As we announce the Asheville Symphony’s 2025-2026 season, we do so with gratitude and excitement for the future.
One year after Hurricane Helene changed the landscape of our city, we will open our Masterworks Series with a concert of resilience and renewal, featuring the pianist Emanuel Ax. A portion of the proceeds from this performance will support ongoing arts recovery efforts in Asheville—an acknowledgment of the vital role the arts play in rebuilding and strengthening our community.
The Symphony continues to push boundaries this season, expanding its reach and deepening its artistic offerings. We are thrilled to present our second-ever Asheville Symphony Artist Residency, exploring the power of voice with renowned vocalist Isabel Leonard. residency will feature events with the Asheville Symphony, Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra, and more. for details.
Our commitment to bringing music to Western North Carolina continues to grow.
After the successful debut of the ALT ASO Series in Black Mountain, we are excited to expand with a new ALT concert at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa.
to partner with Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center for a Masterworks program celebrating the college’s groundbreaking contributions to modern music. And, of course, we will once again welcome more than 10,000 music lovers to downtown Asheville for our biggest event of the year, Symphony in the Park.
None of this would be possible without you. Your subscriptions and contributions to our Annual Fund allow us to dream big, to innovate, and to ensure that symphonic music remains an integral part of our community. Together, we will celebrate how music heals, inspires, and brings us closer. We look forward to sharing this unforgettable season with you.
Daniel M. Crupi Executive Director
Support your Asheville Symphony! Annual Fund giving benefits include the following:
FRIEND
$1 - $99 Recognition in the program book
MEMBER
$100 - $249
CONTRIBUTOR
$250 - $499
PATRON
$500 - $999
IMPRESARIO
$1,000 - $2,499
Asheville Symphony Society membership (gives you a vote and a voice at the Annual Meeting), plus all of the above
BENEFACTOR
$2,500 - $4,999
Invitations to special events, plus all of the above
Access to Patron receptions featuring musicians, guest artists, the conductor as available, plus all of the above
Access to the reserved Impresario-only parking section at Masterworks performances, plus all of the above
Priority access to purchase ALT ASO tickets, invitation to an exclusive Season Reveal celebration each spring, plus all of the above
ORCHESTRA CIRCLE
$5,000 - $9,999
COMPOSER
CIRCLE
$10,000 - $24,999
SEASON
UNDERWRITER
$25,000+
Exclusive social event with the Music Director and Executive Director, plus all of the above
Intimate dinner event with the Music Director and Executive Director, plus all of the above
Package of benefits tailored to your interests, plus all of the above
SEASON OVERVIEW
Symphony in the Park
August 31, 2025
Masterworks 1: Eroica
Emanuel Ax, Piano
September 20, 2025
ALT ASO @ White Horse
Black Mountain
October 7, 2025
Ben Folds with the Asheville Symphony
October 10, 2025
Masterworks 2: Convergence
Natalie Brennecke, Viola
October 25, 2025
Masterworks 3: Renegade
Elinor Frey, Cello
November 15, 2025
Cello Recital with Elinor Frey
November 18, 2025
Cirque de la Symphonie
December 4, 2025
Handel’s Messiah
December 20, 2025
ALT ASO @ The Orange Peel
January 27, 2026
Masterworks 4: Scottish
Geneva Lewis, Violin
February 14, 2026
ALT ASO @ Warren Wilson College
February 24, 2026
Masterworks 5: Nightingale
Isabel Leonard, Voice
March 21, 2026
Voice Recital with Isabel Leonard
March 17, 2026
Masterworks 6: Requiem
Asheville Symphony Chorus
April 18, 2026
ALT ASO @ Highland Brewing
May 5, 2026
Piano Recital with Awadagin Pratt
May 12, 2026
Masterworks 7: Unbroken
Awadagin Pratt, Piano
May 16, 2026
MASTERWORKS 2
First Baptist Church of Asheville
Oct. 25, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. + 8:00 p.m.
Satie Gymnopédies No. 3
Cage Seventy-Four, Version II
Bartók Viola Concerto
Cage 4’33”
Brahms Symphony No. 2
Celebrating 90+ years of the enduring legacy of Black Mountain College, this unique program traces a journey from European romanticism to American avantgarde with Brahms’s mountain-inspired Second Symphony, Bartók’s ethereal Viola Concerto (written in part during his time in Asheville), and more alongside groundbreaking works by John Cage that emerged from this transformative haven for creatives in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH
Natalie Brennecke, Viola Winner of the 2024 Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) Concerto Competition and former Principal Violist of the CIM Orchestra, award-winning violist Natalie is currently purusing her Masters at The Julliard School.
MASTERWORKS 3
First Baptist Church of Asheville Nov. 15, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. + 8:00 p.m.
Discover the defiant (and devilish) spirit of four Classical revolutionaries. Boccherini and Haydn explore their dark sides, bringing new depth to their work. C.P.E. Bach challenges aristocratic tastes and elevates the cello to new heights, while Stravinsky resurrects the Classical style through a bold 20th-century lens.
Elinor Frey, Cello
A leading American-Canadian cellist and winner of Québec’s Opus Prize for “Performer of the Year” in 2021, Elinor performs throughout the Americas and in Europe as a soloist and chamber ensemble performer. Elinor Frey will also perform three of J.S. Bach’s Cello Suites for a solo recital; visit page 19 for details.
MASTERWORKS 4
First Baptist Church of Asheville
Feb. 14, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. + 8:00 p.m.
Sweeney Glisk
Bruch Scottish Fantasy
Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”
Three composers paint a vivid portrait of rugged Caledonia: Scottish composer
Aileen Sweeney’s Glisk captures moments of fleeting light breaking through everpresent clouds, Bruch’s spirited fantasy for violin reshapes traditional folk melodies, and Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” Symphony brings the dramatic shorelines, ruined castles, and vibrant culture of Scotland to life.
James Lowe, Guest Conductor
Geneva Lewis, Violin
This Kiwi-American violinist, named one of BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists, has forged a reputation as a musician of consummate artistry and has been lauded for “remarkable mastery of her instrument” (CVNC). Hailed as “clearly one to watch” (Musical America), Geneva is the recipient of several awards including an Avery Fisher Career Grant.
MASTERWORKS
5
First Baptist Church of Asheville
March 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. + 8:00 p.m.
Internationally acclaimed vocalist Isabel Leonard — winner of multiple GRAMMY Awards — brings her versatile artistry and raw star power to this flagship event of the 2026 Artist Residency. She will showcase the many glittering facets of the human voice, bringing to life a curated selection of her signature roles and iconic works for voice: Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915, highlights from West Side Story, plus works by Georges Bizet, Manuel de Falla, Gabriela Lena Frank, and more.
Isabel Leonard, Voice
MASTERWORKS 7
First Baptist Church of Asheville
May 16, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. + 8:00 p.m.
Ingram Rainn
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 12
Shostakovich Symphony No. 10
Our season finale opens with Rainn, a newly commissioned work by Karena Ingram, whose music is celebrated for its vivid textures. Mozart’s twelfth piano concerto follows, balancing sophistication with elegance. Finally, Shostakovich’s striking Tenth emerges from darkness into light; searing drama gives way to triumphant resolution as Shostakovich makes a powerful declaration of personal and artistic resilience.
Awadagin Pratt, Piano
Since launching onto the international stage after winning the prestigious Naumburg International Piano Competition in 1992 and receiving an Avery Fisher Career Grant, Awadagin has received acclaim for delivering “forceful, imaginative, and precisely tinted” performances (The Washington Post) and is hailed as “one of the great and distinctive American pianists and conductors of our time” (WGBH). Awadagin Pratt will also perform a solo recital featuring Baroque and Romantic works; visit page 19 for details.
Ben Folds with the Asheville Symphony
Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
October 10, 2025 at 8:00 p.m.
Widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation, Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter-composer and North-Carolinanative Ben Folds brings his unique, genre-bending style to Asheville for an incredible evening of symphony-backed favorites.
Celebrate the holidays with your Asheville Symphony! Masterworks Series Subscribers get pre-sale access, priority seating, and more. Subscribe by June 27, 2025 to secure these exclusive subscriber benefits.
First Baptist Church of Asheville December 20, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. December 20, 2025 at 8:00 p.m.
Celebrate the holiday season with the might and emotional weight of Handel’s iconic Messiah. One of our biggest performances of the season, the Asheville Symphony Chorus shares the stage with four incredible soloists and your Asheville Symphony.
Jessica Beebe, Soprano Tim Parsons, Alto
Jacob Perry, Tenor Kenneth Overton, Bass
SOLO CELLO with Elinor Frey
First Baptist Church of Asheville
November 18, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
This extraordinary evening is devoted entirely to three of J.S. Bach’s Cello Suites, all masterpieces crafted at the pinnacle of Bach’s genius. In the intimate setting of a solo recital, acclaimed American-Canadian cellist Elinor Frey brings her exceptional talents and Baroque expertise to these technically demanding and emotionally profound pieces. A distinguished scholar-performer who has earned numerous accolades including a US-Italy Fulbright Fellowship and a research residency at the Orpheus Institute in Ghent, Frey illuminates both the technical brilliance and deep spiritual resonance of these legendary works. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience Bach’s Third, First, and Fifth Cello Suites — among the most celebrated pieces ever written for solo cello — performed by a true master of Baroque music.
SOLO PIANO with Awadagin Pratt
First Baptist Church of Asheville
May 12, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Acclaimed for his “forceful, imaginative, and precisely tinted” performances (The Washington Post), Awadagin Pratt is a remarkably talented concert pianist, chamber musician, recitalist, conductor, and more. From Sesame Street and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Awadagin’s compelling performances continue to draw critical acclaim across six continents, cementing his reputation as “one of the great and distinctive American pianists and conductors of our time” (WGBH). He is a frequent performer with many of the world’s premier orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and more.
This solo recital is an unmissable opportunity to experience the mastery of an extraordinary pianist in an intimate setting. Uniquely crafted to showcase the piano’s rich sonorities and Pratt’s profound gifts for musical interpretation, this program features a selection of Baroque and Romantic works by Brahms, Franck, and Couperin.
Secure unique VIP experiences, complimentary tickets, reserved seating and more when you support ALT ASO as a sponsor. The ALT ASO series is only made possible thanks to the generosity of its sponsors. Email development@ashevillesymphony.org for more information on how to become an ALT ASO sponsor.
2025-2026 SEASON TICKET PRICING & VENUES
Masterworks Performance
Baptist Church of Asheville
Ticket
Save up to 15% when you subscribe to three or more Masterworks performances!
Youth pricing valid for ages 18 and under. All Masterworks performances will take place in First Baptist Church of Asheville. Renewing 24-25 subscription seats is only available to Full Series subscribers who mail in their order form or renew over the phone prior to June 27, 2025. New seating requests are addressed based on availability and in the order in which they’re received. All subscription orders are subject to a $20 venue fee, plus applicable tax.
Youth pricing valid for ages 18 and under. Ticketing fees are waived only when purchased with a subscription. Please refer to the appropriate seating map for each venue as applicable when selecting a seating area.
SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM
STEP ONE
Build your subscription!
Select your concerts to build your subscription package. Select all seven to become a Full Series subscriber. Use the pricing tables to the left to select price based on seating area. Indicate your seating preferences below.
Seating Preferences
All Full Series subscribers are guaranteed to renew their 24-25 seats up to the renewal deadline (June 27, 2025).
☐ Seating Preference:
☐ New subscription
☐ Renew my same 24-25 seats
STEP TWO
☐ Masterworks 1: Eroica September 20, 2025
☐ Masterworks 2: Convergence October 25, 2025
Masterworks 3: Renegade November 15, 2025
Masterworks 4: Scottish February 14, 2026
Masterworks 5: Nightingale March 21, 2026
Masterworks 6: Requiem April 18, 2026
Masterworks 7: Unbroken May 16, 2026
Calculate your subscription discount
STEP THREE
Choose early access tickets to add on (optional)
☐ If my choice is unavailable, keep my 24-25 seats Name:
As a perk of being a Masterworks subscriber, you can get early access to pops concerts and recitals. Otherwise, these performances are available for purchase starting August 12, 2025 for non-subscribers. You also save on single ticket fees when you bundle these with your subscription!
Ben Folds with the Asheville Symphony October 10, 2025 at 8:00 p.m.
Cello Recital with Elinor Frey
November 18, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Cirque de la Symphonie
December 4, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Handel’s Messiah
December 20, 2025 ☐ 2:00 p.m.
Voice Recital with Isabel Leonard March 17, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
