Join the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra at the Heymann Performing Arts Center on November 7 for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert.

The Acadiana Symphony pulled out all the stops for its annual Symphony in the Sky fundraising event Tuesday, Oct. 2.
This year's celebration highlighted all things country with a Classical Country Tuesday Night party. Guests were encouraged to wear their best country casual attire and dance the night away at the newest location for the event, the top of the Silverstone Parking Garage in River Ranch.

The League of American Orchestras salutes member organizations that are celebrating noteworthy anniversaries during the 2024-25 season. Here's a look at just some of the synchronicities and juxtapositions of orchestral music across the country-and across time.

Mariusz Smolij, the long time Music Director and Conductor of the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, is stepping down.
According to a release from ASO, Smolij is going to pursue new opportunities to conduct concerts with orchestras around the world.
He has been Maestro of the ASO for 21 years, and the release states that he's leaving "a legacy that includes hundreds of world-class concerts with dozens of top-tier guest artists, and ASO's first-ever international concert tour to Poland, this past May."

In Monday's (9/2) KATC-ABC (Louisiana), an unbylined report states, "Mariusz Smolij, the longtime Music Director and Conductor of the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, is stepping down. According to a release from ASO, Smolij is going to pursue new opportunities to conduct concerts with orchestras around the world. He has been Maestro of the ASO for 21 years, and the release states that he's leaving 'a legacy that includes hundreds of world-class concerts with dozens of top-tier guest artists, and ASO's first-ever international concert tour to Poland, this past May.'

The music director and conductor of the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra is stepping down from the position after leading for 21 years.
Mariusz Smolij is leaving to conduct concerts with orchestras around the world, the symphony announced Friday. His accomplishments will be celebrated at a 40th symphony season opening night performance on Sept. 19 at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Angelle Hall.
During his tenure, Smolij conducted hundreds of concerts, worked with dozens of guest artists and led the symphony on its first international concert tour to Poland.

Michael Zeek, ASO Education Director, and longtime season subscriber, Maggie Shipman, stopped by the Passe Partout morning show to talk about Acadiana Symphony Orchestra's 40th anniversary season.

Michael Zeek, ASO Education Director, and Neva Garber, a musician in the Acadiana Symphony Youth Orchestra, stopped by News15 at Noon to share the exciting details on Acadiana Symphony Orchestra's 40th year and how ASO fosters musician growth of all ages.

Acadiana Symphony Orchestra is celebrating 40 years! Get your season tickets now at AcadianaSymphony.org. Shows begin in September.

Alicia Zeringue and Tonio Cutrera of ASO talk with Cheryl Devall on the upcoming 40th anniversary season events.

A high school senior at Comeaux High School in Lafayette has lots of reasons to celebrate. He's a violinist whose recent performance earned him a $2,500 scholarship to UL. He did so by playing a song composed by his sister. What started as a dream by a boy turned into a reality as he received a scholarship with the help of his household. Anisen Thibodeaux is no stranger to strings. As a young boy, he picked up the violin in third grade.

Acadiana Symphony celebrates its 40th anniversary season, 'This is Forty'. KADN talks with Alicia Zeringue about the concert lineup and guest artists.

The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra has just gotten back from their first-ever international tour to Poland. Several ASO representatives stopped by KRVS to fill us in on how they managed to successfully pull something off on such large of a scale. They also discuss with us what they gained from the experience, what they plan on doing moving forward and more.

The 1720 Red Mendelssohn Stradivarius violin is said to be one of the world's most legendary instruments. Its mysterious history and whereabouts after it went missing for 200 years, has inspired much speculation, and many tellings of its story, including the 1998, Academy Award winning film, The Red Violin. The story of how it came into the hands of its current owner is just as fascinating.

The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra will go on its first international tour next month alongside violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn, who performs on one of the world's most legendary instruments.
The musicians will also play concerts in Lafayette and Abbeville with Pitcairn and her red violin before they leave for Poland.
"Any type of venture outside of its home for a performing arts organization is a sign of an organization growing and achieving a new artistic level and sort of stronger placement and footprint on the culture map, especially if you can make those ventures to prominent places," said Mariusz Smolij, the orchestra's music director and conductor. "We are going to play in the most prestigious permanent venues in Poland and important international festivals and important historical places. It's a high quality professional tour, not just a trip abroad, where we will appear in places that anybody would like to play."

The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra & Conservatory of Music held its premier fundraising event, the Mad Hatters Luncheon and Style Show, on March 22 at Le Pavillon in Lafayette. The mid-day soiree included a gourmet lunch along with a style show featuring local models highlighting spring fashions from Acadiana boutiques.
The Mad Hatter's Luncheon & Style Show is ASO's longest running fundraising event, with 100% of the proceeds supporting ASO's music education programs.

Dappled with pretty little picnic scenes, the park comes alive at 3 p.m. when the acclaimed Acadiana Symphony Orchestra begins a two-hour-long concert, led by Music Director and Conductor Mariusz Smolij. In past years audiences have been treated to well-known tunes specially arranged for the outdoor setting that includes a medley of pop, Broadway musical songs, movie themes and jazz. "Often, people perceive an orchestra as a serious ensemble, but it can be a lot of fun too," Smolij says of the varied repertoire.

The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra treated seniors and staff at Avanti Senior Living in Lafayette to some wonderful music.
A string quartet with the symphony shared the sounds of Mozart with the residents on Friday, March 8.
They couldn't resist getting into the music and tapping along as the ensemble played for them.
The symphony's maestro also explained to the residents that much like Acadiana, the symphony is a melting pot.

March 7th at the Heymann Center will be a night of greatest hits by one of the most popular American classic rock bands of all time - The Eagles - performed by tribute band, 7 Bridges, and Acadiana Symphony Orchestra. This concert will feature original songs, accompanied by specially curated symphonic arrangements, to offer the audience a unique experience of the music that defined a generation.

Alicia Zeringue, Director of Strategic Communications, with Acadiana Symphony Orchestra stopped by to share the details of an incredible collaboration on March 7th.

Alicia Zeringue, Director of Strategic Communications with Acadiana Symphony Orchestra and members of the 7 Bridges Band, stopped by News15 at Noon to share the details about their epic collaboration on March 7th.

The Iberia Cultural Resources Association hosted their 14th annual Prelude to Spring concert with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra at St Peter's Catholic Church Sunday afternoon.
The orchestra played a variety of tunes both classical and symphonic as well as some from Broadway shows. They started the evening off with a high-energy selection of songs from "West Side Story" followed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Minuet" from Symphony No. 39. This "Minuet" was traditionally a dance performed at balls for royalty, and included a six-step choreography. Next up was a duo of songs from the play "Peer Gynt" including "Anitra's Dance" and "In the Hall of the Mountain King".

The Christmas Concert, featuring Marc Broussard, will be presented by the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with Kean Miller, on Thursday, December 14 at 7 pm in the Heymann Performing Arts Center.
One of Acadiana's many beloved holiday celebrations, this annual concert is the Symphony's longest running tradition. For more than 25 years, the Symphony has partnered with local musicians from all over Acadiana to offer audiences a holiday music experience that includes just the right blend of classical and popular melodies.

Who wants to go to the "Danger Zone" with us? Want to "Dance with Somebody Who Loves Me?" Want to go for a ride in a "Pink Cadillac"? Of course, you do.
We can go all 80s music fun with the Acadiana Symphony this Tuesday night, October 17 as we party on top of the Vermilion Parking Garage all to benefit music education in Acadiana.
This year's theme is Totally Awesome 80s! featuring a fun and elevated evening of food, cocktails, and the 80s greatest hits.

Acadiana Symphony Orchestra announced that it will perform Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in Concert, Thursday, October 26, 2023, 7PM, at the Heymann Performing Arts Center, as part of the Harry Potter Film Concert Series. Iya Tsyrkot, ASO Violinist, along with David Boudreaux, ASO pianist, and Alicia Zeringue, ASO Marketing Manager, stopped by News15 at Noon to share the details and perform!

Get your tickets for Harry Potter in concert at AcadianaSymphony.org or the Heymann box office.

Acadiana Symphony Orchestra will perform Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in concert on October 26. Here's a sneak peak. You can get tickets AcadianaSymphony.org.

The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra are set to perform "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in Concert" in October.
ASO announced on Friday that the "Harry Potter" concert will happen Thursday, October 26 at 7 p.m., at the Heymann Performing Arts Center, as part of the Harry Potter Film Concert Series. The concert will feature ASO's music director and conductor, Mariusz Smolij, conducting the Symphony in a live performance to match the film. Audiences will be able to relive the magic of the entire film on a high-definition, 40-foot screen, while hearing John Williams' unforgettable score.

If you love the Harry Potter series, then no doubt you will want to be at the Heymann Performing Arts Center in Lafayette on Thursday, October 26, 2023. The performance will begin at 7:00 pm.
That's the night that the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra presents Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in concert.
You'll be able to sit back and enjoy the film with John Williams' complete score being performed as the full film plays on the big screen.

Acadiana Conservatory of Music accepts applications and conducts auditions annually, from young musicians interested in joining one of two youth orchestras: Acadiana Symphony Youth Orchestra (ages 13+) and Acadiana Symphony Preparatory Orchestra (for ages 8+). All new musicians must audition.
Auditions are held in the form of video submissions. The deadline to submit your video is Saturday, August 19, 2023.

Acadiana Symphony Orchestra Executive Director, Dana Baker gave highlights of the 23-24 Reflections Season, and an opportunity to build your season with a 50% discount on tickets.

ASO's Marketing and Communications Manager, Alicia Zeringue talks about the launch of Season 39 - Reflections on Passe Partout.

Photo Essay
The Iberia Cultural Resources Association presented the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra for a musical tribute to military veterans Sunday in New Iberia.

ASO's Marketing and Communications Director, Alicia highlights, and Education Director & Ticketing Manager, Michael Zeek, preview the ensemble's 39th season.

Photo Spread
Symphony Sunday in the Park was held under pleasant skies on April 2 in New Iberia's City Park. Folks relaxing on picnic blankets and chairs enjoyed the music performed by the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra. The Iberia Cultural Resources Association presented the event.

ASO is pleased to welcome Acadiana localite, UL alum, and Ragin Cajun enthusiast, Brad Burley to our team. As the new Director of Fund Development, Brad will lead the organization's fundraising objectives, dedicating his time to advancing development strategies that align with ASO's organizational strategic goals.

The schedule for Festival International, which runs from April 26-30, was released Fiday, giving a timetable to where the dozens of international and local artists will be playing during the free event. Lauren Daigle, who was born in Lake Charles and grew up in Lafayette, will headline the festival.
Scène Laborde Earles Fais Do Do Stage
9-10:15 a.m.: Amis du Teche (Louisiana)
10:45-11:45 a.m.: Acadiana Symphony Youth Orchestra ft. The Magnolia Sisters (Louisiana)
12:15-1:30 p.m.: Blue Monday Allstars (Louisiana)
2-3:15 p.m.: RAM (Haiti)
3:45-5:15 p.m.: Lafayette1823.org Presents: A Celebration of Zydeco ft. Rockin' Dopsie Jr. and special guests (Louisiana)
5:45-7 p.m.: Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba(Mali)
7:30-8:45 p.m.: JP Bimeni & the Black Belts (Burundi/UK/Louisiana)

Gregory Harrington, an accomplished violinist from Ireland, joined News15 at Noon to share the details on his upcoming performance at the Acadiana Center For The Arts. Harrington performs Sunday at 3PM. Tickets are on sale now!

According to Executive Director Dana Baker for Acadiana Symphony Orchestra (ASO), Acadiana Center for the Arts (ACA) will host the Symphony on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at 7 pm to present Love, Sax & Tango - A Cultural Revolution. The Valentine's Day event will incorporate a relatively new concept in classical music that challenges orchestral norms: saxophone as the focal point of the concert. Karèn Devroop, South Africa's leading saxophonist, will join the Symphony to perform a romantic collection of tango and other love songs composed by visionaries like Astor Piazzolla and George Gershwin, as well as the guest artist himself. Tickets are on sale now.

Virginia Luque plays classical and flamenco music in a Spanish romantic style, combining extraordinary technical virtuosity, with beautiful tone and musicianship. She recently recorded Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez with the London Symphony Orchestra, at Abbey Road Studios.