair Foundation launched The Bancroft Initiative in the Fall of 2019. The plan for the 11-year Initiative is to broaden your Symphony’s educational efforts and to sponsor concerts celebrating diversity and emphasizing inclusion.
Goals of The Initiative
Youth/Education — Each year, your Symphony reaches over 25,000 students in Central Texas, providing many with their only direct access to classical music. The annual budget approaches $500,000. That’s just $20 per student, but what a difference it makes! The budget is covered entirely by your donations. Consider partnering with The Bancroft Initiative to continue this vital musical experience for our children.
Diversity/Inclusion — The Bancroft Initiative sponsors a concert each year that celebrates the diversity of our community while highlighting ASO's tradition of excellence.
To discover more about how you can make a difference, please contact the development office via email, development@austinsymphony.org or call (512) 476-6064, Ext. 1218.
Its predecessor, the Arbor Series, has supported the ASO since the 1970s. Refreshed and updated for 26-27, Prelude Series Members enjoy an intimate luncheon with Maestro Peter Bay and guest artists before Masterworks performances. Learn more at austinsymphony.org/prelude
Since 1953, the Women’s Symphony League (WSL) has supported the Austin Symphony Orchestra and its children’s programs. With 650+ members, WSL contributes 15,000+ volunteer hours and raises funds annually. Learn more at wslaustin.org.
Symphony BATS (Be. At. The. Symphony.) is ASO’s young professionals group, offering premier concert seating, exclusive events, and volunteer opportunities. Now in its 26th season! Learn more at austinsymphony.org/asobats.
Founded in 1966, the Knights of the Symphony is a fun-loving group of Austin businessmen dedicated to supporting ASO, having raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years. Learn more at austinsymphony.org/knights.
Volunteer
More than 200 volunteers enhance the ASO experience, assisting with ushering, education programming, and in the Box Office. Join us in making performances unforgettable! Learn more at austinsymphony.org/volunteer.
BATS board members pose for a picture with guest violinist Nancy Zhou and Peter Bay.
