Western Piedmont Symphony tunes up for 62nd season

Western Piedmont Symphony will bring more than 15 concerts to the region during its 2026-27 season, with performances planned in Hickory, Morganton, Lenoir, and Boone.

The season marks the professional orchestra’s 62nd year and its eighth under Music Director Matthew Troy.

The lineup will include music spanning several centuries, from Handel and Tchaikovsky to Aaron Copland, Mark O’Connor, Max Richter, and Dinuk Wijeratne. Symphony leaders said additional programs, community events, and educational offerings will be announced later.

“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,” Troy said. “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.”

Executive Director Kelly Swindell said the coming season will offer “an abundance of inspiring music” for audiences in Hickory and across the greater Catawba Valley.

Swindell also credited support from the N.C. Arts Council, Arts Culture Catawba, the City of Hickory, Visit Hickory, the Corning Foundation, the Broyhill Family Foundation, the Bernhardt Furniture Foundation, the N.C. Community Foundation, venue partners at Lenoir-Rhyne University, the SALT Block, and Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, along with corporate and community partners.

Western Piedmont Symphony is the professional orchestra of the western foothills of North Carolina.

SERIES SUBSCRIPTION AND TICKET INFORMATION

Current season subscribers can renew now. New series subscription packages and single tickets on sale beginning June 15.

Series subscriptions offer up to 15% off the single-ticket price and a reservation for your favorite seats. Flex-6 and Flex-10 packages are 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 on the SALT Block at 243 Third Ave. NE, in Hickory. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Friday.

For more information about Western Piedmont Symphony, visit wpsymphony.org, call 828-324-8603, or email info@wpymphony.org.

— AKC