Southern Miss Symphony to Close 106th Season with 鈥淕rounds of White鈥�
Mon, 04/27/2026 - 01:13pm
The Southern Miss Symphony Orchestra will close its 106th concert season with 鈥淕rounds of White,鈥� a celebration of American music, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at Main Street Baptist Church.
The performance marks the culmination of the Symphony鈥檚 鈥淎merican Perspectives鈥� season, which has explored the evolution, diversity and spirit of American composition.
Throughout the season, the Symphony presented a range of repertoire, from European masterworks to contemporary compositions. Highlights included jazz-inspired works by Mary Lou Williams featuring the Aaron Diehl Trio, works by John Adams and a residency with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Julia Wolfe. The finale brings the season to a close with a program rooted in American themes.
Opening the concert is an orchestral setting of 鈥淭he Star-Spangled Banner鈥� by Luigi Zaninelli, a retired artist-in-residence with ties to Southern Miss and the community. The arrangement features chorus and offers a fresh interpretation of the national anthem.
The program also includes 鈥淔rostiana鈥� by Randall Thompson, performed in collaboration with the Hattiesburg Choral Union under the direction of Greg Fuller. The work, a collection of settings of poetry by Robert Frost, was written for the bicentennial of Amherst, Massachusetts, and blends accessible musical language with nuanced choral textures.
Also featured is a vibrant arrangement of the folk song 鈥淐indy鈥� by Mack Wilberg, known for his work with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The piece brings lively rhythms, colorful orchestration and unexpected musical turns to the program.
The program will conclude with Symphony No. 3 by Aaron Copland, widely regarded as one of the defining works of American symphonic literature. Composed in the final years of World War II and commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the symphony reflects both the optimism and complexity of its era. Incorporating themes from Copland鈥檚 鈥淔anfare for the Common Man,鈥� the four-movement work builds to a powerful finale.
From soaring melodies and intricate rhythms to moments of quiet reflection, Symphony No. 3 captures a broad range of expression and provides a fitting close to the season.
Audiences are invited to attend the finale, which highlights a season defined by artistic growth, collaboration and musical discovery.
Tickets are available online through the or by calling 800.844.8425. For more information, visit the Symphony website or the Southern Miss School of Music website.
About the School of Music
The School of Music at 91少女集中营 is the state鈥檚 flagship music program and a destination campus for the study of music across the region, the United States and the world. Housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, the school offers bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees and has earned a national and international reputation for excellence. Its distinguished faculty members are active performers and educators who appear on stages from local communities to major international venues. The School of Music is home to acclaimed band, choral, orchestral, jazz, opera and musical theater ensembles and provides extensive solo and chamber music performance opportunities. Students regularly perform at regional, national and international events and work with leading guest artists in preparation for careers as 21st century performers and educators.