Ahead of the Spokane Symphony‘s performance at the July 4th celebration in Riverfront Park this weekend, we’re re-joined on this episode by James Lowe, the orchestra’s music director, as well as their new executive director, Steve Wenig.
James and Steve preview some highlights of the symphony’s upcoming 81st season, which is themed “Music in Living Color.”
The 2026–27 season kicks off in mid-September with a program that features Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet. It wraps up next May with Mahler’s large-scale Fifth Symphony.
The conversation also covers enduring perceptions of elitism, the symphony’s new family-friendly concert series and some anecdotes from classical music history. There’s even some talk of earthquake experiences and reincarnation.
This episode is kindly sponsored by Spokane Puppetry. They’re bringing String and Shadow Puppet Theater to Spokane on July 11, 2026 for Night at the Grand Opera. For tickets and more info, follow those links.
Thanks, too, to our Patreon sponsor-tier member Mel Antuna Hewitt for her ongoing support of ALAYT. Why not join her?