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Music Matters THAT

“The orchestra was playing with impressive polish…”

– Scott Cantrell, The Dallas Morning News

AFTER 44 YEARS

our beloved Music Director and Conductor Maestro Héctor Guzmán will be leaving the Plano Symphony Orchestra at the end of the 2026–2027 Season. When he announced his intention to transition to Music Director Emeritus, the PSO’s Board of Directors realized it had a big task before them: hiring a new Music Director and Conductor who could inspire and captivate our audience as Maestro Guzmán has done for decades.

The PSO established a Music Director Search Committee composed of board members, staff, and musicians. The search was launched last year. Applications were received from almost 100 well-qualified individuals from across the globe. Each submission was carefully reviewed, and a group of semi-finalists were interviewed this past summer. The committee selected a list of five finalists. They are: Mélisse Brunet, Filippo Ciabatti, Gonzalo Farias, Jacob Joyce, and Stilian Kirov.

Each finalist was tasked with programming one concert to conduct during the 2026–2027 Season. Candidates decided on varied repertoire and guest artists, which has resulted in an outstanding season. Maestro Guzmán will conduct the other three concerts. Subscribers will be offered a unique opportunity to share in the selection process by “reviewing” each of the finalists after each

concert. Short surveys will be emailed to each subscriber to provide feedback and comments following the concert. What an exciting moment for you to take part in helping to select the new musical genius to succeed Maestro Guzmán and navigate a new future for the PSO!

We can’t wait to experience the chosen music under the direction of these five highly qualified finalists for PSO Music Director and Conductor. We hope you will come along for the experience!

Sincerely,

Nancy Freeman and Craig Barber Co-Chairs, PSO Music Director Search Committee

Gregory Patterson PSO President/CEO

Stilian Kirov

Jacob Joyce

Gonzalo Farias

Filippo Ciabatti

Mélisse Brunet

A Note FROM THE MAESTRO

For over 43 years, the PSO has reached milestone after milestone. The 2026–2027 Season will reach yet another one: Five talented conductors will compete to be the Plano Symphony Orchestra’s new music director as I am transitioning to Music Director Emeritus, a position that will allow me to be involved with the musical goals of our dear orchestra for life! What an honor!

Throughout those years, the orchestra has grown to unbelievable heights: a healthy budget, an outstanding board, capable and supportive staff, exciting programs, a multi-talented orchestra, our first international tour, and this is just the beginning.

Our five talented candidates have prepared programs that are not only brilliant but also showcase their skills and personality. They will conduct works by Tchaikovsky, Dvořák, Berlioz, Bernstein, Gershwin, Copland, as well as new works and movie scores by John Williams, Danny Elfman, and Enio Morricone, featuring internationally known soloists. Nothing short of spectacular! To complete the season, I will in turn conduct the Holiday concerts and the final two performances, concluding with the mighty Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven, a fitting finale to an outstanding season and one which will mark the beginning of a new era. Join us as we look into the future of one of America’s most respected and admired ensembles of its kind—your Plano Symphony Orchestra! See you there!

Musically yours,

HÉCTOR GUZMÁN Music Director

IS THE SYMPHONY FOR ME?

SYMPHONY MYTHS

Over 100,000 North Texans enjoy Plano Symphony Orchestra events annually. Wonderful patrons of all ages attend Family Series concerts, School concerts, community programs, and the Plano Symphony’s subscription series performances. Many first-time subscribers often comment, “Why did I wait so long?” Perhaps the wait is due in part to some misconceptions.

WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG?

I Have Nothing to Wear

Patrons come in everything from suits, dresses, and business casual to jeans and classy T-shirts. Wear what makes you comfortable—this is your symphony.

Symphony Concerts are Very Expensive

Last season, many patrons enjoyed performances by internationally acclaimed artists alongside the incredible members of the Plano Symphony Orchestra led by Maestro Guzmán for as little as $16.25 per performance. Even some of the best seats in the house were only $61.25. These are subscription prices, which are always the best value. The acoustics and views of the stage are excellent at the Robinson, so there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

I Might Not Know When to Applaud

While it is customary to hold your applause until the end of a multi-movement piece, feel free to appreciate a performance whenever you are moved to do so. Recognition from an enthusiastic audience is very gratifying to the performers on stage.

I Don’t Know Enough About the Music

Great music is a very powerful language that takes over where words fail. There are few better ways to experience the thrill of great music than in a live performance by a professional symphony orchestra.

The Plano Symphony Orchestra is known for offering a wide variety of music from classical to popular, often in the same performance. There is something for everyone! Enhance your experience with pre-concert chats with Maestro Guzmán before select performances, explore program notes online, and connect with us on social media for behind-the-scenes insights.

• Save up to 49% compared to single ticket prices.

• Own your seats as long as you continue to renew.

• Want to try a different seating section? Subscriber seat change requests during the renewal process are accommodated prior to seating new subscribers.

• Liberal exchange policy. If you cannot attend a concert, you can give the tickets to friends to use, donate them back to the PSO, or exchange them for tickets to one of the other subscription concerts.

• Invitations to special subscriber events.

• And more!

ABOUT OUR VENUES

Please note our concerts start at 7:30 PM this season.

THE ROBINSON FINE ARTS CENTER

“I was immediately impressed by the openness and clarity of the sound (at the Robinson)…”

Scott Cantrell, The Dallas Morning News

The Robbie & Lynore Robinson Fine Arts Center (RFAC) was designed and built based on a shared passion and the belief that self-expression and creative thinking are essential to a healthy community. The purpose of the RFAC is to provide a top-notch concert facility to display the exceptional work of the performing and visual art students of the Plano ISD, to be a location for artistic events presented by local arts organizations, and to serve as a gathering place for the local community.

ST. ANDREW METHODIST CHURCH

5801 W. Plano Parkway

Plano, Texas 75093

Founded in 1986, St. Andrew Methodist Church offers a remarkable setting for live music performances. The sanctuary is an architectural showpiece, highlighted by exquisite stained glass windows and the magnificent Létourneau pipe organ (one of the largest handcrafted pipe organs in DFW), creating a warm and inspiring atmosphere for audiences and performers alike.

Equipped with a modern LED center screen and advanced lighting technology, the sanctuary also features excellent acoustics and is regularly used by local choral and instrumental ensembles. Guests frequently praise the venue’s immaculately maintained spacious environment, along with its ample parking and accessible amenities, making St. Andrew Methodist Church an outstanding and comfortable concert destination for the Plano Symphony Orchestra.

THE SYMPHONY IS FOR YOU

All American Program

SEPTEMBER 19, 2026 | 7:30 PM

Robinson Fine Arts Center

Stilian Kirov, conductor

Sean Chen, piano

Fanfare for the Common Man

Aaron Copland

Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra

George Gershwin

Sean Chen, piano

Second Essay for Orchestra

Samuel Barber

Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Leonard Bernstein

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM GUEST CONDUCTOR STILIAN KIROV

“Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, a piece that is so heroic, exciting, and beautiful. It's a brass fanfare with some quite powerful percussion as well. Then we will perform the jazzy Gershwin Piano Concerto in F with an absolutely exceptional soloist, Sean Chen. After intermission, we will embark on a journey with Samuel Barber's Second Essay for Orchestra. It's a piece that is absolutely breathtaking with huge climaxes within the music with a lot of emotions condensed within the texture and rich exciting harmonies.

Bernstein's symphonic dances from West Side Story is one of my very favorite pieces; a piece that really lifts the spirits, so to say. It makes everybody happy. A piece that is really standing on the golden pages of orchestral literature today. And of course, Bernstein's genius shines through the music as always.”

First Prize Winner of the “Debut Berlin” Concert Competition, Stilian Kirov made his debut at the Berlin Philharmonic in 2017. That same year, he began his tenure as Music Director of the Illinois Philharmonic while continuing as Music Director of the Bakersfield Symphony. In 2024, he also joined the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra as Interim Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor. A four-time recipient of the Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award (2016–2019), Kirov is widely recognized as a dynamic artistic leader, educator, and advocate for community engagement.

Praised as a “thoughtful musician well beyond his years” (The Republic), pianist Sean Chen is known for his “alluring, colorfully shaded renditions” (The New York Times) and “genuinely sensitive” artistry (Los Angeles Times).

Sean Chen

Stilian Kirov

Unhallowed Eve

OCTOBER 17, 2026 | 7:30 PM

Robinson Fine Arts Center

Mélisse Brunet, conductor

Rachel Martin, contrabass

Suite from The Nightmare Before Christmas

Danny Elfman

Requiem for a Magical America El Día de los Muertos

Gabriela L. Frank

Symphonie fantastique (Movements 4 & 5)

Hector Berlioz

Contrabass Concerto: Wolf Totem

Tan Dun

Rachel Martin, contrabass

Noche de Encantamiento (from: la Noche de los Muyas)

Silvestre Revueltas

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM GUEST CONDUCTOR MÉLISSE BRUNET

“Since I am a Halloween baby and the concert is on October 17th, I have created a Halloween program. We'll start with the suite from The Nightmare Before Christmas by the American composer Danny Elfman, then play excerpts of Día de los Muertos by the American composer Gabriela Lena Frank, then the “March to the Scaffold” and the ‘Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath' by the French composer Hector Berlioz.

After the intermission, we'll be performing the double bass concerto called Wolf Totem by the Chinese-American Grammy Award and Academy Award winner Tan Dun. It will feature the young, super talented magician of double bass, Rachel Martin, who is not unknown to Texas as she graduated from Rice.

And finally, the last piece on the program is going to be by the Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas, Noche de Encantamiento.

Muy caliente and muy scary! See you soon."

Renowned as a conductor of “uncommon emotional intensity” (Marie-Celine), American conductor Mélisse Brunet is a native of Paris, France, with an active career on both sides of the Atlantic. She currently serves as Music Director of both the Lexington Philharmonic and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic.

Brunet is one of the five conductors featured in the documentary Maestra by Director Maggie Contreras on Netflix. Maestra garnered 2nd place and the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival Audience Award for Best Documentary.

Guest artist Rachel Martin joined the Lexington Philharmonic as Principal Bass in late 2023. She also performs regularly with leading orchestras including the Baltimore Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Seattle Symphony, and the St. Louis Symphony.

Rachel Martin

Mélisse Brunet

Vive la France!

NOVEMBER 14, 2026 | 7:30 PM

Robinson Fine Arts Center

Jacob Joyce, conductor

Benett Tsai, cello

Overture to Benvenuto Cellini

Hector Berlioz

Cello Concerto No. 1

Camille Saint-Saëns

Benett Tsai, cello

Les Biches Suite Francis Poulenc

An American in Paris

George Gershwin

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM GUEST CONDUCTOR JACOB JOYCE

“We'll start with this charming overture by Berlioz and hear a beautiful Cello Concerto by Saint-Saëns. We have a great soloist joining us, Benett Tsai. He's a real prodigious talent on the cello, and I'm delighted that all of you will get to hear him play.

We have a piece that might be a little bit less familiar by Poulenc, his suite from Les Biches, a really interesting piece.

And then a crowd pleaser to close, Gershwin's An American in Paris. Not a true French composer, but an American who lived in France and subsumed a lot of the culture. It's this great blend of jazz and salon music from 20th century Paris. Such an amazing piece to close.

I am very excited to get to meet all of you, so I hope to see you all at the concert in November."

Jacob Joyce currently serves as the Associate Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Music Director of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra. He is well known for his conducting across the country, previously serving as the Resident Conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Assistant Conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony. He has made his debut with several American orchestras in past seasons, including the Detroit, St. Louis, Houston, Colorado, Kansas City, Nashville, Baltimore, and Florida symphonies.

Australian cellist Benett Tsai has been praised for his “electrifying…flawless freshness” (Süddeutsche Zeitung) and “charismatic, heartfelt playing” (Sydney Arts Guide). A VC Artist on The Violin Channel, he gained international recognition as a top prizewinner at the 2022 Grand Prix Emanuel Feuermann in Berlin.

Benett Tsai

Jacob Joyce

Home Holidays FOR THE

DECEMBER 20, 2026 | 4:00 PM & 7:30 PM

Robinson Fine Arts Center

Héctor Guzmán, conductor

Plano West Senior High School Choir, special guests

Make it a holiday tradition! Home for the Holidays returns with a joyful, heartwarming concert full of festive spirit. This beloved seasonal favorite features cherished holiday classics for orchestra and chorus, a lively audience sing-along, special guests from the North Pole, and plenty of surprises to delight all ages.

The Plano West Senior High School Choir will join the performance, lending their voices to a selection of beloved holiday favorites. What better way to experience the magic of the season than with the combined power of a full orchestra and a grand choir!

Under the direction of Sarah Council, the award-winning Plano West Choir is devoted to cultivating the art of choral music in the lives of its students and in the broader community, teaching techniques of musical expression; and providing a sequential developmental music curriculum that allows each student an opportunity to build musical skills and understanding through a wide variety of quality musical experiences.

Chasing Dreams

JANUARY 16, 2027 | 7:30 PM

Robinson Fine Arts Center

Gonzalo Farias, conductor

Paul Aguilar, violin and viola

The Cowboys: Overture

John Williams

Three Pieces from:

Schindler’s List

John Williams

Paul Aguilar, violin

Concerto for Viola and Orchestra (Movement 3)

Christian Colberg

Paul Aguilar, viola

Symphony No. 5

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM GUEST CONDUCTOR GONZALO FARIAS

"I'm thrilled to be joining you next January for a program called Chasing Dreams We open with a piece about dreams of freedom, wide open spaces, ranches, and the excitement of being a cowboy. As a fellow Texas resident myself, I know you will love John Williams' The Cowboys: Overture as much as I do.

The next two works feature our wonderful soloist, Paul Aguilar, performing on both the violin and viola. On the violin, we will hear three pieces from Schindler's List by John Williams, and you may know the famous theme, but you experience all three movements arranged for the concert hall. And then on the viola part, he will perform a visionary concerto by Christian Colberg, a work that Paul has championed for many years now. It will truly be a dream.

We will close with Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, a journey from struggle and fate to one of the most triumphant endings in all music. Talk about chasing a dream there! So, I hope you will join us to experience and to dream together. I look forward to seeing you very soon."

Gonzalo Farias is an engaging orchestral conductor, award-winning pianist, and dedicated educator who serves as Associate Conductor of the Houston Symphony. Praised for his “clear, engaging style with a lyrical, almost Zen-like quality,” he has led numerous performances, including high-profile concerts on short notice, earning critical recognition for both musical insight and execution. Farias is guided by a belief in music-making as a social practice that fosters trust, cooperation, and shared responsibility within communities. His career includes roles with the Kansas City, Jacksonville, Baltimore, and Virginia Symphonies, as well as impactful, community-focused initiatives during his tenure as Music Director of the Joliet Symphony Orchestra. Recent and upcoming engagements include collaborations with major U.S. orchestras and world premieres.

In recognition of his commitment to the field, he has also served as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, evaluating grant proposals from music institutions nationwide. Born in Santiago de Chile, Farias trained as a pianist and conductor at leading institutions worldwide, and his artistic approach is deeply informed by studies in second-order cybernetics and Zen Buddhism.

Hailed for his commanding and expressive performances, Venezuelan-American violinist and violist Paul Aguilar was named Second Prize Laureate and Audience Prize winner in the Senior Division of the 2025 Sphinx Competition. He is a member of the Houston Symphony viola section and maintains an active international career as a soloist and chamber musician, presenting more than 40 recitals annually.

Paul Aguilar

Gonzalo Farias

The Italian Connection

FEBRUARY 20, 2027 | 7:30 PM

Robinson Fine Arts Center

Filippo Ciabatti, conductor

David Kim, violin

Nuovo Cinema Paradiso

Ennio Morricone

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E minor

Felix Mendelssohn

David Kim, violin

Symphony No. 9

Antonín Dvořák

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM GUEST CONDUCTOR FILIPPO CIABATTI

“We're going to open the program with Ennio Morricone's score for the movie Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, a fabulous movie that talks about the power of memory and the power of cinema. The score of Morricone has some of the most soulful and beautiful melodies you'll ever hear. You won't want to miss that.

Then we'll transition into the romantic repertoire with one of the greatest violin concertos ever written, the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, a piece that is both lyrical and exhilarating at the same time. We are so lucky that our soloist will be my great friend David Kim, concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and a longtime friend of the Plano Symphony. It's going to be a treat.

And the program will end with one of the great symphonies of all time, Dvořák’s New World Symphony. Dvořák lived in America for part of his life, and he was so inspired by the rich musical tapestry of this beautiful land that he wrote a symphony with all these tunes that he found here. This symphony has become one of the greatest symphonies of all times. A piece full of energy and, as I said, of great, great tunes.”

Filippo Ciabatti is a dynamic and versatile conductor who enjoys a multifaceted career. A native of Florence, Italy, he has guest conducted orchestras across Europe and the Americas, including the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Irving Symphony Orchestra, San Angelo Symphony Orchestra, and members of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Italy). In summer 2024, he was awarded the Joel Revzen Conducting Prize and engaged to conduct the Festival Orchestra Napa.

Ciabatti has collaborated with renowned artists such as Gabriel Cabezas, Ray Chen, Nathan Gunn, David Kim, Tommy Mesa, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Sharon Washington, and Time for Three. He regularly promotes cross-genre collaborations, such as premiering an oratorio by jazz composer Taylor Ho Bynum. Equally at home in opera and early music, Ciabatti is the Music Director of the Opera Company of Middlebury and the founding Artistic Director of Upper Valley Baroque. He serves as the Director of Orchestral and Choral Activities at Dartmouth College.

Violinist David Kim has served as Concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra since 1999. Born in Carbondale, Illinois, he began playing the violin at age three and studied with legendary pedagogue Dorothy DeLay before earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Juilliard School.

David Kim

Filippo Ciabatti

Fiesta!

MARCH 20, 2027 | 7:30 PM

St. Andrew Methodist Church

Héctor Guzmán, conductor

Gary Levinson, violin

Baya Kakouberi, piano

Julian Schwarz, cello

Triple Concerto for Piano, Violin and Cello in C Major

Ludwig van Beethoven

Gary Levinson, violin

Baya Kakouberi, piano

Julian Schwarz, cello

The Three-Cornered Hat, Suites No. 1 and No. 2

Manuel de Falla

Huapango

José Pablo Moncayo

A fitting and penulitmate performance, this concert is filled with personal favorites and musical touchstones for Maestro Guzmán. The evening opens with Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, performed by three extraordinary soloists—violinist Gary Levinson, pianist Baya Kakouberi, and cellist Julian Schwarz. The program continues with music held especially close to his heart: the vibrant suite from The Three-Cornered Hat by Spanish composer Manuel de Falla, a work learned years ago under the guidance of the late Eduardo Mata, former Music Director of the Dallas Symphony. The celebration concludes with one of the most beloved works in Mexican symphonic music, J.P. Moncayo’s exhilarating Huapango. From first note to last, this concert promises a joyful and unforgettable musical fiesta.

Gary Levinson is the Senior Principal Associate Concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Artistic Director of the Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth.

Noted as an outstanding chamber music artist, Baya Kakouberi is the Artistic Director of the Blue Candlelight Music Series in Dallas, Texas, where she enjoys collaboration with internationally renowned artists.

Julian Schwarz was born to a multigenerational musical family in 1991. Heralded from a young age as a cellist destined to rank among the greatest of the twenty-first century, Schwarz’s powerful tone, effortless virtuosity, and extraordinarily large color palette are hallmarks of his style.

Thank MaestroYou,

APRIL 17, 2027 | 7:30 PM

St. Andrew Methodist Church

Héctor Guzmán, conductor

Asi Matathias, violin

Plano Civic Chorus, guest artists

Haley Sicking, soprano

Sarah Mesko, mezzo-soprano

Scot Cameron, tenor

David Small, baritone

Violin Concerto No. 5

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Asi Matathias, violin

Symphony No. 9 (Ode to Joy)

Ludwig van Beethoven

Plano Civic Chorus

Haley Sicking, soprano

Sarah Mesko, mezzo-soprano

Scot Cameron, tenor

David Small, baritone

What better way to conclude an extraordinary musical journey than with one of the greatest works ever written? This culminating concert brings the season—and a remarkable era—to a triumphant close with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, crowned by the unforgettable “Ode to Joy.” Featuring the full power of the Plano Symphony Orchestra, the Plano Civic Chorus under the direction of Allen Hightower, and four outstanding vocal soloists, this performance promises a truly joyous and uplifting celebration.

After more than four decades of music-making, this concert marks not an ending, but a new beginning. Maestro Guzmán will continue his lifelong connection with the Plano Symphony Orchestra as Music Director Emeritus, remaining actively involved in the orchestra’s future. Together—musicians, staff, and audience—the Plano Symphony Orchestra has grown to extraordinary heights, building something truly special for the community.

As this chapter closes, a new and magnificent era begins, fueled by shared pride, gratitude, and an enduring love for music.

Violinist Asi Matathias is already recognized as one of the most celebrated talents of his generation. He made his debut at the age of 14 with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta, displaying a musical maturity and inspiration far beyond his years.

Haley Sicking

Sarah Mesko

Scot Cameron

David Small

SEASON ADD-ON CONCERTS

FLY

DANCE COMPANY “BREAKING CLASSICAL” WITH THE PLANO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2026 | 7:30 PM

MEYERSON SYMPHONY CENTER

HÉCTOR GUZMÁN

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026 | 7:30 PM

MEYERSON SYMPHONY CENTER

Currently winning raves from critics and audiences as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Lincoln Center Theater's acclaimed production of Ragtime , Broadway veteran Joshua Henry is a Grammy-winning performer best known for his Tony Award-nominated leading roles in Carousel, The Scottsboro Boys, and Violet, as well as for his show-stopping performance as Aaron Burr in Hamilton.

Prior to Ragtime, Henry starred in the Broadway revival of Into The Woods, for which he won a Grammy as a principal vocalist on the 2022 cast recording. His other Broadway credits include In the Heights, Waitress, Shuffle Along, American Idiot, Porgy and Bess, and Bring It On: The Musical.

On screen, Henry starred as Roger Bart in the Academy Award-nominated film Tick, Tick… BOOM! directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He also starred as Jerlamarel opposite Jason Momoa in two seasons of Apple TV’s See.

His debut album Glow is available worldwide on all streaming platforms.

YOUR ROLE IN THE PERFORMANCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE!

By supporting the Symphony, you become part of a meaningful and successful partnership among musicians, benefactors, friends, and family.

WHY DONATE?

Your donation to the Symphony reflects your recognition of its vital role in enriching our community. Our legacy of musical excellence along with our commitment to providing diverse outreach programming sets us apart and speaks to the core of our mission. In addition to supporting our Symphony season, your donation will provide funding for:

• Bringing in world-class artists such as Branford Marsalis, Bernadette Peters, and Joshua Henry

• the School Concert Education Program that reaches over 18,000 students in North Texas school districts—40% of which attendees come from Title I schools