Lancaster Symphony Orchestra

Lancaster Symphony Orchestra We celebrate music and its ability to teach, inspire, and shape our community.

The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra celebrates music and its ability to teach, inspire, and shape our community. Our performances, audiences, and education programs reflect our enthusiasm for involvement and student engagement, elevating what’s possible when music meets community.

Tomorrow Night! The Beatles Meet the SymphonyThe wait is almost over! Tomorrow night, powerhouse vocalists Paul Loren, C...
04/06/2026

Tomorrow Night! The Beatles Meet the Symphony

The wait is almost over! Tomorrow night, powerhouse vocalists Paul Loren, Colin Smith, and Rick Brantley join the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra and a live rock band for Revolution: The Music of the Beatles—A Symphonic Experience, an unforgettable celebration of 25+ iconic hits including "Hey Jude," "Here Comes the Sun," "Let It Be," "Come Together," and so many more.

This isn't just a concert—it's a once-in-a-lifetime fusion of rock and roll energy with the full power of a symphony orchestra, performing Grammy-winning arrangements transcribed from the original Abbey Road recordings.

PLUS: Arrive early for a special 30-minute pre-concert video featuring rare Beatles history and archival images!

Tuesday, April 7 @ 7:00 PM
Lancaster County Convention Center
Don't miss this one-night-only event! Tickets are going fast—grab yours now!

03/30/2026

You’ve heard these songs a thousand times, but never like this.

Now, your Lancaster Symphony, joined by powerhouse vocalists and a live rock band, brings you a once-in-a-lifetime experience:

Revolution: The Music of the Beatles—A Symphonic Experience
Tuesday, April 7 at 7:00 PM
At the Lancaster County Convention Center

Michael Butterman, conductor
Paul Loren, vocalist
Colin Smith, vocalist
Rick Brantley, vocalist

All music and imagery under exclusive license from Sony Music Publishing, Harrisongs Ltd, & The Beatles Book Photo Library to Schirmer Theatrical, LLC. This show is not endorsed by or connected to Apple Corps or The Beatles.

Friday marks a concert weekend we have been looking forward to all season long, and we're excited to introduce two remar...
03/12/2026

Friday marks a concert weekend we have been looking forward to all season long, and we're excited to introduce two remarkable artists who will help us bring this program to life.

We're honored to welcome rising star Jherrard Hardeman to the podium as our guest conductor this weekend. Currently Assistant Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic, Hardeman has quickly established himself as an eloquent communicator known for revelatory interpretations and an invigorating presence. He's guest conducted major orchestras including the Seattle and Tulsa Symphonies, and previously served as Music Director of the Detroit Chamber Orchestra. A passionate advocate for music education, Hardeman has served on faculty at prestigious institutions including the New England Conservatory, Eastman School of Music, and Interlochen Center for the Arts.

For Copland's Lincoln Portrait, we welcome back Joel Ashur, who first joined us in 2021 for our collaboration with the Fulton Theatre on Wynton Marsalis' A Fiddler's Tale. Lancaster audiences know Joel well from his powerful performances at the Fulton in productions including For Colored Boyz, Sweat, and most recently in And Then There Were None. His commanding voice and deep artistry make him the perfect choice to deliver Lincoln's timeless words.

Join us this weekend, March 13-15 for an incredible performance at the Gardner Theatre. Tickets at www.lancastersymphony.org/stevens-smith or by calling 717.291.6440.

Lancaster's story IS America's story. 🇺🇸Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith fought tirelessly for justice and equa...
03/09/2026

Lancaster's story IS America's story. 🇺🇸

Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith fought tirelessly for justice and equality during one of our nation's most turbulent periods. Their law office and home, right here in Lancaster, was the headquarters for the fight that gave us the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.

This weekend, we honor their legacy with Stevens & Smith—featuring the world premiere of a new orchestral work that brings their story to life.

March 13-15 | Four performances to choose from!

Get your tickets at www.lancastersymphony.org/stevens-smith or by calling 717.291.6440

A New Birth of Freedom — The final movement of Michael Wege's Second FoundingThe 13th Amendment. The 14th Amendment. The...
03/08/2026

A New Birth of Freedom — The final movement of Michael Wege's Second Founding

The 13th Amendment. The 14th Amendment. The 15th Amendment.
Together, they created what scholars call America's "second founding"—a new birth of freedom that expanded the promise of democracy to millions who had been denied it.

Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith fought for these amendments with everything they had. And while their work was transformative, it was also unfinished. The ideal of liberty and justice for all remains a work in progress—one that continues today.

In this closing movement, Michael Wege captures both the triumph of their achievement and the ongoing journey ahead. It's hopeful. It's powerful. And it's happening for the first time ever next week.

Stevens & Smith: A Concert Celebrating Freedom, Equality, and Democracy March 13-15 at the Gardner Theatre

Tickets: www.lancastersymphony.org or by calling 717.291.6440.

In Defense of Liberty — The third movement of Michael Wege's Second Founding3.5 million Americans. Fighting against each...
03/07/2026

In Defense of Liberty — The third movement of Michael Wege's Second Founding

3.5 million Americans. Fighting against each other. 600,000 casualties. Brothers against brothers.

The Civil War tested everything Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith believed about freedom, equality, and the possibility of a more perfect union. In this movement, Michael Wege doesn't shy away from the horror and tragedy of that conflict—the erosion of civility, the devastating toll of battle, the weight of a nation tearing itself apart.

But it's in that darkness that their fight for liberty mattered most.

Hear this powerful work next week as part of Stevens & Smith, March 13-15 at the Gardner Theatre.

Tickets: www.lancastersymphony.org or by calling 717.291.6440.

Of Far Away Lands — The second movement of Michael Wege's Second FoundingLydia Hamilton Smith's story is one of remarkab...
03/06/2026

Of Far Away Lands — The second movement of Michael Wege's Second Founding

Lydia Hamilton Smith's story is one of remarkable strength and quiet power. Born to African and Irish parents, she became Thaddeus Stevens' confidante and business partner—a partnership that helped drive some of the most important legislation in American history.

In this movement, Michael Wege celebrates Smith's rich heritage and her extraordinary impact, weaving themes that express the energy, traditions, and creativity of the millions of immigrants whose dreams and perseverance shaped America.

This is her story. Her legacy. Finally being told.

Experience the world premiere of Second Founding as part of Stevens & Smith, March 13-15.

Tickets: www.lancastersymphony.org or by calling 717.291.6440.

From Green Mountains — The opening movement of Michael Wege's Second FoundingBefore Thaddeus Stevens became one of Ameri...
03/05/2026

From Green Mountains — The opening movement of Michael Wege's Second Founding

Before Thaddeus Stevens became one of America's most powerful voices for justice, he was a boy in the Vermont hills. The natural beauty of those mountains, the values of his Vermont Baptist upbringing, and the optimism of a young nation embarking on its democratic experiment shaped the man he would become.

In the first movement of Second Founding, composer Michael Wege captures that formative journey—from green mountains to the halls of Congress, where Stevens would fight tirelessly for freedom and equality.

Hear the world premiere next week as part of Stevens & Smith, March 13-15 at the Gardner Theatre.

Tickets: www.lancastersymphony.org or by calling 717.291.6440.

The photos are in from our Gala last month!What an unforgettable evening of Mardi Gras magic, amazing food, live music, ...
03/04/2026

The photos are in from our Gala last month!

What an unforgettable evening of Mardi Gras magic, amazing food, live music, and incredible community spirit. Thank you to everyone who joined us on February 21—your energy and generosity made the night truly special!

A huge thank you to Nick Gould Photography for capturing these memories so beautifully and to Willow Valley Communities for being such an incredible host!

View the full gallery and download/purchase prints of your favorites: https://nickgouldphotography.pixieset.com/lancastersymphonyorchestramardigras2026/

Already missing the celebration? Us too! See you next weekend at Stevens & Smith: A Concert Celebrating Freedom, Equality, and Democracy.

WORLD PREMIERE: Second Founding by Lancaster's Michael WegeIn a little over a week, experience the world premiere of a n...
03/04/2026

WORLD PREMIERE: Second Founding by Lancaster's Michael Wege

In a little over a week, experience the world premiere of a new orchestral work that brings the story of Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith to life—two Lancaster visionaries whose fight for justice reshaped American democracy.

Commissioned for the opening of the Stevens & Smith Center for History and Democracy, Second Founding is a four-movement orchestral suite that traces their remarkable journey: from Stevens' Vermont childhood and Smith's immigrant heritage, through the turbulence of the Civil War, to the transformative passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.

Composer Michael Wege, a Lancaster resident, has created something extraordinary—a musical portrait of local heroes whose legacy continues to inspire the ongoing work of building a more perfect union.

This is more than a concert. It's history coming alive through music.

Stevens & Smith: 13-15 at the Gardner Theatre

Tickets: www.lancastersymphony.org or by calling 717.291.6440.

Address

48 North Christian Street, Suite #200
Lancaster, PA
17602

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(717) 291-6440

Website

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