EarRelevant Staff | 3 OCT 2025
CASPER, Wyoming— The Wyoming Symphony Orchestra (WSO) has unveiled its 76th season, “United Through Music,” marking the inaugural season under the baton of new music director Jerry Hou. The season, which begins Oct. 26, 2025, at Natrona County High School, is designed to celebrate universal human values—Love, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—through a diverse array of orchestral works.
Hou, a Taiwanese-American conductor known for his dynamic presence and insightful interpretations, joins the WSO after a distinguished tenure as resident conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and as music director of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. He continues his association with the New York Philharmonic and serves as Artist Teacher of Orchestras and Ensembles at the Shepherd School of Music. Hou also served seven seasons as resident conductor at the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson, Wyoming, concluding his tenure in 2023.
In reflecting on the season’s theme, Hou stated, “Rather than simply performing American music, I wanted to be intentional in our musical choices and have each concert focus on a different theme that represents America today. We chose music from different countries and cultures that encompassed these themes to demonstrate that these rights, espoused by the founding fathers, are held worldwide, showing that we are all connected, that we are united.”
The season opens October 26, 2025, with “Love,” featuring Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, the Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto with guest violinist Na Sun, and Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. The Holiday Celebration follows December 6 with soprano Emily Sorensen in two performances of seasonal favorites. On January 24, 2026, “Life” blends Baroque and contemporary works by Jessie Montgomery, Handel, Stravinsky, and Bach, with Megan Karls as violin soloist. “Liberty,” March 28, includes Beethoven’s Fidelio Overture, Joan Tower’s 1920/2019, and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 1. The season concludes April 25 with “Pursuit of Happiness,” a finale featuring Valerie Coleman’s Seven O’Clock Shout, Peter Boyer’s Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue with pianist Jeffrey Biegel, Hanson’s Song of Democracy, and Respighi’s Pines of Rome.
Executive Director Melissa MacDonald emphasized the season’s focus on community connection, stating, “The Wyoming Symphony Orchestra belongs to this community, and every season we strive to create concerts that speak to both our history and our future. This year’s theme, United Through Music, reminds us that in moments of division or uncertainty, music offers a way to connect, reflect, and celebrate together.”
Tickets and subscriptions for the 2025–2026 season are available through the WSO Box Office and online at www.wyomingsymphony.org.
Founded in 1949, the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra enriches the cultural lives of adults, expands the musical horizons of children, and provides an outlet for the creative talents of musicians living in Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain region. Now in its 76th season, the WSO continues to inspire, educate, and bring the community together through the power of live symphonic music. ■
The Wyoming Symphony Orchestra 2025-26 Season
- October 26, 2025 @ 2:30 pm
John F. Welsh Auditorium, Natrona County High School
“Love”
Jerry Hou, conductor; Na Sun, violin; Kelly Walsh and Natrona County High School theater students.
PROKOFIEV: Selections from Romeo and Juliet
HE Zhanhao/CHEN Gang: “The Butterfly Lovers” Violin Concerto
BERNSTEIN: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story - December 6, 2025 @ 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm
John F. Welsh Auditorium, Natrona County High School
“Holiday Celebration”
Jerry Hoiu, conductor; Emily Sorensen, soprano.
A festive Holiday program offering two performances filled with seasonal classics. - January 24, 2026 @ 7:30 pm
Wheeler Concert Hall, Casper College
“Life”
Jerry Hou, conductor; Megan Karls, violin.
Jesse MONTGOMERY: Starburst
HANDEL: Entrance of the Queen of Sheba
VIVALDI: Concerto for Strings
BACH: Selections from Orchestral Suite No. 2
BACH: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor
STRAVINSKY: Pulcinella Suite - March 28, 2026 @ 7:30 pm
John F. Welsh Auditorium, Natrona County High School
“Liberty”
Jerry Hou, conductor.
BEETHOVEN: Fidelio Overture
Joan TOWER: 1920/2019
RACHMANINOFF: Symphony No. 1 - April 25, 2026 @ 7:30 pm
John F. Welsh Auditorium, Natrona County High School
“Pursuit of Happiness”
Jerry Hou, conductor; Jeffrey Biegel, piano.
Valerie COLEMAN: Seven O’Clock Shout
Peter BOYER: Rhapsody in Red, White, & Blue
Howard HANSON: Song of Democracy
RESPHIGHI: Pines of Rome
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Wyoming Symphony Orchestra: wyomingsymphony.org
- Jerry Hou: jerryhou.com
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