Western Piedmont Symphony Announces 2026-2027 Season

Western Piedmont Symphony (WPS), the professional orchestra of the western foothills of North Carolina, announces the 2026-2027 season, the 62^nd of WPS and the eighth season with Matthew Troy as Music Director. Joined by acclaimed guests in programming that spans beloved classics to the music of today, WPS will perform across the region in Hickory, Morganton, Lenoir, and Boone.

The regional professional orchestra celebrates 62 years of music in the foothills of western North Carolina with more than fifteen concerts featuring music from across the centuries, from Handel to Max Richter, Tchaikovsky to Dinuk Wijeratne, Copland to Mark O’Connor, and more.  Additional programming, community events, and educational offerings will be announced at a later date.

“As we enter the 62nd season of our journey as an orchestra, I am filled with pride and a bright optimism as we continue bringing exceptional artistic experiences to our region,” noted Music Director and Conductor Matthew Troy. “The coming season is one driven by a bold and innovative vision that has been thoughtfully curated for our community. Come out and experience something real, something beautiful, and something powerful with the Western Piedmont Symphony!” added Troy.

“We have an abundance of inspiring music to look forward to in the next season at Western Piedmont Symphony,” noted executive director Kelly Swindell. “We are grateful for the generosity of the NC Arts Council, Arts Culture Catawba, the City of Hickory, Visit Hickory, the Corning Foundation, the Broyhill Family Foundation, the Bernhardt Furniture Foundation, the NC Community Foundation, our venue partners at Lenoir-Rhyne University, the SALT Block, and Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, and our corporate and community partners to share excellent and entertaining concert experiences in Hickory and the greater Catawba Valley,” added Swindell.

2026-2027 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Saturday, September 12, 2026 – Foothills Pops: Symphony of the Shire
An evening of music from fantasy, films, and games. Featuring the memorable music from Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Robin Hood, Final Fantasy, Legend of Zelda, and more
7:30 p.m., J.E. Broyhill Civic Center, Lenoir

Thursday, September 17, 2026 – SIDE/SHOW
An evening of FREE, unique performances with WPS Musicians and Friends spanning many musical genres including jazz, classical, and Americana. Presented in partnership with the City of Hickory and the Art Crawl and Hickory Downtown Development Association.
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., various locations, Downtown Hickory

Saturday, October 24, 2026 – Masterworks: Mystic Horizons
Featured artist Sandeep Das, tabla
The season-opening Masterworks features the dynamic Concerto for Tabla and Orchestra by Dinuk Wijeratne featuring Grammy Award-winning artist Sandeep Das, plus works by living composers Max Richter (On the Nature of Daylight) and Behzad Ranjbaran (Seven Passages from his Persian Trilogy). The mesmerizing fairytale from The Arabian Nights, Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov closes the evening.
7:30 p.m., P.E. Monroe Auditorium, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory

*Thursday, November 19, 2026– Masterworks: Handel’s Messiah
Featured artists: The Symphony Singers
A musical rite of the holiday season, Handel’s Messiah is a virtuosic and emotional oratorio chronicling the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ conveyed in music. Presented in true Baroque style by an intimate ensemble of 50 musicians and professional singers.
*Special date and location. 7:30 p.m., St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Hickory

Friday, December 4, 2026 – Foothills Pops: Holiday Spectacular
Everyone’s favorite seasonal concert is back for an evening of holiday and winter music classics. The region’s best way to start December and get some holiday cheer! Matt Sickels, guitar, will electrify with Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas songs. Additional guest artists to be announced. 
7:30 p.m., J.E. Broyhill Civic Center, Lenoir

Sunday, December 13, 2026 – WPS Youth Orchestras: Fall Concert
Hear our young musicians perform classical works. Both Debut Strings and the Youth Symphony are important parts of the Western Piedmont Symphony family and the local community, providing members with valuable orchestral experience and musical growth. Seating is reserved and assigned. Tickets should be purchased in advance, as this concert often sells out.3:00 p.m., Drendel Auditorium, Hickory

Saturday, February 13, 2027 – Masterworks: American Roots
Featured Artists: Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper
Experience the sounds of regional traditions and melodies in works by American composers Aaron Copland (Appalachian Spring), William Grant Still (Festive Overture), Charles Ives (Variations on “America’), and Mark O’Connor (Queen Anne’s Revenge). GRAMMY Award-winning fiddler Michael Cleveland and his band Flamekeeper will join the Symphony to perform a mix of Bluegrass and Americana songs for the second half of the concert.
7:30 p.m., P.E. Monroe Auditorium, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory

Saturday, March 13, 2027 – Masterworks: Splendid Tchaikovsky
Featured artist to be announced
Embrace the romance of Russia in the Suite from Dr. Zhivago by OSCAR-winning composer Maurice Jarre, and a Tchaikovsky-centric program including the passionate tone poem Marche Slav, the bold and triumphant Piano Concerto No. 1, and the epic, theatrical fireworks and cannons of the iconic 1812 Overture.
7:30 p.m., P.E. Monroe Auditorium, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory

Saturday, April 17, 2027 – Foothills Pops: The Texas Tenors
The Texas Tenors and the Western Piedmont Symphony perform a unique blend of country, classical, Broadway, and current pop music with breathtaking vocals, humor, and a touch of cowboy charm. 
7:30 p.m., J.E. Broyhill Civic Center, Lenoir

Sunday, May 16, 2027 – WPS Youth Orchestras: Spring Concert
Hear our young musicians perform classical works. Both Debut Strings and the Youth Symphony are important parts of the Western Piedmont Symphony family and the local community, providing members with valuable orchestral experience and musical growth. Seating is reserved and assigned. Tickets should be purchased in advance, as this concert often sells out.
3:00 p.m., Drendel Auditorium, Hickory

Saturday, May 22, 2027 – Masterworks: Romantic Masters
Featured Artist: Andrew Sords, violin
Western Piedmont Symphony welcomes violinist Andrew Sords for a program of rich Romantic works. The evening includes Ethel Smyth’s Boatswain’s Mate Overture, Sibelius’s lush and lyrical Violin Concerto in D Minor, and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7, a deeply expressive and dramatic work that reflects the composer’s love for his homeland.
7:30 p.m., P.E. Monroe Auditorium, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory

And more … free masterclasses, education concerts, and community engagement events and conversations in Hickory and throughout the greater Catawba Valley. For more information about the Western Piedmont Symphony 2026-2027 season of concerts and events, visit wpsymphony.org.

For more information about the Western Piedmont Symphony 2026-2027 season of concerts and events, visit wpsymphony.org. Please note: all programs, artists, venues, prices, and dates are subject to change.

SERIES SUBSCRIPTION AND TICKET INFORMATION
Season Subscriber Renewals happening now. New Series Subscription packages and Single Tickets on sale June 15, 2026 Series subscriptions offer up to 15% off the single ticket price and a reservation on your favorite seats. Flex-6 and Flex-10 packages also available.

Single ticket pricing:
Masterworks: $20-$58; students with valid ID $10 (regular C seat)
Foothills Pops: $33-$58; students with valid ID $10 (regular C seat)
WPS Youth Orchestras: $10-$12
SIDE/SHOW and community engagement events are FREE.
Student tickets are $10 with a valid ID. Students can purchase $10 tickets in sections A and B only when accompanied by an adult who also buys a ticket in the same section. Students may also buy individual $10 tickets in section C without requiring an additional adult ticket purchase.

The WPS Box Office is located on the SALT Block at 243 Third Avenue NE, Hickory, NC 28601. Box Office hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Wed. – Fri. For more information about Western Piedmont Symphony, visit wpsymphony.org, call 828-324-8603, or email [email protected].

CONCERT VENUES
MASTERWORKS: P.E. Monroe Auditorium at Lenoir-Rhyne University, 775 6th St. NE, Hickory, NC 28601
SPECIAL LOCATION FOR MASTERWORKS: HANDEL’S MESSIAH: St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 52 16^th Ave. NW, Hickory, NC 28601
FOOTHILLS POPS: J.E. Broyhill Civic Center, 1913 Hickory Blvd., Lenoir, NC 28645
WPS YOUTH ORCHESTRAS: Drendel Auditorium at the SALT Block, 243 3rd Ave. NE, Hickory, NC 28601

About Western Piedmont Symphony:
Western Piedmont Symphony (WPS) is the professional orchestra of the western foothills of North Carolina and is led by Music Director Matthew Troy. For 62 years, WPS has enriched and engaged the communities of western North Carolina through high-quality symphonic music with creative, relevant performances, and educational opportunities for all ages. Each season, the Symphony presents an inspiring classical Masterworks series (at PE Monroe Auditorium in Hickory), a fun and entertaining Foothills Pops series (at JE Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir), leads two youth ensembles (Debut Strings and the Youth Symphony), presents Explore the Orchestra! music education concerts to more than 3,500 4^th and 5^th grade students in the region, presents summer pops concerts in Boone and Banner Elk, and education and community engagement programs in the Catawba Valley. Western Piedmont Symphony is supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, is a funded affiliate of Arts Culture Catawba, and is a member of the League of American Orchestras. Business offices are located at the SALT Block, 243 Third Avenue NE, Ste. 1-N, in Hickory, NC. Box Office hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wed. – Fri. For more information about Western Piedmont Symphony, visit wpsymphony.org, call 828-324-8603, or email [email protected]. Follow Western Piedmont Symphony on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or X.