Kent Philharmonic Orchestra 2026-2027 Season

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Upcoming Concerts

Come for the masked ball.

Stay for the cello.

Leave humming the paintings.

Start the night with a series of themes from the operetta Die Fledermaus. The story includes a drunken man who arrives at a masked ball in a bat costume, leading to mistaken identities and romantic farce. The Overture will be sure to have you looking for nearby productions of the show in it's entirety.

Helen LaGrand needs no introduction, neither does Dvorak's Cello Concerto. This concerto was written while Dvorak was acting as the Director of the National Conservatory. After hearing a peer's concerto, Dvorak was inspired to fulfill a friend's request to compose a concerto. Dvorak was very insistent that the concerto be performed without any cadenzas, or virtuosic solo sections. The ending of this piece lowers the volume to barely percetipble then rises almost instantly to be finished by the entire orchestra.

Pictures at an Exhibition brings the audience through selection of paintings of a total of over 400 different works. The chosen works find their roots in Russian folklore. The original composition was written for solo piano but was quickly adapted for full symphony by Mikhail Tushmalov. However Tushmalov's adaptation does not include all 10 works in the original score instead selecting 7 to be performed. The theme from the promenade can be heard different times throughout the performance.

Join KPO by reimagining the classic Grinch tale with one that turns Whoville on it's head.

Following the Grinch sitting in his cave, he notices that snow is falling heavier than usual. Leaping into action he helps the Whos to shovel out all of their pathways. As he travels towards Whoville, he comes across many different traditional Christmas characters, include all 12 of the gifts from the 12 Days of Christmas. The Polar Express arrives in Whoville carrying mail bringing the Whos all together to help clear the square. Finishing up the night brings everyone together on stage to sing and dance.

Season Overview

Join us for an exciting season of music with the Kent Philharmonic Orchestra! On October 23, experience the vivid colors of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and Respighi’s Three Botticelli Pictures to the soaring beauty of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, celebrating the many ways an orchestra can tell a story. Join us on December 18th for a festive holiday adventure with How the Grinch Saved Christmas, then journey beyond the stars on February 26 with Strauss’s Also Sprach Zarathustra, Holst’s The Planets, and John Williams’ iconic Star Wars. We’ll close the season in May with the raw power of Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. Four concerts, with music for every audience, and one community coming together to experience it all. Come hear the stories, colors, and adventures of the Kent Philharmonic in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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Concert Location

24 Ransom NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 US View Location on Map