St. Louis Civic Orchestra is excited to announce its 76th season under the batons of Artistic Director Dr. Barry Ford and Assistant Conductor Asher Harris. Comprised of talented musicians from various walks of life, the Civic presents inspiring performances that engage audiences of all ages. The orchestra promotes musical education, fosters artistic growth, and provides an opportunity for local musicians to share their passion and talent with the community.
In an effort to make live music accessible and available to everyone, all concerts are free to attend.
The season begins on October 25, 2025, at the Lee Theater in the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The program will include Dvorak’s Carnival Overture and Respighi‘s Boutique Fantasque and will feature the United States premiere of Rhapsody for Trumpet and Orchestra by Mikis Theodorakis.
The orchestra’s second concert will be on December 6, 2025, at Ritenour High School in Overland. On the program are Holst‘s Somerset Rhapsody, Symphonic Dances from Fiddler on the Roof, and a delightful selection of holiday music. A highlight of the evening will be ballet dancers performing selections from Tchaikovsky‘s The Nutcracker.
St. Louis Civic Orchestra’s third concert will be on February 28, 2026, at the First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood. This concert will include Charles Ives‘ Unanswered Question, Copland‘s Our Town, Einojuhani Rautavaara‘s Cantus Arcticus (Concerto for Birds and Orchestra), and Grofe‘s Grand Canyon Suite.
At its fourth concert on April 11, 2026, the Civic will feature the winner(s) of the annual Florence Frager Young Artist Competition. This competition will be held in November 2025. Also on the program will be Shostakovich‘s lively Festive Overture, Danse Bacchanale by Camille Saint-Saëns, and Ravel‘s Mother Goose Suite. Applications will be posted in the fall.
In conjunction with the City of Overland’s Community Parade, the orchestra will present its final concert on May 16, 2026, at Norm Myers Park.
For more information about the St. Louis Civic Orchestra, please visit www.stlco.org.
Concerts
#1: Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 7:00pm – Lee Theater at Touhill Performing Arts Center (UMSL)
- Dvorak – Carnival Overture
- Respighi – Boutique Fantasque
- Mikis Theodorakis – Rhapsody for Trumpet and Orchestra
#2: Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 7:00pm – Ritenour High School
- Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker excerpts (with ballet dancers)
- Holst – Somerset Rhapsody
- Symphonic Dances from Fiddler on the Roof
- Christmas and Holiday Favorites
#3: Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 7:00pm – First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood
- Ives – Unanswered Question
- Copland – Our Town
- Einojuhani Rautavaara – Cantus Arcticus (Concerto for Birds & Orchestra)
- Grofe – Grand Canyon Suite
#4: Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 7:00pm – First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood
- Florence Frager Young Artist Competition Winner(s)
- Shostakovich – Festive Overture
- Saint- Saëns – Danse Bacchanale
- Ravel – Mother Goose Suite
#5: Saturday, May 16, 2026 – Overland Day Celebration at Norm Myers Park (Overland, MO)
- Repertoire and time TBA
