The Orchestra of Southern Utah has announced its upcoming season, titled Stories in Sound, presenting a diverse musical lineup ranging from the elegance of Tchaikovsky to the exuberance of Santana. Harold Shirley, President of the orchestra, shared that the organization has prepared a musical feast for the community.
The season is scheduled to open on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the new Southern Utah University Eccles Music Center with a program titled Magic in Motion. Responding to requests from families, the orchestra will offer performances at 6 PM and 8 PM. Amy Gold, Manager of the orchestra, explained that the dual showtimes are designed to provide an earlier option for younger families while continuing to offer a traditional evening performance. The opening program features music full of drama, color, and adventure, including selections from Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Suite, Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Star Wars.
On November 5, 2026, and November 6, 2026, Voices Amplified (Rock Gold: Volume Four) will bring the energy of symphonic rock to the Heritage Center Theater. The full orchestra, accompanied by local vocalists selected through auditions, will perform hits from Santana, Coldplay, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pat Benatar, Van Halen, Queen, and others.
The eighty-sixth annual performance of Handel’s Messiah returns to Cedar City on December 13, 2026, and December 14, 2026, under the direction of Jackie Riddle Jackson. This year’s theme, Good Tidings to Zion, celebrates a beloved community tradition. Thanks to generous sponsorship from the Dixie and Anne Leavitt Foundation, the Leavitt Group, and the State Bank of Southern Utah, admission is free to the public, though season ticket holders are guaranteed seating.
Looking into the new year, Voices Discovered on February 25, 2027, will celebrate the artistry of women composers, featuring works by Cécile Chaminade, Ethel Smyth, Marianna Martines, Caroline Shaw, and others. The popular Children’s Jubilee returns on February 27, 2027, with Imagination in Sound, a family-friendly afternoon concert featuring music that transports listeners to magical worlds, preceded by hands-on STEAM activities in the lobby. Donations to the Southern Utah University Hope Food Pantry are encouraged during this event.
The season is set to conclude on April 15, 2027, with the biennial Roy L. Halversen Young Artist Concert, showcasing outstanding young performers selected through competitive auditions and ending with Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2. Led by Music Director and Conductor Carylee Zwang and Assistant Conductor David Jordan, the orchestra currently includes more than seventy professional and community musicians. Season tickets are priced between $52.50 and $69, while individual tickets are available for $18 for adults and $13 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased at myosu.org or at the door. Children under six are not permitted at evening concerts.
