Announcing the 2026-2027 Season: JOY
The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra’s 2026-2027 Season in a Single Word: JOY
(Wheeling, WV) “Everyone needs a little joy.” At least, that is the Wheeling Symphony’s stance, and their 2026-2027 season seeks to provide exactly that.
On Tuesday night, the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra (WSO) revealed their 2026-2027 season to their subscribers before announcing the season on their website and social media Wednesday morning. The season, titled JOY, features a seven-concert series thoughtfully programmed to bring joy to all who attend. The title was also influenced by the inclusion of Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9 in the Masterworks series; the fourth movement of the work is the famous “Ode to Joy.”
As the 2026-2027 season began to take shape, a common theme emerged through our programming selections: that of joy, and how music is able to elicit that feeling effortlessly. The theme is most obvious in Beethoven’s Ninth, but joy can also easily be found in the nostalgia of the Beatles or John Williams, in celebrating one of America’s most beloved composers in Leonard Bernstein, in the incorporation of our youth orchestra and chorus, and in the return of one of the most beloved franchises, Harry Potter, to our stage.
“I am very proud of the season we have planned,” says Executive Director Marc Zyla. “Between our seven-concert Capitol Series and our community concerts, there are countless opportunities for the Ohio Valley to experience the excellence of the Wheeling Symphony. Whether you want to hear something new and exciting or simply hear a familiar song in a new and exciting way, JOY has something for everyone.”
The series starts off with a bang: the season opener is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ in Concert. Taking place the day before Halloween on October 30, this performance of the third Harry Potter film marks a return of the beloved franchise to the WSO after taking a hiatus last year (last season’s film-with-orchestra performance was Star Wars A New Hope). When the WSO performed the first two Harry Potter films in 2023 and 2024, both shows were completely sold out—a feat the WSO hopes to repeat.
“As a lifelong Harry Potter fan myself, it has been such a joy to bring the story to our community in this new and exciting way,” says Devlin. “I cannot describe how amazing it is to see people experience the film with the score performed live; it’s almost like seeing it for the very first time. Plus, now that the original Harry Potter fans are of an age to be parents, it is equally exciting to see those fans introduce the story to the next generation.”
In November, the WSO will make a nod to America’s 250th birthday by celebrating one of the most iconic figures in American music history: Leonard Bernstein. Bernstein in Story and Song features a revue of Bernstein’s most beloved pieces, performed by vocalist Morgan James and accompanied by stories of the composer, written and performed by Bernstein’s own daughter, Jamie. This performance will be Morgan James’s third appearance with the WSO, after singing in Symphonic Soul in 2023 and Bravo Broadway! in 2025. In addition to her famous father, Jamie Bernstein is no stranger to the orchestral stage, having written and narrated concerts about Mozart, Aaron Copland, and Stravinsky. The performance will take place on November 19; the WSO’s annual Young People’s Concert will present a version of this concert especially designed for students.
On December 3, the WSO’s beloved holiday tradition Symphony on Ice will return for the 21st year. This holiday extravaganza combines the WSO with figure skating performances by both professional and amateur skating groups, including the Wheeling Skate Club. High school students from across the Ohio Valley combine with the Wheeling Symphony Chorus to form the Festival Choir.
On January 16, 2027, the Pops series will continue with The Music of John Williams, a tribute to the beloved film composer as it nears his 95th birthday. With a concert time of 3 pm, the performance will be a great option for individuals and families alike.
Scheduled for February 13 is An Afternoon in Spain, featuring pianist Natalia Kazaryan performing Manuel de Falla’s Nights in the Garden of Spain. Also on the program is Rimsky Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol and a new work by Leanna Primiani titled Visions. Visions was commissioned by the WSO through the prestigious Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. Primiani previously composed The Legend of Miss Betty Zane for the WSO, inspired by the Wheeling legend. That piece will now be part of a triptych to be performed at this concert, with two related pieces inspired by feminist heroes.
The Masterworks series continues the following month on March 11 with Bohemian Spirit. In celebration of Music In Our Schools Month, the Wheeling Symphony Youth Orchestra will perform side-by-side with the WSO on Sibelius’s Finlandia. Guest artist Mary Elizabeth Bowden will perform Clarice Assad’s Bohemian Queen, a trumpet concerto composed specifically for Bowden. The concert is rounded out with Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances and Mozart’s Symphony no. 40.
Ode to Joy, the final Masterworks of the season, takes place on April 30. The inspiration for the season title, Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9, will occur at this concert, featuring a performance by the Wheeling Symphony Chorus. Brahms’s Academic Festival Overture and Will Dixon’s Les Belle de Lausanne are programmed for this concert as well. Dixon was a Black Wheeling native who went on to great musical success in New York City, but whose history and legacy have largely been forgotten. His life, career, and remarkable Wheeling roots will also serve as the subject of this year’s Festival of Ideas, which will take place in the week preceding the performance.
Finally, JOY ends with Classical Mystery Tour on May 22. A Beatles tribute, this Pops performance will feature four Beatles impersonators, decked out in Beatles costumes and performing hits from throughout the Fab Four’s career.
In addition, the WSO will continue their traditional Music Under the Stars Labor Day weekend performance at Oglebay Park.
“For me, every season is joyful, but this one particularly so,” says Devlin. “Not only are several of the musical selections joyful in spirit, but I know this season will allow our audience to grow and introduce the joy of live, orchestral music to even more individuals across the Ohio Valley. I cannot wait to get started!
Subscriptions for the Wheeling Symphony 2026-2027 season will go on sale July 21. Single tickets will go on sale on September 1 at 10 am.
The full concert listing and schedule is below and can be found at wheelingsymphony.com. For additional press information, including photography, click here.
