Wilmington Symphony Orchestra: 2026-2027 Season

Opening Night: Three Generations of American Music - Dvořák’s New World Symphony inspired American composers to look to Native American and African-American music in creating their own unique traditions. Join us on a journey through Dvořák’s musical legacy through Barber’s beloved Violin Concerto to the triumphant power of a new American classic by Carlos Simon.

Peter Askim, Conductor
Stephan Jackiw, Violin‍

Carlos Simon: Festive Fanfare and Overture
Samuel Barber: Violin Concerto
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, "From the New World"

South to North, East to West, (Inner to Outer), Darkness to Light: This journey takes us from the Incan Peru of Gabriela Lena Frank, through the inner world of Grammy Winner Jeff Scott’s jazz-influenced, emotional The Journey, and through the timeless triumphs of Mozart and Beethoven’s iconic journeys from darkness to light.

Peter Askim, Conductor

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Overture to the Magic Flute
Gabriela Lena Frank: Escaramuza
Jeffrey Scott: The Journey
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67

A Journey into the Future: From the beloved American composers Barber, Bernstein and Still to the pulsing contemporary work of Native American Jerod Tate and a new work by Wilmington's own Chelsea Loew, the WSO explores what it means to be American: past, present and future.

Peter Askim, Conductor
Cape Fear Chorale

Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate: Chokfi'
Chelsea Loew: Newly Commissioned Work in Honor of America 250
Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings
Leonard Bernstein: Chichester Psalms with Cape Fear Chorale
Willliam Grant Still: Symphony No. 1, "Afro-American"

Take a journey through the beauty of nature with Ryan Lindveit’s gorgeous portrait of the Smoky Mountains, Wilmington composer Barbara Gallagher’s The Flowers, (Azalea Festival, here we come!), and Brahms’ pastoral Second Symphony, written while on vacation in the idyllic Austrian Alps. Also featuring the High School and UNCW Division winners of the 2026-27 Richard R. Deas Young Artist Competition.

Peter Askim, Conductor

George Frederic Handel: Selections from Water Music
Barbara Gallagher: Suite from The Flowers
Ryan Lindveit: Desire Lines
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 73

Join us on a journey through time, place and space: from Wilmington’s shores to the edge of the galaxy! This concert features gorgeous, glittering music by CFCC Instructor Ernesto Ferreri and Pulitzer Prize winner (and NC resident) Jennifer Higdon, as well as a timeless audience favorite: Holst’s epic guide to the solar system, The Planets. Also featuring Schumann’s lyrical, romantic Cello Concerto with the winner of the 2026 Sphinx Competition.

Peter Askim, Conductor
Andres Sanchez, Cello

Jennifer Higdon: Blue Cathedral
Ernesto Ferreri: hymnus ad cosmos
Robert Schumann: Cello Concerto with Andres Sanchez, Cello
Gustav Holst: Selections from The Planets