Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony
2025-2026 Concert Information
Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 7:30pm Magale Recital Hall
“Adoration of Mother Nature and the Ascending Strength of the Earth”
Our opening concert will feature a world premiere of American composer, Dosia McKay’s “Earthrise” (2022). McKay, originally from Poland, composed this powerful work during the pandemic and then the Russian-Ukraine war. Instead of a grim, menacing piece she found herself “…chiseling a sonic space that gradually became more and more hopeful, idealistic, and even triumphant. I kept envisioning Earth gathering strength and ultimately rising to overcome the darkness and the evil inflicted on her and her inhabitants.” Also on the program, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 expressing his profound love of nature, and Telemann’s trip down the Elbe River through Hamburg, Germany with his “Water Music.”
Tuesday, October 28, 2025, 7:30pm Magale Recital Hall:
"American Strength: We Shall Overcome”
This patriotic concert will feature some of the most loved American favorites such as God Bless America, and America the Beautiful. In addition, we will honor our troops with Armed Forces Salute. Furthermore, we will hear a set of variations on the tune “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” by Morton Gould called American Salute, and music that depicts a Civil War era train spying mission called The Great Locomotive Chase by Robert W. Smith.”
Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 7:00pm NSU Christmas GALA
Thursday, December 4, 2025, 7:00pm NSU Christmas GALA
Friday December 5, 2025, 7:00pm and 9:00pm NSU Christmas GALA
(A.A. Fredericks Auditorium)
The NSU School of Creative and Performing Arts’ 37th annual Christmas GALA is a must-see! Take a pick for which show you would like to attend but reserve your seat early! These performances are in high demand and often sell out.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026, “Chamber Orchestra” Concert 7:30pm Magale Recital Hall
This program will feature NSU’s professor of percussion, Dr. Oliver Molina performing a Marimba Concerto by American composer Kevin Puts. Also on the program, Dvorak’s beautiful Serenade for Winds, and Haydn’s “Le Matin” Symphony No. 6.
Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 7:30pm, Magale Recital Hall: "Concerto Winners"
This concert will feature NSU's most talented student musicians. Also on the program, Ravel’s “Mother Goose Suite” and a new work by Colombian composer Victoriano Valencia “San Pelayo Fandango.”
“She Loves Me” by Bock/Harnick, with NSU Music Theater, A.A. Fredericks Auditorium
Thursday, April 23, 2026, 7:30pm
Friday, April 24, 2026, 7:30pm
Saturday, April 25, 2:00pm and 7:30pm
This will be a collaboration with the NSU Music Theater troop and their director, Dr. Sloane Artis, performing “She Loves Me.” This story from a book by Joe Masteroff inspired a play, 2 films; The Shop Around the Corner (1940) and You’ve Got Mail (1998) and 2 musicals, In the Good Old Summertime (1949) and She Loves Me (premiered on Broadway in 1963 with a revival in 2016). The plot revolves around shop employees Georg and Amalia, who, despite being consistently at odds with each other at work, are unaware that each is the other’s secret pen pal met through lonely-hearts ads. Take a pick for which show you would like to attend and reserve your seat by contacting the CAPA office 318-352-4822.
Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 7:30pm Magale Recital Hall: "Handel’s Messiah, Parts 2 and 3”
The Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony will be joined by the NSU “Cane River Singers” to perform parts 2 and 3 of Handel’s timeless masterpiece “Messiah.”
