Table of Contents
The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra will celebrate and bid farewell to Music Director James Ross this month, as he takes the podium for the final time in a tenure that began in 2018 and reshaped the orchestra's artistic identity.
The two-concert finale features a program that reflects both Ross's adventurous programming instincts and his deep connection to the symphonic repertoire. The first performance is Saturday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center. A second and final performance follows Sunday, April 26, at 3 p.m. at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Seating for the Sunday show is very limited, and early ticket purchases are strongly encouraged.
The program opens with Missy Mazzoli's Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres), a contemporary work celebrated for its luminous textures and sense of cosmic motion. Renowned violinist and Alexandria native Alexander Kerr then joins the orchestra for Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1. Kerr's appearance carries special significance — he also performed on Ross's first program with the ASO, making his return a meaningful bookend to the conductor's eight-year run. The concert closes with Jean Sibelius' Symphony No. 2, a monumental and triumphant work that provides a fitting conclusion to Ross's tenure.
An internationally respected conductor and educator, Ross championed cross-genre collaboration and bold artistic experimentation during his time leading the ASO, helping reenergize the orchestra and broaden its reach across Alexandria and beyond. Following the 2025-2026 season, he will transition to the title of Music Director Laureate beginning with the 2026-2027 season.
"This will be a season of both celebration and transition," Executive Director George Hanson said in a July 2025 statement announcing the leadership transition. "We are so grateful for Jim's transformative leadership, and we look forward to honoring his contributions while ushering in a new era of artistic and organizational growth."
Tickets are $49 for adults and $5 for youth ages 18 and under. Free parking is available at both venues. The Schlesinger Concert Hall is accessible via multiple Metro and DASH bus lines, and the Masonic Memorial is reachable by the Blue and Yellow Metro lines at King Street Station, as well as the King Street Trolley.
Tickets and information are available at AlexSym.org or by calling 703-548-0885.
