South Bend, IN — The South Bend Symphony Orchestra presents one of the most anticipated concerts of its Jack M. Champaigne Masterworks Series with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 (“Pathétique”) on Saturday, January 31 at 7:30 p.m. at the Morris Performing Arts Center.
Led by Music Director Alastair Willis, the evening opens with Quinn Mason’s Shine Time, a vibrant, propulsive work from one of America’s most in-demand young composers. Mason’s music, already making waves on major stages nationwide, sets an exhilarating tone for the night.
The program continues with the return of one of classical music’s most celebrated artists: Anthony McGill, Principal Clarinet of the New York Philharmonic. McGill performs Malek Jandali’s Clarinet Concerto, an intensely expressive showpiece rooted in themes of resilience, humanity, and cultural memory. Hailed by The New York Times for his “trademark brilliance, penetrating sound, and rich character,” McGill brings unmatched artistry to Jandali’s gripping, emotionally charged score.
The evening culminates with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 (“Pathétique”), the composer’s final completed work and one of the most profound statements in symphonic music. From sweeping passion to aching vulnerability, the Pathétique remains a cornerstone of the orchestral canon. This piece closes the program with a finale that continues to stun audiences more than a century after its premiere.
“Our second Masterworks features Tchaikovsky’s passionate and soul-searching 6th Symphony, the last, and most personal major piece he ever composed,” Music Director Alastair Willis says. “We are thrilled to welcome back composers Quinn Mason and Malek Jandali! The program begins with Quinn’s bright showpiece Shine Time, and follows with Malek’s magnificent and virtuosic Clarinet Concerto. Our soloist is the principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic, Anthony McGill.”
The South Bend Symphony Orchestra is grateful to Jack M. Champaigne for supporting the Masterworks Series.
TICKETS
Online – www.southbendsymphony.org
Phone – Morris Performing Arts Center Box Office 574-235-9190
(10 am – 4 pm, Tuesday & Wednesday, 10 – 5:30 p.m., Thursday & Friday)
In-person – Visit the Morris Box Office (211 N. Michigan St., South Bend) during the times listed above or two hours before any performance or stop by the Symphony Office (127 N. Michigan St., South Bend) between (10 am – 4 pm, Tuesday – Friday).
To VIEW the 2025-26 Season schedule, visit www.southbendsymphony.org
Dates, programs, and venues are subject to change.
For questions or media appearances, please contact Sarah Perschbacher, sperschbacher@southbendsymphony.org or 574-230-4875
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About the South Bend Symphony Orchestra
The South Bend Symphony inspires, entertains, and connects the community with the transformative power of orchestral music. Producing more than 20 mainstage programs each year and nearly 70 smaller ensemble concerts, the Symphony serves more than 30,000 attendees annually. As the region’s only professional orchestra, the Symphony is dedicated to cultivating a vibrant, interconnected arts community in support of South Bend and the broader Michiana region.
Learn more about the South Bend Symphony Orchestra at www.southbendsymphony.org.
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About Anthony McGill
Clarinetist Anthony McGill, praised for his “trademark brilliance, penetrating sound and rich character” (The New York Times), is one of classical music’s most recognizable and multifaceted figures. He serves as Principal Clarinet of the New York Philharmonic, the first African American principal in the orchestra’s history, and enjoys a dynamic solo and chamber music career.
McGill is the 2024 Musical America Instrumentalist of the Year and recipient of the 2020 Avery Fisher Prize. He appears regularly as a soloist with leading orchestras including the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics and the Chicago and Detroit Symphonies.
He has released acclaimed recordings with the Pacifica Quartet (American Stories, Mozart & Brahms Quintets), and pianist Gloria Chien (Here With You), and performed at President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration. His advocacy for racial equity includes founding the viral #TakeTwoKnees campaign and partnering with Bryan Stevenson and the Equal Justice Initiative, with whom he performed in Montgomery, Alabama on Juneteenth 2024.
McGill is a faculty member at Juilliard and Curtis, where he directs the Music Advancement Program (MAP), focused on young musicians from underrepresented communities. He helped launch the MAP Summer Scholarship Fund and supported its $50 million Crankstart endowment.
McGill is a graduate of the Curtis Institute, a board member of Cedille Records and the Harmony Program, and an advisor to several youth initiatives. He is a Backun Artist.