Cathalena E. BurchFeb 3, 2025 Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra had its biggest audience since the pandemic for Sunday’s performance at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. With the exception of a few dozen seats in the balcony, Linda…
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Next stop on Tucson orchestra’s musical journey — pitstops in Russia, Romania
Cathalena E. Burch Jan 30, 2025 Linus Lerner knows a thing about the world. He criss-crosses the globe on a regular basis, conducting orchestras big and small, including in China, Romania, Argentina, Italy, Colombia and his native…
The Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra is honoring Black History Month
Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra is honoring Black History Month with two performances focusing on Black and Afro-Centric composers from around the world on February 10 – 11, 2024. About State of the ArtZ Discovering the…
SASO shines in season opener with return of violinist Steven Moeckel
Linus Lerner opened his 14th season as Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra music director last weekend with the work that helped land him the job.
Young Tucson violinist to perform with Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra
By Cathalena E. Burch, originally published in the Arizona Daily Star Talk about patience. Tucson teen Joshua Thai has been waiting two years to cash in on his prize after winning the junior division of…
SASO hosts brother duo for Mendelssohn concerts this weekend
By Cathalena E. Burch, originally published in the Arizona Daily Star It’s taken them six years, but Bulgarian-born, UK-based brother act Ivo and Lachezar Stankov are making their encore appearance with the Southern Arizona Symphony…
Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra puts on dancing shoes to open new season
By Cathalena E. Burch, originally published in the Arizona Daily Star The Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra kicks off its 2021-22 season this weekend with its first full-orchestra in-person concert since March 2020. The volunteer ensemble,…
Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra to perform in-person concert at Tucson Mall
By Cathalena E. Burch, originally published on Tucson.com Nearly two dozen Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra musicians will perform a concert of Baroque music on Sunday, March 7 — the ensemble’s biggest concert since the pandemic began last…
In harmony with health, Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra returns to the stage this weekend
“Music is health,” said Artistic Director Linus Lerner. “That’s what we want to do this weekend; lift their souls.” Seven months after their last in-person concert, the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra (SASO) is taking small steps towards live performance.
Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra honors Tucson nurses in virtual performance
By Cathalena E. Burch, originally published in the Arizona Daily Star Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra wanted to honor Tucson nurses on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic with a little music. One problem: The volunteer…
SASO was the only show in town last weekend
By Cathalena E. Burch, originally published in the Arizona Daily Star One by one last week, Tucson’s classical music world canceled weekend concerts over fears of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tucson Symphony Orchestra’s guest violinist was…
Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra gets 40th anniversary party started early
The Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra is pulling out all the stops to close its 2018-19 season.
Saxophonist returns to Tucson, this time with Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra
By Cathalena E. Burch, originally published in the Arizona Daily Star The Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra is pulling out the stops as it heads into the homestretch of the 2016-17 season. In three performances this…
Tucson Lifestyle features SASO guest artist
The March 2017 issue of Tucson Lifestyle offers a preview of our next concerts with a feature on guest saxophone soloist Ashu. Read the downloadable pdf here, or go to the magazine’s website here.
S. Korean violinist returns for SASO gig
By Cathalena E. Burch, originally published in the Arizona Daily Star Edwin Kim must really like us. The violin virtuoso is making his third appearance with the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra, this time to tackle…
Southern Arizona Symphony to honor late patron Irving Olson
By Cathalena E. Burch, originally published in the Arizona Daily Star You could always spot Irving Olson in the audience at a Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra concert. He was the little man in the front…
Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra has rare lineup next season
By Cathalena E. Burch, originally published in the Arizona Daily Star [The] Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra is digging deep into the vault of the rarely played next season, presenting several works that hardly ever get…
Tucson Lifestyle features SASO soloist
The May 2016 issue of Tucson Lifestyle includes a full-page feature on SASO guest artist Emily Sun. Read the feature as a downloadable pdf by clicking here, or read the entire issue of the magazine here.
Latest stop on SASO international journey: Brazil
By Cathalena E. Burch, originally published in the Arizona Daily Star Forty members of the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra landed in Brazil late last week and, on Valentine’s Day, performed the first of two concerts at the Gramado…
When the finale isn’t quite final
By Cathalena E. Burch, originally published in the Arizona Daily Star Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra will get the rare opportunity to perform a concerto with the soloist for whom the piece was written. In two…
Tucson Lifestyle features SASO’s concertmaster
The September 2015 issue of Tucson Lifestyle includes a full-page feature on SASO’s concertmaster, Erika Roush. Read the feature as a downloadable pdf by clicking here, or read the entire issue of the magazine here.
Honored for a Lifetime of Giving: SASO Season Sponsor Dorothy Vanek Receives Legacy Award
By David Rupkalvis, originally published in Explorer For much of her life, Dorothy Vanek has been a giver. Whether supporting the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra, True Concord Voices and Orchestra or many…
SASO, Lerner heading back to Oaxaca
By Cathalena E. Burch, originally published in the Arizona Daily Star Opera is not native to the culturally rich southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, but a Tucson conductor and his orchestra are among those trying…
SASO concert goes from sorrow to surprise
[The] Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra this weekend will host a teen violinist from Phoenix in a concert that also features an internationally known violist from our backyard.