All concerts are 100% FREE, no reservation required! Our mission is to bring high quality concert experiences to our beloved community with zero financial barriers!
Banner photo by Charles Graves.
Welcome to our 2025 - 2026 Season!
“October in the Air”
Wed. 10/22/25, 7pm @ Wyatt Auditorium (Bellarmine University)
Sat. 10/25/25, 3pm @ Springdale Presbyterian Church
PROGRAM:
Edvard Grieg - Overture: In Autumn, Op. 11
Eric Whitacre - October
Ellen Taaffe Zwilich - Peanuts® Gallery
with Rashid Hong, piano
Ottorino Respighi - Feste Romane (Roman Festivals)
1. Circenses (Circuses)
2. Il Giubileo (The Jubilee)
3. L'Ottobrata (The October Harvest)
4. La Befana (The Epiphany)
The sights and smells of autumn are unmistakable: leaves of orange, brown, red, and gold fluttering to the ground, warm apple cider and pumpkin pie on a crisp, starry evening...but what about the sounds?
Join the Louisville Civic Orchestra as we open our 25-26 season with "October in the Air," featuring music that brings the joys of autumn to life. We open with works by Grieg and Whitacre that capture everything from the beautiful colors and stillness of a fall afternoon to the turbulence of an evening autumn storm.
This October marks the 75th anniversary of the first appearance of good ol' Charlie Brown in a newspaper comic strip. We celebrate this anniversary with a performance of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich's "Peanuts® Gallery," a piano concerto written in honor of Charles Schulz and his beloved characters. Pianist Rashid Hong helps us bring all of your favorite Peanuts characters--from Lucy to Linus even Snoopy, right off the page and into the concert hall!
And our program concludes with a masterwork by Ottorino Respighi, "Roman Festivals," the third in his triptych of tone poems depicting the city of Rome. You'll hear the roar of both the crowds and the lions as they circle around the Roman gladiators, the call of the horn announcing the October Harvest as the sleigh bells whizz by...and you can't miss the blowout party in the Piazza Navona celebrating the Epiphany!
You've got two chances to catch this musical celebration of the month of October, and to hear the brilliant work of our incredible musicians. We hope you'll join us!
And coming up later this season………..
“Traditions of the Season”
Sat. 12/13/25, 3pm @ Springdale Presbyterian Church
PROGRAM:
Malcolm Arnold - The Holly and the Ivy: Fantasy on Christmas Carols
P.I. Tchaikovsky - Selections from The Nutcracker Suite
Overture, March, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Dance of the Reed Pipes, Trepak
Guaraldi/arr. Pugh - A Charlie Brown Christmas
Leroy Anderson - Suite of Carols for Brass Choir
I. While by my Sheep
II. In Dulci Jubilo
III. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
IV. I Saw Three Ships
Edward Elgar - Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus
(Nimrod from the Enigma Variations)
with Karly Jones as Virginia and Seth Brewer as The Editor
John Williams - Somewhere in My Memory from Home Alone
Karly Jones and Seth Brewer, vocals
Leroy Anderson - A Christmas Festival (sing-a-long)
Karly Jones and Seth Brewer, vocals
Leroy Anderson - Sleigh Ride
“Mechanical Metamorphosis”
Wed. 3/11/26, 7pm @ Wyatt Auditorium (Bellarmine University)
Sat. 3/14/26, 3pm @ Springdale Presbyterian Church
with our extra special guest, principal clarinetist of the Lousiville Orchestra, Andrea Levine!
PROGRAM:
William Bolcom - Machine from Symphony No. 5
Leonard Bernstein/orch. Ramin - Sonata for Clarinet, Piano and Orchestra
I. Grazioso, II. Andante; Vivace e leggiero
Andrea Levine, clarinet
C.M. von Weber - Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra
Andrea Levine, clarinet
Paul Hindemith - Symphonic Metamorphosis
1. Allegro
2. Scherzo (Turandot): Moderato – Lively
3. Andantino
4. Marsch
Johann Strauss, Jr. - Tik-Tak Polka, Op. 365
“A Magical Journey Into the Orchestra”
Sat. 3/28/26, 3pm @ Springdale Presbyterian Church
Don't miss our special kid-friendly concert, as Ms. Frizzle brings her magical touch to a special field trip...not TO the orchestra, but INSIDE it!
PROGRAM:
Alan Menken, Howard Ashman - Overture from Beauty and the Beast
John Williams - Dobby the House Elf from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Benjamin Britten - The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
John Williams - The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme)
Johann Strauss - Radetsky March
John Williams - The Throne Room and Finale from Star Wars
“Birds of a Feather”
Wed. 5/13/26, 7pm @ Wyatt Auditorium (Bellarmine University)
Sat. 5/16/26, 3pm @ Springdale Presbyterian Church
featuring LCO Concertmaster, Olivia Kristiansen!
PROGRAM:
Gioachino Rossini - Overture: La Gazza Ladra (The Thieving Magpie)
Ralph Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending
Olivia Kristiansen, violin
John Williams - Fawkes the Phoenix from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Elmer Bernstein/Russ - Suite from To Kill a Mockingbird
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Suite from Swan Lake
Previous Season Programs
2024 - 2025 Season
“SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE”
Wed. 5/14/25, 7pm @ Wyatt Auditorium (Bellarmine University)
Sat. 5/17/25, 3pm @ Springdale Presbyterian Church
PROGRAM:
L. Boulanger - Of a Spring Morning
Debussy - Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique
FAMILY CONCERT: Carnival of the Animals & more!
Sat. 4/5/25, 3pm @ Springdale Presbyterian Church
PROGRAM:
Carnival of the Animals - Camille Saint-Saens
How To Train Your Dragon - John Powell
Jurassic Park - John Williams
feat. Arts & Crafts activities and an Interactive INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO!
“Ravishing Russian Romantics”
Sat. 2/22/25, 3pm @ Springdale Presbyterian Church
PROGRAM:
Rachmaninoff - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 5 in E minor
feat. Sebastian Chang, piano soloist
“Festive Favorites with the LCO” - Our beloved annual Holiday concert!
Sun. 12/8/24, 3:30 @ Springdale Presbyterian Church
“American Stories”
Wed, 10/30/24, 7pm @ Bellarmine University’s Cralle Theate
Sat. 11/2/24, 3pm @ Springdale Presbyterian Church
PROGRAM:
John Williams - Cowboys Overture
William Grant Still - Afro-American Symphony
Aaron Copland – Hoedown from “Rodeo”
Aaron Copland - Variations on a Shaker Melody from “Appalachian Spring”
Ferde Grofé – Mississippi Suite
John Williams – Raiders March from “Raiders of the Lost Ark”
2023 - 2024 Season
“Afro-Samurai and The Planets” - Season Finale SPECTACULAR
Wed. 5/8/24, 7pm @ Bellarmine University’s Cralle Theate
PROGRAM:
Henderson - Brother Yasuke: The True Story of the Afro-Samurai
Holst - The Planets
feat. The Bellarmine Oratorio Society (S. Timothy Glasscock, Director)
“FAMILY CONCERT: Peter and the Wolf & more!” - A concert for the young and young at heart!
Sat. 3/9/24, 3pm @ Springdale Presbyterian Church (Fun pre-concert activities begin at 2:30!)
PROGRAM TO INCLUDE:
Various Pop and Film music selections
Prokofiev - Peter and the Wolf
Narrated by S.P.C. Pastor Dwain Lee
feat. Arts & Crafts activities and an Interactive INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO!
“Brahms the Magnificent” - Glorious Music for the Soul
Wed. 1/31/24, 7pm @ Bellarmine University’s Cralle Theater
Sat. 2/3/24, 3pm @ Springdale Presbyterian Church
PROGRAM:
Brahms - Double Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra
Brahms - Symphony No. 4 in E minor
Julia Noone & Nicholas Finch, Soloists
“Holiday Movie Magic” - Our beloved annual Holiday concert with holiday film soundtracks!
Sat. 12/16/23, 3pm @ Springdale Presbyterian Church
Adam Thomas, Conductor
“Symphonic Dances” - Rachmaninoff’s Breathtaking Masterpiece and More
Wed. 10/25/23, 7pm @ Bellarmine University’s Cralle Theater
Sat. 10/28/23, 3pm @ Springdale Presbyterian Church
PROGRAM:
Offenbach - Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld
Saint-Saens - Danse Macabre
Beethoven - Allegretto from Symphony No. 7
Lecuona - Andalucia Suite
Rachmaninoff - Symphonic Dances
2022 - 2023 Season
“Born in the USA” - Great American Musical Voices
Wednesday May 10th, 2023 @ 7pm at Bellarmine University’s Cralle Theater
Saturday May 13th, 2023 @ 3pm at Springdale Presbyterian Church
PROGRAM:
Bernstein - Overture to Candide
Barber - Adagio for Strings
Price - Ethiopia’s Shadow in America
Williams - Hymn to the Fallen
Gershwin - An American in Paris
“Legendary Symphonies” - Schubert’s “Unfinished” and Beethoven “Eroica”
Saturday Feb. 4th, 2023 @ 3pm at Springdale Presbyterian Church
Wednesday Feb. 8th, 2023 @ 7pm at Bellarmine University’s Cralle Theater
PROGRAM:
Schubert - Symphony No. 8 “Unfinished”
Beethoven - Symphony No. 3 “Eroica”
“SOUNDS OF THE SEASON: Holiday Favorites with the LCO!” - Festive favorites, Carols, a Sing-along, and More!
Saturday Dec. 3rd, 2022 @ 3pm - Springdale Presbyterian Church
Tickets are 100% free, no reservation required!
PROGRAM:
Festive favorites, Carols, a Sing-along, and More!
“Fairytales” - Enchanting stories brought to life through music… and free candy!
Wednesday Oct. 26th, 2022 @ 7pm at Bellarmine University’s Cralle Theater
Saturday Oct. 29th, 2022 @ 3pm at Springdale Presbyterian Church
PROGRAM:
Humperdinck - Overture to Hansel and Gretel
Rimsky-Korsakov - Suite from The Golden Cockerel
Tchaikovsky - Suite from Sleeping Beauty
Williams - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Harry’s Wondrous World
2021 - 2022 Season
“Pictures at an Exhibition” - Vibrant Musical Masterpieces by Wagner, De Falla, and Mussorgsky
Wednesday May 11th, 2022 @ 7pm at Bellarmine University’s Cralle Theater
Saturday May 14th, 2022 @ 3pm at Springdale Presbyterian Church
PROGRAM:
Richard Wagner - Overture from Rienzi
Manuel de Falla - Suite No. 2 from The Three Cornered Hat
Modest Mussorgsky (orch. Maurice Ravel) - Pictures at an Exhibition
“Pastorale” - Music by Copland, Still, & Beethoven
Wednesday March 9th, 2022 @ 7:30pm (Cralle Theater @ Bellarmine University)
PROGRAM:
Aaron Copland - Outdoor Overture (Nicholas Finch, guest conductor)
William Grant Still - Wood Notes (Nicholas Finch, guest conductor)
-Intermission-
Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 6 “Pastorale” (Gabriel Lefkowitz, artistic director & conductor)
“Christmas Classics with the LCO!” - Festive favorites, Carols, a Sing-along, and More!
Saturday Dec. 4th, 2021 @ 3pm - Springdale Presbyterian Church
Sunday Dec. 19th, 2021 @ 6pm - Christ Temple Church
PROGRAM:
Festive favorites, Carols, a Sing-along, and More!
“Bold Statements” - Music by Tower, Mozart, & Brahms
Saturday Oct. 30th, 2021 @ 3pm at Springdale Presbyterian Church
Wednesday Nov. 3rd, 2021 @ 7:30pm at Bellarmine University’s Cralle Theater
PROGRAM:
Joan Tower - “Made in America”
W.A. Mozart - Bassoon Concerto feat. Francisco Joubert, Bassoon Soloist
Johannes Brahms - Symphony No. 1 in C Minor