CONCERTS AND EVENTS

SUMMER SONGS: AN OUTDOOR CONCERT

JUNE 18, 2025
DAHLEM CENTER

Join the Jackson Symphony Orchestra and Dahlem for a FREE outdoor concert performance! Bring your own lawn chair or blanket and sit under the trees or out in the grass and listen to a selection of summer songs performed by the Jackson Symphony Orchestra woodwinds quintet. The performance will be held outdoors at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center pavilion, 7117 South Jackson Road, at 7pm. Please feel free to arrive early and enjoy a walk on the trails, play at the nature playscape, or stop by the exhibit room and gift shop.

SUMMER SONGS: AN OUTDOOR CONCERT

JUNE 25, 2025
DAHLEM CENTER

Join the Jackson Symphony Orchestra and Dahlem for a FREE outdoor concert performance! Bring your own lawn chair or blanket and sit under the trees or out in the grass and listen to a selection of summer songs performed by the Jackson Symphony Orchestra brass quintet. The performance will be held outdoors at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center pavilion, 7117 South Jackson Road, at 7pm. Please feel free to arrive early and enjoy a walk on the trails, play at the nature playscape, or stop by the exhibit room and gift shop.

SUMMER SONGS: AN OUTDOOR CONCERT

JULY 8, 2025
DAHLEM CENTER

Join the Jackson Symphony Orchestra and Dahlem for a FREE outdoor concert performance! Bring your own lawn chair or blanket and sit under the trees or out in the grass and listen to a selection of summer songs performed by the Jackson Symphony Orchestra string quartet. The performance will be held outdoors at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center pavilion, 7117 South Jackson Road, at 7pm. Please feel free to arrive early and enjoy a walk on the trails, play at the nature playscape, or stop by the exhibit room and gift shop.

SUMMER POPS

AUGUST 22, 2025
BLACKMAN PARK

The Jackson Symphony Orchestra is proud to announce Patriotic Pops, a FREE concert to take place on Friday, August 22 at 7:00 PM, at Horace Blackman Park. This summer we’ll pay tribute to America and its steadfast strength in the face of hardship with a mixture of marches, film scores, and iconic works. These pieces are all composed by American composers including music by Aaron Copland, John Philip Sousa and John Williams. The concert is free but you can purchase VIP tickets for $30 which includes special seating and one drink ticket.

TOPIA FESTIVAL

SEPTEMBER 4-6, 2025
DOWNTOWN JACKSON

TOPIA envisions a future for our community that is energized by the fusion of art and cutting-edge technology to illuminate a path towards a positive and inspiring future. This festival is not just an event; it’s a celebration of the unconventional, a fight against the mundane. It unites creativity, education, and innovation, fostering a space where imagination knows no bounds.

SALSA NIGHT WITH ARMANDO VEGA’S ORQUESTA

SEPTEMBER 27, 2025
WEATHERWAX HALL

A true sonero with deep roots in Latin music, Armando Vega has shared the stage with Grammy-nominated Herman Olivera, opened for El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, and performed across Puerto Rico and beyond. His performances blend the vibrant energy of salsa with the heartfelt rhythms of bachata.

EXPERIMENTAL FOLK WITH GAELYNN LEA

OCTOBER 11, 2025
WEATHERWAX HALL

Since winning NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Contest in 2016, Gaelynn Lea has captivated audiences worldwide with her mesmerizing blend of haunting original songs, ethereal soundscapes, and traditional fiddle tunes. Her unique style combines lush, looping violin melodies with her plaintive, otherworldly vocals, creating an emotional depth that lingers long after the music ends. Lea is a powerful Disability Rights activist who promotes equitable inclusion and advocates for accessibility in the music industry. For fans of: Andrew Bird, Joanna Newsome, and Jessica Hoop.

STAR WARS & THE PLANETS

OCTOBER 18, 2025
POTTER CENTER

Embark on a celestial journey as the JSO explores music inspired by the stars and beyond. Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst opens the program with its radiant energy, followed by Fernande Decruck’s evocative Hymne à Apollon, a nod to ancient mythology. The concert continues with selections from John Williams’ iconic Star Wars Suite, transporting you to galaxies far, far away. After intermission, Gustav Holst’s The Planets takes center stage, offering a breathtaking symphonic portrayal of the cosmos , enhanced by stunning visual projections from designer Camilla Tassi.

CONCERT AGLOW: BEST OF THE 80s

OCTOBER 24 – 25, 2025
JACKSON COUNTY TOWER BALLROOM

Relive the vibrant spirit of the 80s as a string quartet brings iconic hits to life in an intimate, candlelit setting. Experience the era’s energy and nostalgia, from electric anthems to heartfelt melodies. Hosted at the Jackson County Tower Ballroom in partnership with the Jackson County Fair, this evening promises a unique fusion of retro flair and timeless elegance.

ROMEO & JULIET

NOVEMBER 15, 2025
MICHIGAN THEATRE

Experience an evening of drama and lyricism with music that stirs the soul. Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet overture-fantasy sets the tone with its passionate and timeless depiction of Shakespeare’s tragic lovers. Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915, featuring soprano Kathryn Mueller, captures the tender nostalgia of childhood and simpler times. The program concludes with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, a masterful exploration of fate and triumph, brought to life in its full emotional grandeur

BLUEGRASS-ISH WITH WILSON THICKET

NOVEMBER 22, 2025
WEATHERWAX HALL

Experience a masterful acoustic performance featuring rich three-part harmonies and a dynamic blend of guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and banjo. Wilson Thicket draws inspiration from the essence of Appalachian string bands but pushes beyond traditional bluegrass. This ensemble brings together some of Michigan’s most talented singers, instrumentalists, and songwriters, all with decades of experience. For fans of: Doc Watson, The Avett Brothers, and Old Crow Medicine Show.

THE NUTCRACKER

DECEMBER 12 – 14, 2025
POTTER CENTER

Ballet Chelsea proudly presents its 27th annual performance of The Nutcracker, a Christmas Eve tale about a young girl named Marie and her magical journey to the enchanted Kingdom of Sweets. The Ballet Chelsea company artists and the Jackson Symphony Orchestra musicians will come together for the sixth year to present this annual full-length, narrated ballet.

CONCERT AGLOW: BEST OF BROADWAY

JANUARY 23 – 24, 2026
JACKSON COUNTY TOWER BALLROOM

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Broadway with a captivating harp and flute duo performance. Journey through the most memorable show tunes, from classic productions to contemporary masterpieces, all in the cozy glow of candlelight. Held at the Jackson County Tower Ballroom in collaboration with the Jackson County Fair, this concert offers a serene and sophisticated musical escape, bringing the magic of the theater to an intimate setting.

WORLD JAZZ NIGHT WITH DAVE SHARP QUARTET

JANUARY 31, 2026
WEATHERWAX HALL

Featured in the JazzTimes 2010 Critic’s Poll, the Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet seamlessly weaves together rhythms, sounds, and textures from around the globe with original compositions inspired by world music. With a unique instrumentation that includes oud, violin, electric bass, synthesizer, and world percussion, the Worlds Quartet is driven by the dynamic interplay of jazz, global traditions, and bold improvisation. Led by bassist, composer, and bandleader Dave Sharp, the group draws on musical influences from Turkey, Egypt, Ukraine, India, Bulgaria, and Greece, delivering a rich and vibrant tapestry of sound. For fans of: global fusion, jazz improvisation, and cultural exploration.

5, 4, 3, BEETHOVEN!

FEBRUARY 13-15, 2026
WEATHERWAX HALL

Celebrate love and the enduring brilliance of Beethoven with a performance filled with passion and triumph. This program, featuring pianist Evren Ozel, highlights the lyrical beauty of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, a masterpiece full of elegance and warmth. The performance opens with the dramatic Leonore Overture No. 3, a story of courage and devotion, and concludes with the iconic Symphony No. 5, rounding out a journey where struggle meets victory in a symphony of resilience and inspiration.

CONCERT AGLOW: BEST OF MOTOWN

FEBRUARY 20 – 21, 2026
JACKSON COUNTY TOWER BALLROOM

The smooth sounds of Motown meet the intimate setting of candlelight in this special performance by a JSO string quartet. Sing along, tap your feet, or just sit back and take it all in as we revisit some of the most iconic songs ever recorded. Hosted at the Jackson County Tower Ballroom, in collaboration with the Jackson County Fair, this is a night of feel-good music in a relaxed, one-of-a-kind atmosphere.

CELTIC FESTIVAL WITH THE TANNAHILL WEAVERS

MARCH 6-7, 2026
WEATHERWAX HALL

The Tannahill Weavers bring the energy and tradition of Celtic music to life with powerful vocals, bagpipes, fiddle, and guitar. Blending lively dance tunes with heartfelt ballads, this legendary band has been a driving force in the Celtic scene since 1968. With members featured in the hit series Outlander and praised by The New York Times for their “eloquent mixture of the old and the new,” they continue to captivate audiences worldwide.

BRANFORD MARSALIS PLAYS JOHN WILLIAMS

MARCH 28, 2026
MICHIGAN THEATRE

Enjoy a night of music filled with rhythm, charm, and storytelling. Bizet’s L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2 opens the evening with lively dances and heartfelt melodies. Paule Maurice’s Tableaux de Provence follows, painting vivid musical scenes of Southern France. The second half features Bernstein’s Fancy Free, a playful ballet about sailors on shore leave, before closing with John Williams’ Escapades from Catch Me If You Can, featuring the legendary Branford Marsalis on saxophone for a thrilling, movie-inspired finale.

GOSPEL NIGHT WITH NIKKI D & THE SISTERS OF THUNDER

APRIL 11, 2026
WEATHERWAX HALL

Nikki D & The Sisters of Thunder is a family-based ensemble from Toledo, Ohio, blending gospel with blues riffs and grooves in a way that is uniquely their own. The band’s sound is defined by Nikki D’s electrifying steel guitar, which is often described as wildly soulful. In 2016, Guitar World magazine recognized Nikki as “The Jimi Hendrix of Sacred Steel” for her experimental, vocal-like riffs and otherworldly tones. Alongside her guitar prowess, Nikki’s raspy, sultry voice commands attention, harmonizing with the other band members’ voices adding depth and soul to every performance. For fans of: Sister Rosetta Thorpe, Robert Randolf & the Family Band, and Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings.

MOZART’S REQUIEM

APRIL 25, 2026
POTTER CENTER

An evening of emotional and powerful music. Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture begins with celebratory and bold sounds. Schumann’s Piano Concerto follows, full of beauty and heart, performed by 2022 Gilmore Young Artist winner, Janice Carissa. Mozart’s Requiem closes the program with dramatic, inspiring music that will stay with you long after the final note.