Ocala Symphony Orchestra Closes Golden Anniversary Season with "I Got Rhythm" April 11-12

The Ocala Symphony Orchestra closes its golden anniversary season with "I Got Rhythm: Bernstein, Gershwin, and Copland" on April 11 and 12, 2026, at the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala. The concert celebrates 50 years of orchestral music in Marion County with a program dedicated to American classical masters.

An All-American Program

Music Director Matthew Wardell leads the orchestra through a program that opens with Leonard Bernstein's Overture to Candide, followed by selections from the Broadway scores of West Side Story and On the Town.

Guest pianist Evans Haile returns to perform Gershwin's Second Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, followed by the composer's orchestral tone poem An American in Paris. The program closes with Aaron Copland's ballet suite from Billy the Kid, inspired by the legend of the American frontier outlaw.

50 Years of Music

The concert marks the final subscription performance of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra's 50th anniversary season. Since its founding, the orchestra has grown from a community ensemble into a professional organization that presents a full season of concerts, educational programs, and community outreach. The closing weekend concert is sponsored by Lilac Real Estate Group.

Tickets and Performance Times

The Saturday performance begins at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday matinee at 3:00 p.m. Both concerts take place at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th Street in Ocala. Tickets range from $10 to $48 and are available through the Reilly Arts Center box office at (352) 351-1606 or online.