Behind the Music

For the finale concert of the 2023-2024 season, Fouad Fakhouri welcomes internationally recognized clarinetist Julian Bliss to the stage. In this episode, hear how Julian got his very young start, how his love of jazz music and Benny Goodman has influenced his playing, and just how much he loves the clarinet! This concert will also feature two German masterpieces: Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and Brahms’ Symphony No. 4.

For more information about the concert and to purchase tickets, please visit www.wfso.org. Please note that this concert will be held at a different venue - First Baptist Church.

Maestro Fouad Fakhouri is joined by Anna Geniushene, 2022 Van Cliburn Silver Medalist. Join us as we explore Anna's Van Cliburn journey (including a special competitor!) and her upcoming performance of Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto with the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra. The program also includes a piece by Florence Price, the first African-American female composer to gain national recognition and local artist Jesse Baggett, who will add a beautiful artistic flourish with a live interpretive painting to Schumann's Symphony No. 4.

Trumpet virtuoso Mary Elizabeth Bowden joins Maestro Fakhouri as they discuss her upcoming performance of a newly commissioned jazz-inspired piece titled Bohemian Queen by Brazilian-American Grammy Award nominated composer, Clarice Assad. The program includes Bowden's shining interpretation of Arutiunian’s Trumpet Concerto, Rossini’s infamous and exhilarating Overture to William Tell, and Shostakovich’s evocative Symphony No. 9.

Round up your family and friends for the opening concert of our 76th season! In the first episode of the 2023-24 season, Maestro Fakhouri speaks with Dave Alexander about his roots, his classical music upbringing, and the exciting fusion he has created of symphonic orchestra and Western swing and traditional fiddle tunes.

For more information about the concert and to purchase tickets, please visit www.wfso.org.

As we wrap up the 75th Diamond Anniversary Season, listen to the epic collaboration of the WFSO and Dr. Thomas Wininger with the Midwestern State University and community choirs on Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. Also hear about the interesting projects that Dr. Wininger is working on with Wichita Falls locals.

Returning to the stage with the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra, Grammy award-winning violinist Jennifer Koh chats with Maestro Fakhouri about her younger years and current projects she is exploring to promote new music. Jennifer also discusses her history with the piece she will be performing on February 25, 2023, the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. 

For more information about the concert and to purchase tickets, please visit www.wfso.org. 

In addition to extraordinary public concerts throughout the season, the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra has a thriving education program. The largest education event of the year, the Young People's Concert, will have a very special guest for 2023: the Wichita Falls Ballet Theatre. Join Maestro Fakhouri as he interviews Val and Mishic Liberatore about the thriving ballet scene in Wichita Falls and the Music & Dance collaboration with the WFSO on January 27, 2023. 

Don't miss our other BIG event the same weekend: Big Sounds from the Big Screen: The Wonder of Williams. This will be a celebration of all things John Williams. From Star Wars to Harry Potter to Indiana Jones, you won't want to miss it! Tickets are on sale at www.wfso.org for the January 28, 2023 performance. 

To celebrate our hometown this holiday season, Wichita Falls native Darla Diltz joins Maestro Fouad Fakhouri to discuss all things Wichita Falls, MSU-Texas, and her experiences leaving and returning to this wonderful city. 

Join Maestro Fakhouri as he interviews the multiple GRAMMY Award winner, guitarist Sharon Isbin. They discuss her background, commissioning new works for classical guitar and large ensemble, and the Vivaldi and Rodrigo concerti she will be performing with the WFSO on November 5, 2022 at Akin Auditorium. For more information about the concert and to purchase tickets, please visit www.wfso.org.

Maestro Fouad Fakhouri speaks with our first guest artist of the season, Jon Nakamatsu, about winning the Van Cliburn competition, his rehearsal and performance process, and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1, which he will be performing with the WFSO on October 8, 2022. For more information about the concert and to purchase tickets, please visit www.wfso.org.