Symphony Orchestra

A Tribute to the Emperor

Join the Symphony Orchestra for a powerful evening celebrating innovation, heroism and musical brilliance. The program opens with Aureole by Augusta Read Thomas, a radiant and energetic work whose shimmering textures and vibrant colors create a compelling contemporary introduction to the concert.

The orchestra is then joined by Shenandoah Conservatory faculty member John O’Conor, widely regarded as one of the foremost interpreters of Beethoven’s music, for Beethoven’s majestic Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, known as the “Emperor” Concerto. One of the most beloved works in the piano repertoire, the concerto combines grandeur, lyric beauty and virtuosic brilliance in a masterful showcase for soloist and orchestra alike.

The evening concludes with Beethoven’s revolutionary Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, the “Eroica” Symphony, a landmark work that transformed the symphonic tradition with its emotional depth, dramatic scope and heroic spirit. Together, these extraordinary works offer an inspiring journey through some of the most powerful and enduring music ever written.