PFW Music Center

2101 E Coliseum Blvd, Fort Wayne

Website ↗(260) 481-6714

Rooms

Rhinehart Recital Hall
11 upcoming shows
Photo: PFW Music Center ↗
Auer Performance Hall
1 upcoming show
Photo: PFW Music Center ↗

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Upcoming shows31 listings

Tue, Nov 10

S7:30pmString Studio RecitalClassicalRhinehart Recital HallNo cover

Wed, Nov 11

S7:30pmStudent/Faculty Chamber RecitalClassicalRhinehart Recital Hall$10.00

Thu, Nov 12

11:00amCoffee Concert: Dvořák’s New World SymphonyCaleb Young, conductor Elevate your morning routine with the new, innovative Coffee Concert Series, where music meets the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee. This unique series not only provides a delightful mid-morning musical interlude, but also includes complimentary coffee after each performance in your own Fort Wayne Philharmonic Coffee Series mug* and donuts. In addition, post-concert activities provide an exclusive opportunity for patrons to engage in discussions with the musicians themselves, participate in fun musically themed activities, and connect with the team who bring the music to life. *Coffee Series Mugs are free for subscribers only.Classical

Sat, Nov 14

Sun, Nov 15

J7:30pmJazz Combo ConcertJazzRhinehart Recital Hall$10.00

Fri, Nov 20

Sat, Nov 21

O2:30pmOpera Ensemble Presents: Trouble in TahitiClassicalRhinehart Recital Hall$10.00

Sun, Nov 22

Mon, Nov 23

T7:30pmTrombone Studio RecitalClassicalRhinehart Recital HallNo cover

Tue, Dec 1

G7:30pmGuitar Studio and Ensemble RecitalClassicalRhinehart Recital HallNo cover

Wed, Dec 2

P7:30pmPFW Concert Bands IIAuer Performance Hall$10.00

Thu, Dec 17

7:30pmHoliday PopsHerb Smith, conductor Shayna Steele, vocalist Holiday Pops Chorale, Benjamin Rivera, director Fort Wayne Children’s Choir, Jonathan Busarow, director Fort Wayne Dance Collective, Mandie Kolkman, artistic director & choreographer Step into the enchanting world of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s Holiday Pops performances, where cherished traditions and festive melodies come together to usher in the joyous spirit of the season. As the air fills with the sounds of holiday classics, our world-class musicians will transport you to a winter wonderland of musical delight.Pop

Fri, Dec 18

7:30pmHoliday PopsHerb Smith, conductor Shayna Steele, vocalist Holiday Pops Chorale, Benjamin Rivera, director Fort Wayne Children’s Choir, Jonathan Busarow, director Fort Wayne Dance Collective, Mandie Kolkman, artistic director & choreographer Step into the enchanting world of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s Holiday Pops performances, where cherished traditions and festive melodies come together to usher in the joyous spirit of the season. As the air fills with the sounds of holiday classics, our world-class musicians will transport you to a winter wonderland of musical delight.Pop

Sat, Dec 19

2:00pmHoliday PopsHerb Smith, conductor Shayna Steele, vocalist Holiday Pops Chorale, Benjamin Rivera, director Fort Wayne Children’s Choir, Jonathan Busarow, director Fort Wayne Dance Collective, Mandie Kolkman, artistic director & choreographer Step into the enchanting world of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s Holiday Pops performances, where cherished traditions and festive melodies come together to usher in the joyous spirit of the season. As the air fills with the sounds of holiday classics, our world-class musicians will transport you to a winter wonderland of musical delight.Pop

Sat, Jan 30

7:30pmMagical Music of Harry PotterEnrico Lopez-Yañez, conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez takes the audience on a class reunion remembering the memorable professors, characters, and magical creatures from the beloved film franchise. Audience members will also be given the opportunity to compete in their own Wizard Tournament, testing their spell-casting abilities, trivia knowledge, and more during this program of iconic symphonic film music.Classical

Sat, Feb 13

7:30pmRick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic JourneyTickets On Sale Now! Rick Steves, America’s leading authority on European travel, teams up with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic for an inspirational musical journey. The tour begins in the United States and then touches down in eight different European countries. The concert celebrates music’s power to stir the patriotic soul. Playing musical tour guide, Steves utilizes his extensive knowledge of European history and culture to set the context for each piece. Then, with the help of evocative video images from his public television series, the orchestra performs a selection of stirring 19th-century anthems by Romantic-era composers, including Grieg, Smetana, Strauss, Saint-Saëns, Elgar, Wagner, and Verdi. Each selection honors a particular nationality, while the finale, Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” (Europe’s official anthem), pays homage to the continent’s motto of “United in Diversity” and its passion for freedom. Rick Steves is a popular public television host, a best-selling guidebook author, and an outspoken activist who encourages Americans to broaden their perspectives through travel. He is the founder of Rick Steves’ Europe, a travel business with a small-group tour program that brings 30,000 people to Europe annually. His mission: to equip and inspire Americans to venture beyond Orlando. Rick lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington, where his office window overlooks his old junior high school.Classical

Sat, Feb 20

7:30pmMahler 4Fernanda Lastra, conductor Emily Birsan, soprano It’s as Italian as you can get: Respighi, of Fountains of Rome fame, wrote this sparkling tone poem for small orchestra on viewing paintings by Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510): “Spring.” “The Adoration of the Magi,” and “The Birth of Venus.” Chicago-based soprano Emily Birsan sings Barber’s free-flowing, gentle setting of the childhood recollections of journalist and screenwriter James Agee (1909-1955) from his novel A Death in the Family, creating a perfect portrait of a bygone era. Mahler’s most frequently-performed symphony doesn’t wrestle with heavy themes; it’s a childlike reverie inspired by the German folk tales in Des Knaben Wunderhorn by von Arnim and Bretano (1806) a century before Mahler’s time. In the final movement, the soprano sings a curious song of a child’s view of Heaven and what it’s like to live there.Classical

Sat, Mar 6

11:00amPhilharmonia FantastiqueFree Concert – registration opens one month prior to the event EXPLORE THE ORCHESTRA Melisa McCann, narrator Are you ready to make a musical discovery? We are!  Put on your thinking caps as we investigate and examine all that music has to offer.  By using your imagination, traveling the earth, identifying musical instruments, and looking to the skies, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic will take you on an exciting expedition like no other!  Audiences young and old will enjoy these one-hour, sensory friendly concerts that feature local guest artists. Come early to enjoy preconcert activities in the lobby led by community partners. Tailored to ignite the imaginations of kids aged 2-12, these sensory friendly daytime concerts provide a joyful introduction to the world of orchestral magic. Led by conductor Troy Webdell, the Family Series offers an immersive and entertaining experience, where children can explore the wonders of classical music in a family-friendly environment. From timeless classics to contemporary compositions, each concert promises to be an engaging and delightful journey, creating lasting memories and fostering a lifelong love for music in our young audience members. Featuring Mason Bates’ multi-media concerto, “Philharmonia Fantastique”ClassicalNo cover

Sat, Mar 13

7:30pmThe Song Remains the Same – The Music of Led ZeppelinMitchell Tyler, Conductor Calling all fans! This high-octane, symphonic fusion concert elevates Led Zeppelin’s legendary 1973 Madison Square Garden performance to a massive, orchestral scale. This show blends the power of rock ‘n’ roll with lush orchestral arrangements, featuring strings, horns, and percussion that enhance the original compositions, such as a transcendent Stairway to Heaven, The Rain Song, In the Evening and much more.Rock

Sun, Mar 14

4:00pmYouth Orchestras Spring ConcertSoma Saxophone Quartet A Premier Experience! The Youth Orchestras program provides student musicians with professional orchestra experience, exceptional artistic training, and vast opportunities to perform at the highest level. A core focus of the program is to provide exceptional artistic training and transformative experiences that impact a strong sense of discipline, accomplishment, confidence, and establish a deep appreciation for music and the arts.Classical

Sat, Mar 20

7:30pmSymphonic Dances from West Side StoryBenjamin Rivera, conductor Fort Wayne Philharmonic Chorus Mozart’s Overture to The Abduction from the Seraglio opens this concert with music full of energy and theatrical flair. Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story brings the drama of the Broadway classic to the concert hall, while Prelude, Fugue and Riffs combines Bernstein’s classical training with the sounds of the jazz world. Poulenc’s Gloria closes the program with music that is by turns joyful, lyrical and powerful, performed with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Chorus.Classical

Thu, Apr 8

11:00amCoffee Concert: Tchaikovsky’s 4thKellen Gray, conductor Elevate your morning routine with the new, innovative Coffee Concert Series, where music meets the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee. This unique series not only provides a delightful mid-morning musical interlude, but also includes complimentary coffee after each performance in your own Fort Wayne Philharmonic Coffee Series mug* and donuts. In addition, post-concert activities provide an exclusive opportunity for patrons to engage in discussions with the musicians themselves, participate in fun musically themed activities, and connect with the team who bring the music to life. *Coffee Series Mugs are free for subscribers only.Classical

Sat, Apr 10

7:30pmTchaikovsky’s 4thKellen Gray, conductor Robert deMaine, cello We’re thrilled that Fort Wayne native Patrick O’Malley returns with another world premiere, featuring Robert deMaine, principal cellist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The Fort Wayne Philharmonic premiered O’Malley’s Concerto for Viola with Brett Deubner in 2022, and performed his Obliviana in 2025. They were recorded by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Constantine conducting, on the album Patrick O’Malley: The Horizons, released 2024 on Orchid Classics. Tchaikovsky wrote to his patroness that his Symphony No. 4 expresses fate hanging over one’s head like a sword, while the simple but powerful force of joy makes living possible.Classical

Sat, May 1

7:30pmThe PlanetsStilian Kirov, conductor Vaughan Williams’ short piece for double string orchestra and string quartet is a somber meditation on a tune that British Renaissance composer Thomas Tallis (1505-1585) wrote for an early Anglican hymnal. Sacred music was a focus throughout Vaughan Williams’ career; here he skillfully weaves textures in tribute to the musical practice of a master from four centuries before. John Williams’ E.T.: Adventures on Earth brings the beloved film’s unforgettable music to the concert hall, combining sweeping orchestral themes, thrilling momentum, and moments of wonder. More than 100 years on, The Planets is endlessly popular not only for Holst’s marvelous rhythms and otherworldly orchestral colors, but also for this work’s influence on composers coming after, especially in film scores. John Williams and Star Wars, anybody?Classical

Sun, May 2

4:00pmYouth Orchestras Finale ConcertA Premier Experience! The Youth Orchestras program provides student musicians with professional orchestra experience, exceptional artistic training, and vast opportunities to perform at the highest level. A core focus of the program is to provide exceptional artistic training and transformative experiences that impact a strong sense of discipline, accomplishment, confidence, and establish a deep appreciation for music and the arts.Classical

Sat, May 15

7:30pmDisney in Concert: “A Dream is a Wish”Symphony Pops Music is proud to present our DISNEY IN CONCERT A Dream is a Wish package featuring well-loved music and high-resolution film clips from some of the best-known films ever. Featuring the music of Frozen, The Little Mermaid, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, The Princess and the Frog, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Aladdin, four Broadway quality vocalists, and over one hour of high resolution video clips from the original films! Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts. © All rights reserved.Classical

Sat, May 22

7:30pmClosing Night: ScheherazadeGonzalo Farias, conductor Gabriela Martinez, piano Dvořák’s Carnival Overture launches the evening with a burst of color and celebration, showcasing the composer’s lively rhythms and richly colorful orchestration. Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Martinez joins us for Rachmaninoff’s 24 rapid-fire variations on a theme from violinist Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840), whose name is synonymous with “virtuoso” and all its excesses. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov based his Scheherazade on the Arabic collection of fairy tales The Thousand and One Nights, the movements of the piece are intended to work together to tell the story of how Scheherazade is able to postpone her execution and spare her life, ultimately making Sultan Shahrhiar fall in love with her.

Genres:Classical Pop

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