Hays Symphony
The Hays Symphony will present its “Winter Classics” concert on at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center on the Fort Hays State University campus, 600 Park St.
The evening will highlight the winners of the Hays Symphony 2025 Young Artist Competition, alongside a selection of orchestral works ranging from Viennese polkas to contemporary Latin American rhythms.
The concert serves as the annual showcase for the university’s top student musical talent.
This year, three soloists will perform with the orchestra: violinist Samantha Zimmerman, mezzo-soprano Alison Walker, and trumpeter Dawson McNeal.
“Working with these young artists is a highlight of our season,” said Benjamin Cline, music director of the Hays Symphony. “These students have demonstrated immense discipline and artistry to master such complex repertoire. To see them transition from the practice room to center stage with a full orchestra is a rewarding experience for both the ensemble and the audience.”
The program opens with Franz Schubert’s “Fierrabras Overture,” followed by the featured solo performances.
Zimmerman will perform the first movement of Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1, op. 22. Walker will present Gioachino Rossini’s “Anzoleta Avanti la Regata” from La Regata Veneziana. McNeal will conclude the soloist portion with Kevin McKee’s “Centennial Horizon.”
The second half of the program offers a lighter, energetic collection of orchestral favorites.
The symphony will perform three works by the Strauss family: “Pizzicato Polka,” “Tritsch-Tratsch Polka,” and the “Thunder and Lightning Polka.” The evening concludes with Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s “Danse Nègre” and Arturo Marquez’s dynamic “La Conga del Fuego Nuevo.”
“The energy these young musicians bring to the stage is contagious,” said Joan Crull, president of the Hays Symphony Guild. “We are proud to support an event that celebrates the next generation of performers. It is a wonderful opportunity for the Hays community to witness the high caliber of talent being cultivated right here at the university.”
The concert is sponsored by the FHSU Tebo Library.
Following the performance, a reception will be held for the audience and musicians, sponsored by a donation from Janis and Lyn Lee, Hays.
The Hays Symphony acknowledges the support of its 2025-26 season sponsors: the Riley Family Foundation, the Robert E. Browning Foundation, and an anonymous Ellis County family.
Free tickets are available online at hayssymphony.org.