Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra performs Beethoven Symphony No. 9!

Submitted by RSO

The Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra (RSO) concludes its 2025/26 orchestra season on Saturday, April 18th at 7:30 PM at Anne S. Richardson Auditorium at Ridgefield High School with a performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 9. The concert features the outstanding professional musicians of the RSO under the leadership of Music Director Eric Mahl, and joined in concert by four fabulous soloists Sarah Joyce Cooper, soprano; Emily Hughes, mezzo soprano; Christopher Longo, tenor; and Claude Cassion, bass/baritone; along with a 70-member chorus from Music on the Hill led by Artistic Director Ellen Dickinson.

The RSO is thrilled to present the finale of the current season with this marvelous piece of music - a choral symphony and Beethoven's last complete symphony. The work is regarded by critics and musicologists as a masterpiece of Western classical music and one of the supreme achievements in the history of music. 

“Beethoven’s 9^th will be an epic musical experience with nearly 150 musicians on stage with the combined orchestra and chorus.” says RSO Executive Director Laurie Kenagy. “The Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra is so fortunate to share the stage, not only with four guest soloists selected specifically for their incredible vocal talent, but also with an impressive chorus from Music on the Hill.” 

Music on the Hill, based in Redding, CT, is a community of amateur and professional musicians committed to artistic excellence. Under the leadership of artistic directors Ellen E. Dickinson and David H. Connell, their performing ensembles gather together to make beautiful, joyous music, with repertoire spanning from modern to classical and baroque. Music on the Hill provides focused opportunities for choral musicians and vocalists, handbell ringers and instrumentalists to participate in performances, workshops, festivals, and social events with fellow music-lovers.

The concert will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 7:30 PM at Anne S. Richardson Auditorium at Ridgefield High School (77 North Salem Road, Ridgefield, CT).  Doors open at 6:30 PM and the concert begins at 7:30 PM.  Tickets can be purchased by calling the RSO box office at 203-438-3889 or online at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35696/production/1237959?performanceId=11633919

Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra is a nonprofit professional orchestra with the mission to enrich the cultural lives of the citizens of Ridgefield and surrounding communities by presenting musical performances of the highest artistic quality. The RSO also strives to increase the appreciation for music through active community involvement and innovative educational and performance outreach.