Geneva Concerts presents The Syracuse Orchestra at the Smith Opera House on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 3:00PM.
Jacob Joyce, Conductor
Awadagin Pratt, Piano
Connesson: Celephais from Les Cites de Lovecraft
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5
Through his kaleidoscopic career as a pianist, conductor, educator, and curator of memorable musical moments, Awadagin Pratt is actively inventing the artistic world he longs to live in — a world that shines light on rich voices of the past and present, amplifies the diverse talents of today’s brightest creative minds, and paves the way for a new generation of inventive musical artists. Since launching onto the international stage after winning the prestigious Naumburg International Piano Competition in 1992 and receiving a 1994 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Awadagin has received acclaim for delivering “forceful, imaginative, and precisely tinted” performances (Washington Post) and is hailed as “one of the great and distinctive American pianists and conductors of our time” (WGBH). He has appeared at addresses as familiar as 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (at the invitation of the Clinton and Obama administrations) and Sesame Street (at the invitation of Big Bird). His breakneck concert schedule has taken him across six continents for performances with the Boston and Chicago Symphony Orchestras, the New York Philharmonic, and many others.
Read more about about Awadagin Pratt.
Currently serving as the Associate Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Music Director of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, Jacob Joyce is quickly gaining recognition as a dynamic and innovative presence on the podium. Joyce recently stepped in on short notice for two performances on the PSO’s subscription series of Sibelius’s Symphony No. 5 and Strauss’s Alpine Symphony, to widespread critical acclaim. He also recently concluded his tenure as the Resident Conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and has made his debut with several American orchestras in past seasons, including the Detroit, St. Louis, Houston, Kansas City, Nashville, Colorado, and Florida symphonies.
Read more about about Jacob Joyce.
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