FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The CSO announces its 2018-2019 season

The fall of 2018 marks the beginning of the 81stseason for the Canton Symphony Orchestra. For our 2018-2019season, there will be a vast array of choices to please every audience member. The CSO welcomes back past soloists that were audience favorites, has a concert planned show off our assistant conductor and chorus, features a staged opera, and Maestro Zimmermann himself will even sing at one of the performances! We look forward to seeing you during the 2018-2019 season of the Canton Symphony Orchestra!

For opening night, October 6, 2018, we pay tribute to one of the greatest 20th century composers and conductors, Leonard Bernstein. This concert opens with Bernstein’s staged opera, Trouble in Tahiti, a tale about trials and tribulations of suburban life. After intermission, we feature a commission by audience favorite Eric Benjamin also paying tribute to Bernstein. The concert closes with selections from one of the most recognizable productions from Bernstein, West Side Story

OnOctober 27, 2018, the Canton Symphony Orchestra is joined by the principal cellist of The Cleveland Orchestra, Mark Kosower. For his portion of the concert, Kosower performs two favorites in the cello literature, Dvořák’sRondo for Cello and Orchestra, and Herbert’s second cello concerto. Other selections in the concert include pieces from the turn of the 20th century. Audience members will hear works such as Enescu’s first Romanian Rhapsody and Benjamin Britten’s Sinfonia da Requiem.

November 18, 2018features a past soloist with the CSO, pianist Spencer Myer. Mr. Myer joins the orchestra for a concert full of “Music of the People”. This concert shows off the American sounds of George Gershwin withhis Piano Concerto in F, performed by Spencer Myer, and Of Thee I Sing: Overture. The concert also features Russian favorite Pytor Tchaikovsky and his well-known Swan Lake Suite

Maestro Zimmermann has an illuminating concert planned forJanuary 26, 2019.The featured piece is Beethoven’s third symphony, often referred to as “Erocia”. Often talked about as the “start” of the Romantic Era in classical music, this symphony set the standard of symphonic literature for years. The CSO shows off an early Beethoven composition containing one of Eroica’s themes, and then a composition from many years later by Richard Strauss that also uses themes from Eroica.

The CSO’s fifth concert on March 2, 2019, features various forms of humor and joy in classical music. The concert starts with a symphony by Haydn, always known for his light humor in his pieces. We then bring pianist Jeffery Biegel to the stage to show off the sarcastic wit of Shotakovich’sPiano Concerto No. 2. After intermission the CSO features two French composers known for their whimsical compositions, Saint-Saëns and Ibert. For the second half, Maestro even has a surprise planned for the audience during Saint-Saëns Carnival of the Animals.

TheMarch 25, 2019 concert features the assistant and choral conductors of the CSO. The first half explores the talents of assistant conductor Matthew Jenkins Jaroszewicz. For his half, Mr. Jaroszewicz chose Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite and the Stokowsky arrangement of Purcell’s Dido’s Lament. The second half of the concert features Britt Cooper conducting both Canton Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, leading them through Haydn’s Mass in the Time of War.

The final concert of the season, April 13, 2019, highlights some of the greatest composers in the romantic era of classical music. Violinist Jennifer Frautschi joins the CSO for Brahms’ Violin Concerto, known for its lush music and soaring violin lines. The orchestra then plays one of the cornerstone Russian symphonies, Symphony No. 2 by SergiRachmaninoff

As always, the CSO has a series of Pops concerts on the schedule as well. The audience favorite Jeans ‘N Classics returns for more performances with the CSO this year, with shows featuring the music of pop legend Michael Jackson on September 22, 2018 and music from two piano playing greats Billy Joel and Elton John on May 11, 2019. For a new twist, the CSO is also performing the music to the silent movie The Freshman, with the movie playing above the orchestra on February 2, 2019. The CSO also has their popular Holiday concert planned for December 9, 2018.

Subscriptions for the 7-concert series are $135-$215. The CSO also offers Choose Four, Five, or Six package which allows patrons to choose 4,5, or6 of the seven concerts at a discounted price while also enjoying the same benefits of a subscriber. Choose Four packages are $90-$165, Choose Five $110-$185, and Choose Six $125-$205. The CSO offers Pops subscription tickets for the 4 concerts as well, with ticket packages from $70-$110. Subscription tickets and a full schedule of Canton Symphony events are available at by calling 330-452-2094, or at the Zimmermann Symphony Center – 2331 17th Street NW in Canton – weekdays from 9am to 5pm.

Founded in 1937, the Canton Symphony Orchestra is a fully professional ensemble and organization dedicated to performing concerts that enrich, educate and entertain. Under the direction of Gerhardt Zimmermann, the orchestra performs classical, pops, holiday, and educational programs. Most performances are in Umstattd Performing Arts Hall, 2323 17th Street NW, Canton, Ohio (at McKinley High School across from C.T. Branin Natatorium). For more information, please visit

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Contact info:

Dan Cavalancia, Marketing Manager

330-452-3434 x610