Kenneth Tse, saxophone
Jonathan Allen, trombone
Jean-François Charles, live electronics
Ramin Roshandel, sétar
Jhe Russell, spoken word

Monday, October 6, 2025 7:30pm

Voxman Music Building

Stark Opera Studio - VOX 151

93 East Burlington Street, Iowa City, IA 52240

https://www.westervillesymphony.org/event-details/masterworks-i

The season begins with a concert that is as bold and imaginative as it is beautiful — a true visual and musical spectacle.

Opening the program is Talk of the Town Overture by Quinn Mason, one of today’s most exciting young voices in American music. A rising Black composer whose works have already been performed by major orchestras across the country, Mason writes with wit, energy, and heart. His music captures the spirit of a new generation, and Talk of the Town is the perfect way to launch our season.

Internationally acclaimed saxophonist Kenneth Tse then takes center stage in Lowell Liebermann’s Saxophone Concerto, a brilliant showpiece that blends dazzling virtuosity with soaring lyricism. Tse’s artistry and expressive power promise to make this performance unforgettable.

After intermission, French refinement meets theatrical flair in Maurice Ravel’s rarely performed Sémiramis. And to close, the Symphony unveils a completely reimagined version of Igor Stravinsky’s The…

4114 Allison Ave
Des Moines, IA 50310

Phone: 515-274-1534

Saturday, April 18, 2026, 7:30 pm | Foellinger Great Hall

The season finale of Sinfonia da Camera's 42nd season celebrates the richness of American music-from pastoral landscapes to vibrant city streets. Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring Suite opens the program with a vivid portrait of rural life, culminating in the beloved Shaker tune "Simple Gifts," a lasting symbol of American hope and simplicity. Acclaimed American composer Lowell Liebermann visits Urbana for the performance of his new Concerto for Alto Saxophone, featuring virtuoso Kenneth Tse. The work explores the saxophone's lyrical warmth and dazzling technique, framed by Liebermann's colorful orchestration. Don Gillis' Symphony No. 5½, subtitled "A Symphony for Fun," brings humor and charm to the concert. Its four movements, including the whimsically titled "Scherzophrenia," blend classical form with playful, jazz-inflected language. The evening concludes with George Gershwin's An American in Paris,-an exuberant and joyful finale to a season of musical discovery.