Our Season Concerts
As we look ahead to our 58th season, we are excited to share with you all that live orchestral music can be.
From the cinematic excitement of Star Wars and the unforgettable music of Judy Garland to the wit of Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony and the timeless beauty of Handel’s Messiah, this season is filled with music that entertains, inspires, and stirs the imagination.
The Music of Star Wars
Sunday, October 18th, 2026, 4:00 p.m.
Hilltop Theatre and Concert Hall, Litchfield Park
This concert turns the galaxy’s most iconic soundtrack into a live game of musical trivia! Audience Members will face off as the orchestra performs famous (and not-so-famous) themes from across the Star Wars universe. From the bold fanfares of the main titles to the mysterious motifs of the Jedi and Sith, each excerpt challenges players to identify the moment, character, or planet it represents. The audience becomes part of the adventure, cheering on the teams as they compete for galactic bragging rights. It is a fun, fast-paced performance that celebrates John Williams’s legendary score and the power of music to bring every corner of the galaxy to life.
Beethoven's 8th Symphony
Sunday, November 15th, 2026, 4:00 p.m.
Hilltop Theatre and Concert Hall, Litchfield Park
The performance brings together elegance, virtuosity, and Classical-era wit in a program that moves from brilliance to buoyancy. Emilie Mayer’s vibrant Overture No. 2 opens the evening with rhythmic drive and symphonic color, followed by Mozart’s radiant Flute and Harp Concerto, a showcase of lyrical interplay and luminous charm. After intermission, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 delivers humor, invention, and kinetic energy, revealing the composer’s playful side through quicksilver rhythms and bold Classical spirit. Together, these works celebrate orchestral brilliance with warmth, sophistication, and joy.
Holiday Pops
Sunday, December 6th, 2026, 4:00 p.m.
Vista Center for the Arts, Surprise AZ
Celebrate the magic of the season with Holiday Pops, a joyful program filled with beloved carols, festive favorites, and orchestral holiday sparkle. From the symphonic warmth of Anderson’s A Christmas Festival to timeless classics like Winter Wonderland, White Christmas, and Blue Christmas, the concert blends nostalgia, storytelling, and seasonal cheer. A narrated journey through The Nutcracker and the Mouse King brings family-friendly wonder to the stage, while singalong moments and Leroy Anderson’s iconic Sleigh Ride send audiences into the holidays with spirits bright. Perfect for all ages, Holiday Pops is a heartwarming tradition that captures the joy, warmth, and togetherness of the season.
Messiah Part I & Hallelujah Chorus
Tuesday, December 8th, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Hilltop Theatre and Concert Hall, Litchfield Park
This performance will last approximately 75 minutes (no intermission) and will feature Part One of the oratorio and the Chorus. It is offered at a special price. Handel’s Messiah stands as one of the most beloved and enduring works in the choral-orchestral tradition, a monumental celebration of prophecy, reflection, and triumph. From the intimate beauty of “Comfort Ye” to the exultant power of the “Hallelujah” Chorus, this timeless masterpiece weaves together soloists, chorus, and orchestra in music of profound emotional and spiritual resonance.
Mahler Symphony No. 1 in D major, "Titan"
Sunday, January 10th, 2027, 4:00 p.m.
Hilltop Theatre and Concert Hall, Litchfield Park
Mahler’s Titan explores the journey from innocence to triumph in one of the most exhilarating symphonic odysseys ever written. It opens with the radiant lyricism of Florence Price’s Adoration, offering a moment of warmth and spiritual reflection, followed by Debussy’s luminous Suite Bergamasque, a shimmering portrait of elegance and moonlit color. After intermission, Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 takes center stage, unfolding a vast emotional landscape of rustic dances, shadowed funeral marches, and blazing heroism. Sweeping, cinematic, and deeply human, Titan stands as a powerful testament to the symphony’s ability to capture life in all its wonder, struggle, and ultimate exhilaration.
Get Happy! A Judy Garland Celebration with the West Valley Symphony
Sunday, March 21st, 2027, 4:00 p.m.
Vista Center for the Arts, Surprise, AZ
Songstress Joan Ellison brings Judy Garland’s original symphonic arrangements back to life in a nostalgic trip from technicolor Hollywood to Carnegie Hall! The hit parade includes “The Trolley Song,” “The Man That Got Away,” “Get Happy,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart,” “Stormy Weather,” “The Boy Next Door,” “Chicago,” “That's Entertainment,” and, of course, “Over the Rainbow.” Joan Ellison has been praised for her "vocal prowess....[and] organic grasp of the classic songs" by Michael Feinstein, and has made a specialty of reviving Judy Garland’s repertoire from her golden Hollywood years, live concerts, studio recordings, and television shows. Of her NYC solo cabaret show at 54 Below, Cabaret Scenes Magazine wrote: “[Joan is] Judy-esque in appearance and...a near voice double for her idol.” She made her Cleveland Pops Orchestra debut at Severance Hall in 2005 and has since sung more than 70 symphony concerts coast-to-coast.