Saint Joseph Symphony

10/12/2026

“I love him too much.”

That was Joseph Haydn talking about a young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. They weren’t just two stiff portraits in a music history textbook - or on our graphic here - they were superfans of each other. Mozart learned how to write string quartets by studying Haydn, and Haydn admitted Mozart’s daring new harmonies completely blew his mind.

When you sit in the Missouri Theater with us on October 17th, you aren't just hearing old notes. You are eavesdropping on a 250-year-old "bromance" that shaped Western music forever. Experience Mozart & Haydn live. Click the link to get your tickets.

https://onthestage.tickets/st-joseph-symphony-society-inc

And bring a BFF who thinks classical music is boring or lame and we’ll prove them wrong by intermission.

Experience live orchestral music at the historic Missouri Theater in St. Joseph, Missouri.

10/10/2026

We are one week away from the season opener! Join us for two of the greatest composers who ever lived and bring your own BFF. Or make new ones at the complimentary w**e reception before the concert. We'll be serving Austrian delicacies in honor of our two composers!

Experience live orchestral music at the historic Missouri Theater in St. Joseph, Missouri.

10/08/2026

Joining Yu-Fang Chen at our upcoming concert on viola is David Kovac. From the Czech Republic to New York’s Joyce Theatre, violist Dr. David Kovac brings a world of musical experience to the stage! A dynamic soloist, conductor, and educator, he has collaborated with musicians from the Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, and Israel Philharmonic. He serves as the director of the East Tennessee State University Orchestra and Sinfonia orchestra at ETSU. Previously he conducted the Symphony of the Mountains Youth Symphony, the Heartland Camerata and Sinfonia Orchestras and guest conducted the Symphony of the Mountains Symphony. Now hear him shine with the Saint Joseph Symphony in Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante - a dazzling musical conversation between violin, viola, and orchestra!

10/07/2026

Our guest violinist for our opening BFFs concert on October 17th...Yu-Fang Chen. Here's what reviews have said about her talent. You won't want to miss this performance! https://saintjosephsymphony.org/concerts/bffs

Whispering Fragrance (2017), is a solo violin piece that provides a rhapsodic though mostly low-key showcase for Yu-Fang Chen's remarkable control of difficult harmonics and rapid-fire staccatos. – by Jed Distler, Gramophone newsletter

“Her tender performance of Mendelssohn’s emotionally charged melodies resulted in the kind of beautifully passionate playing that made me temporarily forget how to perform basic functions like blinking and swallowing.”
– by Karen Hauge, KC Metropolis

“….Most remarkable was the edgy, beautifully inflected violin solo by Yu-Fang Chen.” – by Paul Horsley, The Kansas City Star

“Under the spirited leadership of Yu-Fang Chen, the performance (Grieg’s Holberg Suite)sparkled. Her energy was infectious, and her ability to launch each movement with crisp, unified precision was a marvel. The work showcased the ensemble’s lush string sound, highlighted by heartfelt cello solos and capped by a virtuosic duet between Chen and violist.” - by Dianna Skinner, Violinist.com

10/01/2026

Today is the Kickoff for our 2026 Symphony Fund campaign! We’re always looking for ways to maximize the impact of your donations, and here’s how: We started using Zeffy to fundraise. While every other fundraising platform takes a portion of your donation in fees, Zeffy delivers 100% of it to our organization. Zeffy is financed by voluntary contributions, so when you check out it will give you an option to donate to THEM to cover fees. It is entirely optional - every penny of your gift is going straight to our mission! Our "must have" goal this year is $100,000 to cover the expenses of the season and our educational and outreach programs. We hope you will join us in ensuring that future generations, from curious schoolchildren to lifelong patrons, can experience the joy, beauty, and community that symphonic music brings. Go to saintjosephsymphony.org to make your gift today!

09/26/2026

This past week our Executive Director had the pleasure of visiting the Benton High School Orchestra program and talk to them about the opportunities for them to get involved with the SJS. What an impressive group of musicians! She was quite heartened that orchestral music is alive and well in our St. Joe schools. And it was also a pleasure for her to see SJS violinist Savana Ritter teach. She does an awesome job and those kids are so fortunate to have her!

09/24/2026

We had so much fun yesterday at our first mahjong event! Chocolat St. Joe made beautiful mahjong-themed chocolates and cookies and made it all the more festive. Rolling Hills Library Riverside branch was the perfect location! Congratulatons to all the prize winners and thank you all for coming out to support the SaintJoseph Symphony!
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09/23/2026

The office will be mostly closed tomorrow for the first of our Game On! events - our Mahjong Tournament at the Rolling HIlls Library Riverside branch from 1 - 4 pm. We'll be gone early to set up and return late after clearing the event. If you need something, please email [email protected]. We will be checking emails. We are going to have Mahjong Magnificence and we are looking forward to it! Thank you to everyone who is participating!

09/21/2026

LAST CALL FOR MAHJONG ENTHUSIASTS. We still have room for few more! Prizes and mahjong-tastic treats and lite bites provided. Email

[email protected]

to let us know you are coming. We'll be at the new Rolling HIlls Library Riverside Branch Community Room having a blast. We don't just play music, we play games...

09/19/2026

We had great time at Corby Place Senior Living today. Thanks to the Kenney Charitable Trust we had our first presentation of our B.A.C.H. program to seniors. Lorrie Edwards Dixon played the piano spectacularly and recited poetry that coincided with the musical selections. Joseph Paul Dease sang a beautiful duet setting of an Emily Dickinson poem with Lorrie and our Executive Director got to "scratch her performing itch" with two fun songs from film and Broadway. The residents really enjoyed it! We'll be coming back next month hopefully!