Release Date: May 27,2025
Akron Symphony Orchestra Announces Free Parking for Upcoming Season
May 27, 2025, Akron, OH – The Akron Symphony Orchestra is excited to announce that, for the first time, free parking will be available for all concertgoers for the upcoming 72nd season, making your night out at the symphony even more convenient and affordable.
Attendees can now enjoy complimentary parking at E.J. Thomas Hall Parking Deck, Lot 27, and the North Campus Parking Deck for every evening performance throughout the season. This includes all regular concerts, as well as special events like Gospel Meets Symphony and Holiday Pops. This will include all performances of the Akron Youth Symphony and Akron Youth Philharmonic at E.J. Thomas Hall, as well.
“We are committed to making the symphony more accessible and enjoyable for our community,” said Executive Director Paul Jarrett. “By removing the hassle and cost of parking, we hope to welcome even more music lovers to experience the magic of live orchestral performances.”
In addition to free parking, the Akron Symphony is continuing its popular ticket pricing initiative: all high school and college students, and children under 18, can attend any concert for just $7. It’s part of the Orchestra’s ongoing effort to create the next generation of music enthusiasts and serve as a preferred family-friendly experience in Northeast Ohio.
Join us for an unforgettable season of music and community — now with more ease than ever before. Season tickets and flex packages are available at akronsymphony.org
The full 2025-26 schedule, including a synopsis of each concert, can be found below.
Mahler’s Titan (September 20, 2025)
The season begins with an electrifying evening of symphonic grandeur. Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture is a jubilant celebration of popular song, including the universally recognized “Gaudeamus igitur.” Angela Cheng, Oberlin Conservatory Professor of Piano, then takes center stage for Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto, a rarely heard work of deep lyricism and virtuosic brilliance. The evening reaches its peak with Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, Titan, a sweeping and emotionally charged masterpiece that showcases the full power of the orchestra. After performing Mahler’s Third and Second Symphonies in recent years to great acclaim, the Akron Symphony Orchestra is excited to kick off its 72nd season with Mahler’s debut symphony.
The Firebird (October 18, 2025)
A night of mystery and drama awaits as the orchestra delves into cinematic and symphonic storytelling. Danny Elfman’s eerie Sleepy Hollow sets the mood with its haunting harmonies, followed by Rachmaninoff’s brooding The Isle of the Dead, a symphonic poem inspired by a painting of the same name. Classic FM included the tone poem as one of classical music’s top 20 scariest pieces, noting that “the music transports our immortal souls to the edge of the underworld.” Igor Stravinsky, whose dazzling Firebird Suite has captivated audiences for over a century with its rich orchestral textures and vivid storytelling, headlines the evening. A true adventure through music, just in time for the most imaginative time of year.
Handel’s Messiah (November 15, 2025)
This performance of Messiah: Part 1 and the triumphant Hallelujah chorus will transport audiences with its grandeur and spirit. The program begins with William Boyce’s Ode to the New Year 1758, a lively and celebratory work, followed by composer and lost local legend Julia Perry’s Ye Who Seek the Truth. Haydn’s virtuosic Trumpet Concerto, performed by the Akron Symphony’s own Principal Trumpet, Justin Kohan, awaits audiences after intermission. Finally, the Akron Symphony Chorus joins the ASO to deliver the true might of orchestral power necessary for Handel’s Messiah—a piece widely recognized and beloved by audiences. A full stage of choral and orchestral energy awaits audiences this November.
Holiday Pops (December 12, 2025)
Celebrate the season with the Akron Symphony Chorus with the return of this festive concert featuring holiday classics, sing-alongs, and surprises for the whole family. A perfect way to embrace the joy and magic of the holidays! This annual tradition is the perfect outing for the whole family and always sells quickly.
Beethoven’s Seventh (January 17, 2026)
The Akron Symphony begins 2026 with a compelling mix of classical and contemporary works. The world premiere of The University of Akron student Sarah Hegenderfer’s Clearing of Snow sets the stage for a new year with a delightful musical debut. Duke Ellington’s “Martin Luther King” from Three Black Kings—featuring the co-director of the University of Akron’s jazz program, saxophonist Chris Coles—brings a soulful gospel-infused tribute to the stage with the help of full orchestral accompaniment. Headlining the evening is Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, a work that pushes orchestras to their limits with the finale, and a second movement so powerful that audiences demanded an encore during its debut. Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, closes the concert with dramatic energy, passion, and the perfect cohesion with Beethoven’s dance-like Seventh Symphony.
Gospel Meets Symphony (February 7, 2026)
The Orchestra’s signature event, Gospel Meets Symphony bridges cultures and traditions with a joyous fusion of symphonic and gospel music. This powerful collaboration between orchestra, choir, rhythm section, and community-based soloists uplifts and inspires in a one-of-a-kind musical experience. Over 30 years and a hundred and forty voices strong—this is more than a concert, it’s an experience!
Mozart & Vivaldi (March 7, 2026)
A night of baroque brilliance and classical charm! The concert opens with the vibrant Fuga con pajarillo, a work that has been described as “J.S. Bach walking into a Latin dance hall,” followed by Stravinsky’s neoclassical Pulcinella Suite, a witty and elegant ballet score. Principal Piccolo Jenny Robinson shines as the soloist in Vivaldi’s beloved Piccolo Concerto in C, and the evening concludes with Mozart’s dramatic and impassioned Symphony No. 40—labeled one of the top twenty best symphonies of all time by BBC Music.
Appalachian Spring (April 11, 2026)
A tribute to nature’s beauty and human resilience, this program features Anna Clyne’s atmospheric Wild Geese, followed by Aaron Copland’s beloved Appalachian Spring, winner of the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for music. A staple of the Martha Graham Dance Company staple to this day, the work evokes American optimism and the beauty of the American frontier, in music that introduced to American audiences the Shaker tune, “Simple Gifts.” The evening’s journey concludes with Sibelius’ powerful Second Symphony, an inspiring work full of soaring grandeur and the freshness of springtime. A true eruption of the season through music.
Carmina Burana (May 9, 2026)
The grand finale of the season is a force to be reckoned with! Ravel’s hypnotic Bolero builds intensity with its famous repeating melody. The orchestra then proudly unveils the world premiere of a new opening movement to Rhapsody, Concerto for Orchestra by internationally acclaimed composer Margaret Brouwer, Professor Emeritus and former head of composition at the Cleveland Institute of Music. The evening concludes with one of the most universally recognized works in all the repertoire, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, a breathtaking choral and orchestral masterpiece, ensuring a thrilling and unforgettable end to a powerhouse season.
Tickets and Subscription Information
Single tickets go on sale in August, with prices starting at just $20 for adults and $7 for children, grade school, and college students. Season subscriptions and Flex Packages are available now, offering music lovers the opportunity to experience the full breadth of the orchestra’s extraordinary performances at a 20% discounted rate. All concerts take place at E.J. Thomas Hall and begin at 7:30 P.M.
About Akron Symphony Orchestra The ASO has been an integral part of Northeast Ohio’s cultural landscape for over 70 years. Committed to fostering artistic excellence and community engagement, the ASO presents diverse and beloved programming that inspires, entertains, and connects. With a passion for education and collaboration, the ASO continues to be a driving force in bringing world-class performances and regional pride to Akron.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.akronsymphony.org or contact buckey@akronsymphony.org.