Romantic warmth and Classical elegance mingle with an intriguing dash of modernism in this must-hear program. Mozart’s Serenade enchants with graceful melodies and sparkling winds. Pianist Michael Stephen Brown joins for one of the cornerstones of the Romantic repertoire, Schumann’s exhilarating Piano Quintet. Composed in 1813, Louis Spohr’s elegant Grand Nonet blends chamber intimacy with lush symphonic textures. Ruth Crawford Seeger, a pioneering American composer, brings bold imagination and expressive clarity with her Suite for Wind Quintet.

The 2026 Sarasota Music Festival opens with passion, brilliance, and youthful energy. Experience Beethoven’s witty, elegant Septet —a piece so well-loved that Beethoven declared it “too popular”—alongside Mendelssohn’s astonishing Octet, written when he was just 16. Accompanying these Romantic-era landmarks are 20th-century gems by visionary American artists. Arranged by Joshua Ranz, Florence Price’s luminous Adoration offers a moment of tender reflection. Lyrical and dramatic, Amy Beach’s Piano Quintet showcases the unique voice of a trailblazing composer.

Share in the inspiration as Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero, our professional orchestra and the young members of the Youth Philharmonic come together for an unforgettable side-by-side performance. The Sarasota Youth Orchestras' alumni frequently describe this concert as one of the most electrifying experiences from their time in Sarasota Orchestra’s education programs—one that inspires many to pursue music careers of their own. The Youth Philharmonic is the most advanced of the eight Sarasota Youth Orchestras ensembles.

The music of 18th-century prodigy Felix Mendelssohn is paired with that of 20th-century master David Maslanka in this moving program. Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 6 was his last completed work, finished only six months before his death. Maslanka’s four wind quintets are landmarks of the repertoire. He composed his Wind Quintet No. 4 for our very own Sarasota Wind Quintet in 2008. The program opens with Eric Ewazen’s celebratory Frost Fire for brass quintet.