Sep 25, 2016 3 min read

The Washington Symphony Orchestra will open its 15th season with “Made in America” at 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at Trinity High School. Doors open at 6 p.m.

One of the concert’s featured pieces will be George Gershwin’s “Concerto in F,” played by Tom Roberts of Pittsburgh.

“For me, the Gershwin piece is so incredibly exciting,” said WSO artistic director Yugo Ikach. “The frenetic pulse of the city, the sometimes jerky, sometimes yearning jazzy syncopations all make for a piece that is quintessentially American sounding.”

Roberts has performed on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson and “A Prairie Home Companion” with Garrison Keillor. He also arranged and performed the music for the soundtrack of Martin Scorsese’s film “The Aviator,” starring Leonardo di Caprio.

Roberts has recorded more than 40 albums and has performed throughout the United States and Europe. He is widely known as an expert on early jazz.

Another guest artist will be trumpet soloist Kyle Simpson, who will provide improvisation during Billy Strayhorn’s “Take the A-Train.”

Also on the program will be Aaron Copland’s “John Henry” and “Fanfare of the Common Man,” saluting the builders of the United States.

For pre-concert programming at 7:15 p.m., Max Gonano and Judith Sutton will present a talk on Strayhorn as part of the “Steel City Grooves” series. Steel City Grooves is a project of the jazz committee of the Senator John Heinz History Center’s Volunteer Ambassador Program, in association with the California University of Pennsylvania’s Music Department.

The presentation will feature a short video, along with a discussion about Strayhorn’s life and music and the history and evolution of jazz in Pittsburgh.

In addition to “Made in America,” the WSO has three other concerts lined up for its 2016-17 season. They are:

• “Ho, Ho, Ho with the WSO” – 8 p.m. Dec. 3 and 3 p.m. Dec. 4.

• “Homegrown” – 3 p.m. Feb. 12.

• “Irish Eyes” – 8 p.m. May 6.

“This season has all the elements to be the best toe-tapping one yet,” Ikach said.

“Ho Ho Ho with the WSO” will feature holiday movie music, along with selections from Handel’s “Messiah.” The WSO will be joined by the Washington County All-Star High School choir and the California University choir.

“The February concert focuses on the homegrown talent that surrounds us, from the Washington Community Theater to our student concerto competition winner to Mon Valley Push Polka Band,” Ikach said.

“Homegrown” also will feature music that was composed by artists with a connection to Washington County.

“Irish Eyes” will be a musical tour of the Emerald Isle featuring traditional ballads and classical pieces awash in Celtic influence. Fiddle player Bob Banerjee and Irish step dancers will join the show to add an authentic flavor.

Tickets for “Made in America” start at $17 and can be purchased online at washsym.org, by calling 888-71-TICKETS, or at Citizens Library, Peters Township Public Library and the WSO office, 11 S. College St., Washington. WSO office purchases are by appointment only. WSO season tickets start at $52.

For more information about the symphony, visit www.washsym.org or connect with the WSO on Facebook at facebook.com/washsymphony and Twitter at twitter.com/washsymphony.