Join us for an upcoming concert…
Join us on the ARIAS bus to hear iconic works that revolutionized classical music at the Jacksonville Symphony’s fourth Florida Blue Classical Series concert of 2025, featuring music by Debussy, Stravinsky, and Conrad Tao on Friday, April 4, 2025.
Under the direction of Music Director Courtney Lewis, the concert will include a special world premiere by Jacksonville Symphony Artist-in-Residence Conrad Tao, whose composition was commissioned by the Symphony. The program will begin with Debussy’s Nocturnes, a dreamy, impressionistic piece where the composer uses soundscapes to evoke shifts in light. The work culminates with the ethereal treble voices of the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus, who will perform a wordless accompaniment, symbolizing the alluring voices of the Greek Sirens.
The centerpiece of the evening will be Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, an exciting and rhythmically intense work that was met with a near-riot at its 1913 Paris premiere. Its avant-garde nature shocked many, leading to protests that spilled into the streets after the performance. Today, however, the piece is beloved, with its elemental violence, percussive melodies, dissonance, and wild rhythmic complexity now an integral part of the classical music repertoire.
For background information on the music, Courtney Lewis offers insights in this video: Watch here.
The concert will conclude with Clang and Shudder, a world premiere composed and performed by Conrad Tao. The title suggests that Tao’s exceptional pianistic skill will deliver a truly memorable experience.
The ARIAS bus will pick up passengers at two convenient Nassau County locations—AMC Theatre in Yulee and Harris Teeter on Amelia Island—and transport you directly to Jacoby Hall in plenty of time for the concert. The return trip is just as convenient, ensuring you won’t have to worry about nighttime driving on your way back to Jacksonville.
Bus tickets can be purchased at ariasnassau.org/bus, where you’ll find additional details on pricing, pick-up locations, and ARIAS membership discounts and rebates.
Please note that bus tickets are separate from concert tickets, which can be obtained through the Jacksonville Symphony website here or by calling the box office at 904-354-5479.
If you plan to ride the bus, we recommend purchasing your ticket early, as we need to confirm arrangements with the bus company the week before the concert. Tickets are non-refundable but can be transferred to another rider for the night of the event.
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