In last Thursday’s (3/12) Plano Magazine (Texas), Alyssa High writes, “Plano Symphony Orchestra’s 2026-2027 season, the 44th for the organization, is kicking off with a special season, one with performances by candidates for Music Director Héctor Guzmán’s position as he goes into his last season before shifting into emeritus status. The five finalists—Mélisse Brunet, Filippo Ciabatti, Gonzalo Farias, Jacob Joyce and Stilian Kirov—will each lead one concert, with an audience survey following each performance to assist with the selection process. The season will also include an event on June 24 called ‘Breaking Classical,’ where FLY Dance Company will join the orchestra, blending hip hop and classical music. On August 15, Broadway star Joshua Henry will join PSO in ‘Get Up, Stand Up!’… ‘Thank you, Maestro,’ on April 17, 2027: This culminating farewell concert brings the season—and a remarkable era—to a triumphant close with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, crowned by the unforgettable ‘Ode to Joy.’ ” Composers for the coming season include Copland, Gershwin, Barber, Bernstein, Berlioz, John Williams, Tchaikovsky, Morricone, Mendelssohn, Dvořák, and Manuel de Falla.
