Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 3:00 pm at the Sedona Performing Arts Center.
Sedona, AZ Sedona Symphony launches its 2025–2026 season with a program that bridges Baroque brilliance, Classical mastery, and Beethoven’s youthful fire. Performing with the Symphony is acclaimed pianist Jon Nakamatsu, Gold Medalist of the 1997 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and an artist hailed worldwide for his elegance, versatility, and intensity.
“Jon is the kind of musician who can make Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 sparkle with both charm and depth,” says Maestro William C. White, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Symphony. “This concerto was Beethoven’s calling card to Vienna, his way of announcing himself to the world. It’s playful, dazzling, and you can already hear the beginnings of the revolutionary spirit that would define his music.”
About The Additional Repertoire
At this season’s inaugural concert, Sedona Symphony also will perform:
HANDEL (arr. Mozart): Acis and Galatea Overture
Handel’s Acis and Galatea had many lives: first as a one-act English masque, then as an Italian opera, and later as a two-act oratorio. Mozart, nearly 70 years later, “updated” Handel’s score for modern ears. “What I love about this overture,” Maestro White explains, “is that it’s music that has already been adapted and re-imagined multiple times across borders and centuries. When Mozart got his hands on it, he gave us something that feels both reverent and fresh—an energetic way to open our season.”
HAYDN: Symphony No. 99
Composed for Haydn’s legendary London concerts in the 1790s, this symphony was hailed by critics of the day as one of the greatest artistic achievements ever experienced. “Haydn was Beethoven’s teacher, and his Symphony No. 99 is a towering example of why,” Maestro White notes. “It’s grand, humorous, and endlessly inventive—a master at the height of his powers.”
About Jon Nakamatsu
Gold Medalist of the 1997 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Jon Nakamatsu has performed with more than 150 orchestras worldwide, from Carnegie Hall to the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Equally at home in recital, chamber music, and orchestral repertoire, his artistry has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, NPR, and Live from Here. A dedicated educator, Nakamatsu now teaches at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Stanford University.
About Maestro William C. White
Appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of the Sedona Symphony in May 2025, William C. White is known for bold interpretations, original compositions, and his gift for making music feel personal and alive. His career includes leadership roles with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Harmonia, and collaborations with artists such as John Adams, Philip Glass, Jennifer Higdon, and Itzhak Perlman.
Introducing Pre-Concert Talks & Post-Concert Cocktail Hour
Pre-Concert Talks (2:00 pm)
New this season, Maestro Will leads casual, engaging conversations one hour before each Sunday performance. Open to all ticket holders, these talks make classical music approachable for newcomers while offering fresh insights for seasoned listeners. Doors open at 1:30 PM.
Post-Concert Cocktail Hour (5:30 pm, The Den at Mountain Modern Sedona)
To keep the celebration going, audience members are invited to a post-concert cocktail meet-and-greet at The Den. Guests can mingle with Maestro Will and symphony musicians and purchase themed cocktails inspired by the program—perhaps a Viennese Spritz for Mozart or a Scotch-inspired sip for Haydn. Light dining with musical flair also will be available.
“Our concerts don’t end with the final note,” says Al Vander Peut, Board President of the Sedona Symphony. “These gatherings give our community a chance to share in the joy of live music, connect with our musicians, and be part of something bigger than ourselves. Whether it’s your first time hearing an orchestra or your hundredth, you’re warmly invited to join us.”
