Festival City Symphony Concludes Saturday Classics Season With “Faith, Persistence, and Celebration” on April 18, 2026
MILWAUKEE, WI (March 26, 2026) — Festival City Symphony will conclude its 2025–2026 Saturday Classics season with an inspiring afternoon of music on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the Bradley Symphony Center (212 W Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee). The program, titled “Faith, Persistence, and Celebration,” highlights the expressive power of orchestral music through works that reflect resilience, hope, and joy.
Admission to the Saturday Classics series is free with a suggested donation ($14 for adults, $8 for students, children, and seniors), making exceptional classical music accessible to audiences of all backgrounds. The concert will also feature the series’ popular “Unlocking the Score” pre-concert presentation at 1:30 PM, where music educator Lynn Roginske guides listeners through the themes and musical ideas of the afternoon’s program, helping audiences of all ages listen more deeply and discover the stories behind the music.
The concert opens with Adolphus Hailstork’s Sonata da Chiesa, a radiant orchestral work that blends lyrical beauty with joyful energy. The piece evokes the spirit of a sacred mass while offering a heartfelt message of peace and reflection.
Next, the orchestra will perform the Mental Health Suite by Wisconsin-based composer Autumn Maria Reed, whose work draws from her own journey of healing and resilience. Reed, a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, uses music as a means of giving voice to those affected by trauma while highlighting the restorative and connective power of the arts.
The program concludes with Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 in G Major, one of the composer’s most beloved symphonic works. Rich with Czech folk influences, lyrical melodies, and vibrant orchestral color, the symphony builds to a jubilant finale that celebrates life, nature, and the enduring spirit of humanity.
“Faith, Persistence, and Celebration” brings together contemporary voices and a Romantic masterwork in a program that speaks to the shared human experience. As the final Saturday Classics concert of the season, the performance offers audiences a powerful and uplifting conclusion to Festival City Symphony’s classical series.
Audience members are encouraged to reserve seats in advance. Tickets can be reserved online, and additional information about directions and parking at the Bradley Symphony Center is available on the Festival City Symphony website: https://festivalcitysymphony.org/orchestra-concert-schedule/
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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