Welcome to our exciting 2008/09 global musical journey. It is my honor to begin my first year as artistic director of the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra and a great pleasure to share my love of music with you. Fasten your seatbelts for a musical tour of the world with an orchestra that is one of the hottest musical tickets in town. Our program is filled with familiar and unfamiliar works from Europe, South American and the United States that I am positive will bring excitement and joy. Highlights of our season include:

• Guest soloists from the community, beyond Tucson and within the orchestra, including Bulgarian pianist Miroslava Panayotova, UA faculty violist Yvonne Creanga and Minnesota Opera’s resident artist Brad Benoit.
  

• Challenging and exciting works ranging from Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 to Ravel’s Alborada del Gracioso, Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas No. 2 and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. We’re also featuring an overture by one of orchestra members, composer Richard White.
  

• This season we’re partnering with Catalina Foothills High School Chorus to present Mozart’s Requiem, a preview of their upcoming performance at Carnegie Hall.

SASO is a non-profit all-volunteer orchestra composed of both amateur and professional musicians who have a commitment towards excellence and a mission to unite performers and audiences through a mutual love of music. Please take a moment to explore the many ways you can help SASO expand its mission and presence in Southern Arizona.  Without your support we would not be here!Thanks for choosing SASO as your orchestra. We are looking forward to sharing this wonderful music with you. 

Linus Lerner
Music Director