MONTGOMERY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TO OPEN 50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON WITH YO-YO MA

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Montgomery Symphony Orchestra will open its 50th Anniversary Season with an extraordinary milestone in the organization’s history, welcoming internationally renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma to perform with the orchestra on Sunday, September 20, at 3:00 p.m. at Troy University’s Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts.

For Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, the performance is more than the opening concert of a new season. The opportunity to share the stage with a musician of Ma’s international stature reflects the artistic growth of an orchestra that has spent five decades building a strong musical tradition in Alabama’s capital city.

“For the past fifty years, Montgomery Symphony Orchestra has focused on building community around symphonic music,” said Jamie Reeves, Music Director and Conductor. “Opening our 50th‑anniversary season alongside Yo‑Yo Ma, an artist who has done so much for the global music community, is the most rewarding way to begin this monumental season in Montgomery.”

Ma will join Montgomery Symphony Orchestra to perform Antonín Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B Minor, a cornerstone of the cello repertoire. The program also features Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring Suite” and “The Block” by contemporary American composer Carlos Simon.

One of the most recognized and respected musicians in the world, Yo-Yo Ma has performed with leading orchestras and conductors across the globe during a career spanning more than six decades. His many honors include multiple Grammy Awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Kennedy Center Honors. Throughout his career, Ma has also championed the ability of music to connect people across cultures, communities, and generations.

“This season is about celebrating the MSO’s rich history while looking ahead to what we aspire to experience together in the future,” Reeves said. “We hope our upcoming performance with Yo‑Yo Ma and the anniversary season will be the beginning of many more memorable performances. We want our 50th season to demonstrate what is possible for the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra and to create a space for world‑class music‑making in Montgomery.”

The 2026–2027 50th Anniversary Season continues with four Masterworks concerts, Joyce Caddell Holiday Pops, Back to the Future In Concert, Fellowship Recitals, and education and community programs reaching audiences throughout the region.

Although the concert with Yo-Yo Ma is nearly sold-out, a limited number of tickets will be released for sale on Tuesday, September 8 at 12:00pm. Tickets and complete season information are available at MontgomerySymphony.org.

CONCERT INFORMATION

Montgomery Symphony Orchestra with Yo-Yo Ma
Sunday, September 20, 2026 | 3:00 p.m.
Troy University’s Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts

PROGRAM
Carlos Simon — The Block
Aaron Copland — Appalachian Spring Suite
Antonín Dvořák — Cello Concerto in B Minor
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Jamie Reeves, conductor