May 21, 2026
Rossen Milanov, Music Director
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A beloved summer tradition returns with iconic artists and unforgettable performances. Tickets on sale now!
Throwback to this fun video we made for when Wyclef Jean dropped his song "What Happened to Love." in 2017! Did you know Wyclef Jean joined us in 2018 for "A Night Symphonic of Hip Hop"?
You can see Wyclef again on June 20th with the link in our bio!
Happy Birthday to us! 75 years ago we gave our first ever concert. This marked a historic moment for Columbus` musical landscape. Published in 1951, this Columbus Dispatch article gives a look into the formation of what we now know as the Columbus Symphony Orchestra! During it`s founding the Columbus Symphony has had a claim of uniqueness as being founded entirely by women with it`s first president Mrs. W. Wallace Mountcastle.
On our very first concert, conducted by George Hardesty at the OSU Archaeological & Historical Museum (now Sullivant Hall), we played the following music:
Gounod`s Ballet Music from Faust
Honegger`s A Summer Pastorale
Jacob`s Divertimento
Mozart`s Symphony #40 in G minor, k.550
Strauss`s Wine, Women, & Song
The musicians who played on this inaugural concert were:
Mina Buchsbaum, violin
Marya Giesey, violin
Adrienne Hawh, violin
Rebecca Jenkins, violin
Sally Needham, violin
Gene Taylor, violin
Richard Van Meter, violin
Leonard Eisner, violin
Harriet Heine, violin
Winston Hole, violin
Louise McLean, violin
Shutak, violin
Lillian Yenkin, violin
Mary Lane, viola
Harris monosoff, viola
William Sims, viola
Alice Carothers, cello
Fruchtman, cello
Richard Watzulik, cello
Jack Dale, bass
Theron McClure, bass
Caroline Utz, bass
Donald McGinnis, flute & clarinet
Laura Ruth Titus, flute
Ezra Kotzin, oboe
William Poland, oboe
Robert Titus, clarinet
Andrew Valkuchak, bassoon & horn
William Kearns, horn
Julian Leet, horn
Richard Hightshoe, trumpet
Forrest Stole, trumpet
Jack Evans, trombone
Glenn Harriman, trombone
charles Hance, percussion
Head to columbussymphony.com to help us celebrate our 75th anniversary!
This past weekend we honored four amazing individuals who have made a remarkable difference in our community though their commitment to music education at the 29th anniversary Columbus Symphony Music Educator Awards. Learn more about these awesome people with the link in our bio.
Please help us in congratulating:
Gretchen Wessel as the Elementary Music Educator Award Winner from @worthingtonschools
John Riegel as the Secondary Music Educator Award Winner from @hilliardschools
Kimberlee Goodman as the Private/Community Educator Award Winner as the Executive Director of @mcconnellarts
Stephanie Henkle as the Lifetime Achievement Award Winner from Henkle Voice and Piano Studio
Join us on June 27th! Use the link in our bio to purchase tickets.
A heartfelt tribute to one of America’s most enduring rock icons, this program celebrates the music of Tom Petty with symphonic arrangements of classics like “Free Fallin’” and “American Girl.” It’s an evening of nostalgia, storytelling, and singalong favorites.
This week, we’re spotlighting Ye Jin Goo, violist, as part of our “Who We Are” series to start off Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! 🎻✨
Korea-born and now based in the U.S., Ye Jin has captivated audiences with performances alongside the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Milwaukee Symphony, and Columbus Symphony. She’s won numerous competitions, participated in prestigious festivals, and studied under world-renowned mentors. Beyond the stage, she inspires the next generation as a passionate teacher, sharing her love of music with students across Milwaukee, Chicago, and Cincinnati. 🎶
Get to know more of the talented musicians who make our sound possible at the link in our bio!
Not sure which concert you should come to? No worries, we got you covered. Take our Cardinal Health Masterworks Personality Quiz and all will be revealed. Swipe through to see what some of our musicians got!
Single tickets for our milestone 2026–27 Cardinal Health Masterworks season are on sale now! Under Music Director Rossen Milanov, we celebrate our 75th Anniversary with a season of masterworks, world premieres, and a historic return to Carnegie Hall for the first time in 25 years.
🔗 Link in bio to purchase tickets and subscriptions!
Highlights include: 🎻 The Classics: Beethoven’s 9th, Verdi’s Requiem, and Tchaikovsky. 🌟 New Voices: A World premieres of Gregory Spears and a co-commision of Paola Prestini`s My Brilliant Friend: Those Who leave . 🎹 Global Stars: Featuring Davóne Tines, Jasmine Choi, Eva Gevorgyan, and more!
Single tickets on sale now! Join us for a historic year of music.
😎🌞 Happy May! Check out our May events with the link in our bio!
Academy Auditions are open now! Head to the link in our bio for more information! The mission of the Academy Program is to provide young orchestral musicians from diverse backgrounds with rigorous training, mentorship, and exposure to high-level performance, equipping them to succeed in collegiate music programs and beyond.
Calling all middle and high school musicians! 🎶 Ready to perform with a high-level ensemble of talented peers? Audition for the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras and take your music to the next level. Audition deadlines are May 10! Head to the link in our bio for audition information and to hear our most recent concert!
Tag the person you want to see audition!
Thank you to the AMAZING Friends of the Columbus Symphony for hosting our annual Staff & Musician Appreciation Dinner. The Friends have been with us since the beginning, 75 years ago. We could not do what we do without them.
To learn more about these amazing people, head to the link in our bio!
⚠️ 🚨 OHIO! Come see Grammy Award-winning performing artist, producer and composer Wyclef Jean as he returns after debuting with the Columbus Symphony in 2018! 🔗 Tickets with the link in our bio
Wyclef’s music, both as a solo superstar and as founder and guiding member of the Fugees, has been a powerful pop cultural force for over two decades. With a wealth of musical influences from jazz to classic rock to reggae, Wyclef’s hits include “Gone Till November,” “We Trying to Stay Alive,” and more.
Awe… this might be the cutest merch drop yet 🐶🎶
We’re so excited to introduce a new way to wear your love for the symphony. Now your pup can be part of it too.
Perfect for summer strolls, patio hangs, and every adventure in between, this bandana lets your dog rep the music wherever you go.
Shop now through the link in our bio and grab yours while they last!
This week, we’re spotlighting Vladislav Petrachev, our principal trombonist! 🎶
Hailing from Saint Petersburg, Russia, Vladislav has performed with world-class orchestras including the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, collaborating with celebrated conductors across Europe, Asia, and the U.S. His artistry as a soloist and competition laureate has earned him international acclaim, including top prizes at major competitions.
Alongside performing, Vladislav is a dedicated educator, sharing his expertise through teaching roles at Southern Illinois University, University of Kentucky, and Kentucky State University, shaping the next generation of brass musicians. 💙
Get to know more of the talented musicians who make our sound possible at the link in our bio.
Experience it again 🎶
Relive this amazing from this past season, conducted by Rossen Milanov and featuring an incredible lineup of soloists—Lydia Grindatto, Mariya Kaganskaya, Victor Starsky, and Cumhur Görgün—alongside the Columbus Symphony Chorus under the direction of Stephen Caracciolo.
Experience the power and intensity of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem, one of the most profound and moving works in classical music.
📻 Tune in with WOSU Public Media at the listed times to hear it again.
Thank you to WOSU for helping us share these unforgettable performances with our community 💙
News
Celebrating 75 Years of World-Class Artistry, Meaningful Collaboration, and a Commitment to Community.
Subscriptions on sale now.
Single tickets on sale May 4th.
News
The Columbus Symphony is excited to announce the appointment of Maureen O’Brien as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective July 15, 2025. With a distinguished career in arts leadership and a deep commitment to community engagement, O’Brien will lead the organization into its next chapter of artistic excellence and innovation and bring to fruition the vision of a future home for the orchestra.
