THSO announces Bowden's final season, 'Artistry & Excellence'

Apr. 18—Artistic Director David Bowden's final season with The Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra will feature favorites drawn from audience and musician requests received during Bowden's 27 years with the organization.

Audience members also can look for a few of the maestro's personal favorites in the 2024-25 lineup, the THSO said in a news release.

Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet" and Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun" highlight the Sept. 21 program, which also features pianist Drew Petersen, who has previously performed with the THSO. Petersen will perform Ravel's "Concerto in G Major."

Brahms Third and Shostakovich's Fifth symphonies anchor the Nov. 2 concert.

"Music is about the joys, passions and struggles we all experience in life," said Bowden. "Music often expresses what is difficult or even impossible to say with words. It allows us to immerse ourselves in the essence of being human, expressing emotions and feelings that can be bottled up and unspoken. Music is balm for the soul."

The season, titled "Artistry & Excellence: Celebrating the Bowden Era," is intended as a summation of the unusually creative programming philosophy for which Bowden has won five ASCAP Awards.

Following the "Gift of Music" Christmas Concert in December, the THSO's March 2025 concert will be "Decades of Pop." Conducted by newly announced artistic director-designate Roger Kalia, the evening will rove through 20th century pop music performed by Dan Domenech, ranging from Duke Ellington and the Wizard of Oz, to Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Journey and more.

"David's Finale," on May 3, will feature another audience-favorite pianist, Sean Chen, playing Tchaikovsky's powerful "First Piano Concerto." The final work Bowden will conduct as artistic director is Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2, a masterwork recognized for its melodies and conclusion.

"We have worked to keep ticket prices affordable and programming accessible and appealing to our entire community," Bowden said. "This season is meant to draw us all together in celebration of the great gift of music and the joy we experience in live performances filled with beauty and shared together with others."

Season tickets to all five regular season concerts are on sale now with an early bird discount through May 10. Student and youth season tickets start at $24.

New subscribers also qualify for our buy-one-get-one 50% off deal when purchasing two adult season tickets in the same section.

For more information, visit www.thso.org/season-tickets or call Hulman Center at (812) 237-3737.

Single tickets for individual concerts will go on sale Aug. 5. Tickets for single concerts start at $20 for adults and $6 for youth and students for the 2024-2025 season.

In March, Bowden announced his coming retirement. The maestro also announced his replacement — his counterpart in Evansville, Roger Kalia.

Bowden's last day in his artistic director role will be June 30, 2025, and Kalia's first day will be July 1.

Kalia's first season will be the 2025-26 season; 2026 will mark the symphony orchestra's 100th anniversary.