Copland’s Third

American Sky

📍 This event takes place at Powell Hall

🕒 2 hours (including intermission)

Friday, Apr 24, 2026, 10:30am Get Tickets Saturday, Apr 25, 2026, 7:30pm Get Tickets

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Program

Ryan Bancroft, conductor (SLSO debut)
Gabriela Montero, piano (SLSO debut)

Gabriella Smith Tumblebird Contrails
Sergei Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3
Aaron Copland Symphony No. 3

About this Concert

Like birds soaring through the sky or fingers sweeping effortlessly across piano keys, this program promises an experience of awe-inspiring beauty. Listeners have described Gabriela Montero’s piano playing as wonderfully imaginative with a monster technique. Montero takes on Prokofiev’s emotionally turbulent Third Piano Concerto in her SLSO debut. Ryan Bancroft also makes his SLSO debut leading the orchestra in Aaron Copland’s soaring Third Symphony—plus an imaginative work that gazes skyward by contemporary American composer and environmentalist Gabriella Smith.

- In 2014 Gabriella Smith sat at the edge of the ocean and imagined the “ecstasy of wind in the wings” as she watched birds circle above her. This moment inspired her original work for orchestra Tumblebird Contrails.
- Prokofiev completed his Third Piano Concerto while visiting New York and then performed the world premiere of the piece himself with the Chicago Symphony in 1921.
- In addition to top tier conducting engagements around the world, Ryan Bancroft is currently the Chief Conductor of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, a role he assumed in September 2023.
- In 2026 the United States begins a monumental commemoration of our country’s 250th anniversary. The SLSO honors its own home in the American heartland by exploring American music throughout the 25/26 season.

Artists

Meet the people that make the music.

Ryan Bancroft

Conductor (SLSO debut)

Gabriela Montero

Piano (SLSO debut)

Musicians of the SLSO

Special Thanks

Coffee Concert Series Supported by EverTrue
Friday morning complimentary refreshments courtesy of Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co. and Eddie’s Southtown Donuts

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Experience Aaron Copland’s quintessential American symphony, a musical reflection on birds in flight, and the extraordinary SLSO debut by the exceptional Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero.

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