Jacksonville, Fla. (March 27, 2025) – The Jacksonville Symphony presents its ninth Florida Blue Classical concert “Dvorák’s ‘New World’” on April 25 and 26 part of its 75th Anniversary Season. Led by guest conductor Shiyeon Sung, the Symphony will perform a contemporary work Seven O’Clock Shout by living female composer Valerie Coleman, along with Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land Suite and Antonín Dvorák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.”
Sung, the first woman from South Korea to conduct internationally renowned orchestras, has led ensembles including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Since 2023, she has served as principal guest conductor of the Auckland Philharmonia and continues to guest conduct worldwide. The Jacksonville Symphony is thrilled to welcome her to Jacoby Symphony Hall for the first time this spring.
The program includes two familiar works alongside Coleman’s Seven O’Clock Shout, written in 2020 as an anthem honoring frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The piece was inspired by the evening serenades that united communities during isolation and premiered virtually that year with The Philadelphia Orchestra.
To learn more about each of the pieces, watch Music Director Courtney Lewis’ Insight episodes available at JaxSymphony.org and on the Symphony’s YouTube channel.
Tickets are available at JaxSymphony.org or by calling the Box Office at 904.354.5547. This is a Greta Challen Berg Artist Series concert and is also part of the Florida Blue Classical Series.
About the Jacksonville Symphony The Jacksonville Symphony is North Florida’s leading nonprofit performing arts organization offering live performances at Jacoby Symphony Hall in the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts and other venues throughout the area. Led by President and CEO Steven Libman and Music Director Courtney Lewis, the Jacksonville Symphony reaches over 165,500 individuals through over 95 performances each season. In addition, the Symphony provides music instruction for youth and operates the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras. For more information about the Symphony, visit JaxSymphony.org.
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Media Contact: Savannah Silliman
Marketing and Public Relations Manager Jacksonville Symphony ssilliman@jaxsymphony.org