AMERICA AT 250
Season Opening Concert
SIGNATURE SERIES
Saturday, October 3, 2026 | 2:00 PM
Matthew Kraemer, Conductor
Zhu Wang, Piano
Matt Stuller, Narrator
Featured Works
John Williams | Liberty Fanfare
Aaron Copland | Lincoln Portrait
George Gershwin | Rhapsody in Blue
George Gershwin | Selections from Porgy and Bess
Samuel Barber | Adagio for Strings
Aaron Copland | Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes
About the Performance
As the nation marks 250 years of history, the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra opens its season with a program that celebrates the sound of America itself. From the soaring optimism of John Williams' Liberty Fanfare to the enduring words of Abraham Lincoln in Copland's Lincoln Portrait, this concert reflects the ideals, struggles, and aspirations that have shaped a nation.
The evening features internationally acclaimed pianist Zhu Wang, Gold Medalist of the Naumburg International Piano Competition, performing Gershwin's iconic Rhapsody in Blue, a work that captures the energy, ambition, and unmistakable character of American music. Joined by selections from Porgy and Bess, Barber's deeply moving Adagio for Strings, and Copland's beloved Rodeo, this season-opening performance is both a celebration of America's past and a tribute to the power of music to unite us moving forward.