Primitive Pop - Devou Park
2025-08-30 19:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Devou Park Amphitheater, 1 Bandshell Blvd, Covington, KY, 41011, United States
Primitive Pop
(Transistor Radios to Walkmans)
7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 30, 2025
The KSO’s Boogie Band recalls the 3 decades of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, when (prior to smart phones) music was personally transported via hand held radios and cassette players. It was also a time when music meant melody. Think Percy Faith – The 5th Dimension; Three Dog Night – Queen and Yes — B52s. Bring the grandkids and feed them some real tunes.

Admission is free, contributions encouraged.
Register for Concert Updates!
A TANK Shuttle Bus will depart every half hour from Covington Catholic High School (CCHS) on Dixie Highway starting at 6 p.m through 7:30 p.m., for $2 each way. Chairs and coolers are allowed on buses. At the end of the program, shuttle buses line Band Shell Blvd. to return immediately to the CCHS parking lot.
Seniors and others who wish to avoid crowds are invited to attend the Saturday 10:30 a.m. dress rehearsal
Click to Register
Register for concert updates and a chance to win over $500 in prizes.
Register now to receive concert up-dates and a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card plus a pair of tickets to the KSO’s entire 2025-26 season (5 indoor concerts Oct – May) — a total value of $500. A $25 gift card drawing (e.g. Kroger, UDF, Amazon etc.) will be held five days after each Summer program, and the grand prize winner will be chosen on Friday Sept 5th. To enter the drawing, all you have to do is register and complete that concert’s post-concert survey. The survey responses help the KSO secure foundation grants.
There is no admission charge for this concert. However, we encourage and appreciate contributions of $5 per person. Your generosity keeps the music playing!
Help Keep the Music Playing — Click to Give
Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Picnics welcome. Concessions will be available. Parking is free.

On The Program (click to listen)

Song

As performed by

Theme from A Summer Place
Percy Faith

Joy to the World
Three Dog Night

Owner of a Lonely Heart
Yes

Afternoon Delight
Starland Vocal Band

60s Dance Craze Medley (Locomotion, Mashed Potato, Watusi, The Freddie, Twist)
Little Eva – Chubby Checker

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Wham!

Lady Marmalade
Patti LaBelle

The Girl from Ipanema
Astrid Gilberto/Stan Getz

We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions
Queen

The Boy from New York City
The Manhattan Transfer

Aquarius
Fifth Dimension

Intermission

Bandstand Boogie
Barry Manilow

Venus
Shocking Blue

Give It to Me Baby
Rick James

Think
Aretha Franklin

I’ve Been Searching So Long
Chicago

We’ve Only Just Begun
Carpenters

You Made Me So Very Happy
Blood, Sweat & Tears

Sweet Dreams
The Eurhythmics

Jungle Boogie
Kool & the Gang

Love Shack
Hit the Road Jack
B-52’s
Ray Charles

The performance will be streamed live at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, August 31 on this website. For more information, call (859) 431-6216.

Primitive Pop - Tower Park + Livestream
2025-08-31 19:30 - 21:30 | Tower Park Amphitheater, 900 S Ft. Thomas Ave., KY, 41075, United States
Primitive Pop
(Transistor Radios to Walkmans)
7:30 p.m. Sunday, August 31, 2025
Tower Park Amphitheater, Fort Thomas, KY

Admission is free, contributions encouraged.
Register for Concert Updates!
The KSO’s Boogie Band recalls the 3 decades of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, when (prior to smart phones) music was personally transported via hand held radios and cassette players. It was also a time when music meant melody. Think Percy Faith – The 5th Dimension; Three Dog Night – Queen and Yes — The B52s. Bring the grandkids and feed them some real tunes.

Click to Register Now

Register for concert/weather updates and a chance to win over $500 in prizes.
Register now to receive up-dates about the concert/ weather and a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card plus a pair of tickets to the KSO’s entire 2025-26 indoor season (5 concerts Oct – May) — a total value of $500. A $25 gift card drawing (Kroger, UDF, Amazon etc.) will be held five days after each Summer program, and the grand prize winner will be chosen on Friday Sept 5th. To enter the drawing, all you have to do is register and complete that concert’s post-concert survey.
There is no admission charge for this concert. However, we encourage and appreciate contributions of $5 per person. Your generosity keeps the music playing!
Help Keep the Music Playing — Give Now
Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Picnics welcome. Food trucks and concession will be available. Parking is free but limited.
This performance will be streamed live at 7:30 p.m. on this website. Click Watch below for Livestream Page.

For Digital Program and concert notes click here.

Program Sponsored by On The Program (click to listen)

Song

As performed by

Theme from A Summer Place
Percy Faith

Joy to the World
Three Dog Night

Owner of a Lonely Heart
Yes

Afternoon Delight
Starland Vocal Band

60s Dance Craze Medley (Locomotion, Mashed Potato, Watusi, The Freddie, Twist)
Little Eva – Chubby Checker

Wake Me up Before You Go-Go
Wham!

Lady Marmalade
Patti LaBelle

The Girl from Ipanema
Astrid Gilberto/Stan Getz

We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions
Queen

The Boy from New York City
The Manhattan Transfer

Aquarius
Fifth Dimension

Intermission

Bandstand Boogie
Barry Manilow

Venus
Shocking Blue

Give It to Me Baby
Rick James

Think
Aretha Franklin

I’ve Been Searching So Long
Chicago

You Made Me So Very Happy
Blood, Sweat & Tears

Sweet Dreams
The Eurhythmics

We’ve Only Just Begun
Carpenters

Jungle Boogie
Kool & the Gang

Love Shack
Hit the Road Jack
B-52’s
Ray Charles

For more information, call (859) 431-6216.

Primitive Pop- Middletown, OH
2025-09-01 19:00 - 21:00 | Woodside Cemetery & Arboretum, 1401 Woodside Blvd, Middletown, OH, 45044
Primitive Pop
(Transistor Radios to Walkmans)
7:00 p.m. Monday, September 1, 2025
Woodside Cemetery and Arboretum, Middletown, OH

**Stage directly in front of Chapel (Click here for Site map) **

The KSO’s Boogie Band recalls the 3 decades of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, when (prior to smart phones) music was personally transported via hand held radios and cassette players. It was also a time when music meant melody. Think Percy Faith – The 5th Dimension; Three Dog Night – Queen and Yes — B52s. Bring the grandkids and feed them some real tunes.
(see playlist below)
Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Picnics welcome.

Free parking along the roadways within the cemetery.
There is no admission charge for this concert. However, we encourage and appreciate contributions. Your generosity keeps the music playing.
Support the KSO

This concert is presented by

On the Program
On The Program (click to listen)

Song

As performed by

Theme from A Summer Place
Percy Faith

Joy to the World
Three Dog Night

Owner of a Lonely Heart
Yes

Afternoon Delight
Starland Vocal Band

60s Dance Craze Medley (Locomotion, Mashed Potato, Watusi, The Freddie, Twist)
Little Eva – Chubby Checker

Wake Me up Before You Go-Go
Wham!

Lady Marmalade
Patti LaBelle

The Girl from Ipanema
Astrid Gilberto/Stan Getz

We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions
Queen

The Boy from New York City
The Manhattan Transfer

Aquarius
Fifth Dimension

Intermission

Bandstand Boogie
Barry Manilow

Venus
Shocking Blue

Give It to Me Baby
Rick James

Think
Aretha Franklin

I’ve Been Searching So Long
Chicago

You Made Me So Very Happy
Blood, Sweat & Tears

Sweet Dreams
The Eurhythmics

We’ve Only Just Begun
Carpenters

Jungle Boogie
Kool & the Gang

Love Shack
Hit the Road Jack
B-52’s
Ray Charles

For Digital Program and concert notes click here
For more information, call (859) 431-6216.

String Auditions
2025-09-14 | Greaves Concert Hall, Fine Arts Center, 1 Louie B Nunn Dr, Highland Heights, KY, 41076, United States
The KSO announces the following Vacancies for the 2025–2026 Season
Section Positions:
Section First & or Second Violin (2)
Section Viola (1)
Section Cello (1)
Section Bass (1)
Screened auditions to be held 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. Sunday, September 14, 2025
Auditions held at Greaves Concert Hall, Campus of Northern Kentucky University, 1 Nunn Dr, Highland Heights, KY 41076 Get Directions
Starting per service pay is $80 for section. Additional openings in some sections for mileage stipend. (Subscription Programs — avg. 4-5 services)
Specific audition window by instrument as follows:
Violin – 1:00 pm
Viola – 2:30 pm
Cello – 3:15 pm
Bass – 4:00 pm

Click here to Download Strings repetoire list for auditions.

Panel: Music Director, String Principals (All auditions are screened.) The committee panel also reserves the right to ask for sight reading.
**Each auditionee is assigned an audition appearance number upon check-in at the audition (prior to the start of each instrument’s time block). Every applicant who sends in a resume will receive a confirmation email and later additional detailed information (directions, procedures, etc.) one week before the audition, also via email.**
Complete orchestral parts for most public domain music can be found at the Petrucci on-line music library. Simply place IMSLP in your search engine and open the International Music Score Library Project and search by composer.
To reserve an audition slot, e-mail, fax or mail your resumé to the KSO:
Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
P.O. Box 72810
Newport, KY 41072
FAX: (859) 431-3097
e-mail : jr@kyso.org
For more information call (859) 431-6216

Back in My Day Education Concert
2025-10-21 - 2025-10-22 | Seven Hills Church, 7300 Turway Rd., Florence, KY, 41042, United States
“Back in My Day”

A chronological survey of the history of the orchestra and its music.
10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 21, 2025
10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Location: Seven Hills Church, 7300 Turfway Rd., Florence KY 41042
Register Now
“Back in My Day” offers a generational 300-year history of the orchestra and western music, with pieces from the early 1700s (e.g. Handel’s Water Music) to popular movie scores of the new millennium. At the performance students will see and hear how the orchestra grew in size and sound, receive interesting facts about the composers and learn how their era and environment impacted their musical works. The finale to Haydn’s “Farewell” Symphony played by candlelight, and the KSO debut of 11-year old violinist, Harin Lee, performing the finale of Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 are some of the highlights from our historical timeline that ends with John Williams NBC Sunday Night Football Theme .
This year ‘s program will be held at Seven Hills Church in Florence. The performance will be captured by 4 or more cameras, which allows close up viewing of the various instrument sections, conductor and individual musicians.
A question & answer session near the end of the concert allows students and teachers the opportunity to ask questions of any musician or the conductor. The KSO also takes student/teacher questions in advance and via text from schools attending remotely. Admission is free, but registration is required. Special thanks to the Charles H. Dater Foundation, and The Nellie Leaman Taft Foundation for supporting the 2025-26 Education Series.
~Program ~
Handel: “Hornpipe” from Water Music (1717)
Haydn: Finale to Symphony No. 45 (Farewell) (1772)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 (Mvt I) (1808)
Wagner: Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin (1848)
Bruch: Violin Concerto (Mvt. III) (1866) w/ Harin Lee, violin
Stravinsky: Finale to the Firebird (1919)
Copland: “Hoe-down” from Rodeo (1942)
Badelt/Zimmer: Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Williams: The Wide Receiver” NBC Sunday Night Football Theme (2011)
Lesson plans and activities on many of the musical selections offered on this program are available at Classics for Kids, produced by WGUC. (Links found by clicking on the composers name above).
**Admission is free, but registration is required. **
Register Now
Unfortunately,The KSO does not arrange or offer transportation to concerts.
What teachers say —

“I loved the venue! The volunteers were friendly and helpful. The videography during the concert was wonderful and gave the students an up close look at the instruments. Well done!” — Holly Trenkamp, Kelly Elementary
“This performance was well paced, interesting and educational. The performance was outstanding. The candlelight selection; 7th grade violinist and movie/music overlay were captivating. It was so unique for a symphony concert.” — Debbie Schilling, Heritage Christian Academy
“I love the video accompanying, scanning the instruments as being played. This significantly enhanced the educational experience for my students.” — Amy DiChiara, Homeschool
“The environment was intimate and it was great to see a young musician. The students could relate to that.” — Rebecca Klaber, Grandview Elementary
“The KSO always presents an engaging informative presentation that is wonderful to attend. I always enjoy bringing my students and they love it too.” — Bonita Pack, John W. Reiley Elementary

For more information, call (859) 431-6216.
Update: 2025 Memo to Teacher Elem.

Nosferatu
2025-10-31 | Greaves Concert Hall, Fine Arts Center, 1 Louie B Nunn Dr, Highland Heights, KY, 41076, United States
(A Symphony of Horrors)

7:30 p.m. Friday, October 31, 2025
Greaves Concert Hall, NKU
Join the KSO on All Hallow’s Eve for F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent film Nosferatu, together with a new score based on Heinrich Marschner’s 1828 opera — Der Vampyr, adapted by Timothy Brock. A special cartoon preview of Disney’s 1929 cartoon “The Skeleton Dance” will be screened prior to the feature film! Attend dressed as your favorite cinematic vampire and receive a free, bloody-good drink courtesy of the KSO.

Don’t miss the film that started the campy fang-fests of the last 103 years accompanied live by a (singerless) opera score!

Heinrich Marschner

Nosferatu

Single Tickets
– A seats: $35
– B seats: $27
– C seats: $19
– Children (ages 6-18): 50% off.
(Out of respect to patrons/musicians, children 0-5 are not admitted)
– Single ticket sales subject to processing and handling fees.
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Missa Solemnis
2025-11-22 19:30 - 21:30 | Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral, 325 W 8th St., Cincinnati, OH, 45202, United States
(The Mt. Everest of choral-orchestral works)

7:30 Saturday, November 22, 2025
St. Peter in Chains Cathedral Basilica, Cincinnati, OH
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis may be the greatest piece never heard. Its musical, technical, and endurance challenges make it incredibly difficult for the chorus. Completed in 1824 (the same year as the 9th Symphony), the totally deaf composer would never attend a full performance of what he regarded as his best work.
The KSO tackles Beethoven’s epic solemn mass Missa Solemnis Op. 123 with a professional choir and soloists.

Ludwig van Beethoven

Missa Solemnis Op. 123
Erin Keesy, soprano
Matilda Smolij, alto

Pedro Barbosa, tenor
Stephen Hanna, bass

Single Tickets $35 each — with two ways to enjoy performances — either in-person or enjoy at home via live stream!
Single Ticket sales for non-subscribers began October 20, 2025. Single ticket sales subject to processing and handling fees: $1.50 per ticket plus credit card merchant fee 3.5%. Mailing an additional $1.15 if requested.
Buy Nov 22 Concert Tickets Here

Livestream passes are good for 60 days (can be viewed an unlimited number of times from Nov 22 — January 30, 2026)
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Click here for Parking information.

Galerie Fantastique
2026-02-07 19:30 - 21:30 | Greaves Concert Hall, Fine Arts Center, 1 Louie B Nunn Dr, Highland Heights, KY, 41076, United States
(Music inspired by the visual art of Van Gogh, Warhol & Hartmann)

7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 7, 2026
Greaves Concert Hall, NKU

Visual art has inspired music for centuries. The art of Vincent Van Gogh, Andy Warhol, and Viktor Hartmann will be projected over the orchestra as the KSO performs the works evoked by them. Local Ryle H.S. graduate and CCM student Andrew Strawn’s Flowers from Vincent receives its world premiere, along with an area premiere of Michael Daugherty’s Warhol inspired work. Modest Mussorgsky’s war-horse (orchestrated by Ravel) closes the program spotlighting visual art. See the art, and experience the old and new music that it inspired with the KSO.

On the Program

Andrew Strawn
Flowers from Vincent (2025) (World premiere)
I. Daisies and Poppies
II. Irises
III. Sunflowers

Michael Daugherty
Fifteen: Symphonic Fantasy on the Art of Andy Warhol (2022) (Tristate premiere)
I. LudWig (Portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven; 1987)
II. Liz’s Lament (Portrait of Elizabeth Taylor; 1964)
III. Big Electric Chair; 1967
IV. The Last Supper (after Leonardo DaVinci’s “The Last Supper”; 1986)
V. Passacaglia in Primary Colors

Modest Mussorgsky
(orchestrated by Maurice Ravel; 1922)
Pictures at an Exhibition (1874)

Single Tickets
– A seats: $35
– B seats: $27
– C seats: $19
– Children (18 and under): 50% off
– Ticket sales subject to processing and handling: $1.50 per ticket plus credit card merchant fee 3.5%. Mailing an additional $1.15 if requested.
Single Tickets
Virtual Pass —
$35 (plus Credit card convenience fee). Valid for viewing through March 20, 2026.
Virtual Pass

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Rags to Riches
2026-02-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Seven Hills Church, 7300 Turway Rd., Florence, KY, 41042, United States
“Rags to Riches” with the Newport Ragtime Band
The Roots of America’s Musical Heritage (Grades 6-12)
7Hills Church, Florence, KY,
10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026
Video access available to schools through May 29, 2026
**Free. Registration required **
Click to Register Now
Celebrate Black History Month with this exceptional cross-curricular opportunity. A performance and slide show by the KSO’s Newport Ragtime Band surveys the roots of American musical heritage. The program features ragtime, blues, Dixieland and early jazz from 1898-1933, with tunes by legendary black musicians/composers Scott Joplin, James Reese Europe, W.C. Handy, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller and others. The program also highlights many local Cincinnati connections to this music’s national popularity and historical significance. The Q & A session at the end of the concert allows students and teachers the opportunity to ask questions of any musician on-stage.
Funds for buses may be available through ArtsWave — please click here to download an application and additional information.
Admission is free but registration is required.
On the Program:
Just a Closer Walk With Thee ………………Traditional
Entertainer…………………………………….Scott Joplin
St. Louis Blues………………………………..W.C. Handy
Queen Rag……………………………………..Floyd Willis
Dark Town Strutters’ Ball………………..Shelton Brooks (Kathy Wade)
Castle Walk…………………………James Reese Europe
Black Bottom Stomp…………………..Jelly Roll Morton
Honeysuckle Rose……………………………..Fats Waller (Kathy Wade)
Weary Blues……………………………….Artie Matthews
* Q & A *
When the Saints go Marching In…………..Traditional

The 2025-26 Education Series is supported in part by grants from the Charles H. Dater Foundation, Nellie Leaman Taft Foundation, Duke Energy Foundation, Maxwell C. Weaver Foundation and the William P. Anderson Foundation.
Click to Register Now
Teacher Quotes:
“This KSO program continues to offer not only Jazz history, but Cincinnati music history as well…KSO fills gaps by providing an additional voice and explanation beyond the teacher.” – Michael W., Withrow University H.S.
“Very well organized; quality of performance was excellent! Loved the powerpoint.” — Berna T., Bowling Middle School
“I felt the choice of pieces was wonderful, making the students aware of composers and songs they might not already know. The quality of the musicians was excellent. The slide show was a great addition with interesting facts that made the composers and the time period more relevant.” — Kris V., Corryville Catholic

Click to Register Now

Art & Anxiety
2026-03-21 19:30 - 22:00 | Greaves Concert Hall, Fine Arts Center, 1 Louie B Nunn Dr, Highland Heights, KY, 41076, United States
(Societal and Political Storm & Stress of the 1760s-70s)

7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21, 2026
Greaves Concert Hall, NKU

With clouds of war and revolution gathering in Europe and the American colonies in the mid-1700s, art, literature, theater and music moved to reject the Enlightenment ideal of rational order. The resulting period reflecting society’s anxiety came to be known as Sturm und Drang – German for storm and stress. KSO associate conductor Thomas Consolo leads this cauldron of musical toil and trouble from the 1760s and ’70s

On the Program

Christoph Willibald Gluck

“Dance of the Furies”

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

Symphony in B minor, H. 661

Luigi Boccherini

Symphony in D Minor, La Casa del Diavolo

Joseph Haydn

Symphony No. 39 in G minor

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Symphony No. 25 in G minor

Single Tickets —
– A seats: $35
– B seats: $27
– C seats: $19
– Children (18 and under): 50% off
– Ticket sales subject to processing and handling: $1.50 per ticket plus credit card merchant fee 3.5%. Mailing an additional $1.15 if requested.
Single Tickets

Virtual Pass
Processing and handling for on-line purchase: 3.5% credit card fee plus $1.50 web service fee.

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme
2026-05-15 19:30 - 21:30 | Greaves Concert Hall, Fine Arts Center, 1 Louie B Nunn Dr, Highland Heights, KY, 41076, United States
(An evening of Simon & Garfunkel)

7:30 p.m. Friday, May 15, 2026
Greaves Concert Hall, NKU

In 1965, the duo of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel parlayed their new folk/pop sound, featuring poetic lyrics, beautiful melodies and vocal harmonies, to become one of the biggest acts of the 1960s. Josh Steele, Zack Steele and Adam Wheeler supply the vocals to hits spanning the 1960s through the ’80s.
Enjoy “Mrs. Robinson” and “Scarborough Fair” to “My Little Town” and “Me and Julio” to “Cecilia” and “Still Crazy” and many more. Enjoy an entire evening of arrangements adapted by KSO arranger, Terry LaBolt.

Mrs. Robinson

Kodachrome

Disney Girls
The Boxer

Slip Sliding Away
I Only Have Eyes for You

You Can Call Me Al
Homeward Bound

Breakaway
Me and Julio (Down by the Schoolyard)

Cecilia
Scarborough Fair

I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will be Forever)
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

Bridge Over Troubled Water
The Same Old Tears on a New Background

Still Crazy
Bridge Over Troubled Water

My Little Town
The Sound of Silence

Single Tickets

– A seats: $35
– B seats: $27
– C seats: $19
– Children (ages 6-18): 50% off
(Out of respect to patrons/musicians, children 0-5 are not admitted)
– Ticket sales subject to processing and handling: $1.50 per ticket plus credit card merchant fee 3.5%. Mailing an additional $1.15 if requested.
Buy Tickets

Buy Virtual Pass
