
Delaware County Symphony
Sebastian Grand, Music Director




2025 - 2026 Season
Pride and Patriotism

The Delaware County Symphony is a community orchestra established in 1971 that is dedicated to providing outstanding classical music experiences for residents of Delaware County, Pennsylvania and the surrounding greater Philadelphia region.
Delaware County Symphony Presents: Pride and Patriotism, the 2025-2026 Season
I’m delighted to invite you to our 2025- 2026 Symphony Series- a season that celebrates identity, heritage, and the extraordinary breadth of the American musical voice. This year’s programs are designed to explore the ways in which music reflects where we come from, how we grow, and what unites us.
We begin the season on October 19 with “My Homeland,” a concert that explores themes of place and belonging. Glinka’s Overture to Ruslan and Ludmila provides virtuosic brilliance and energy, followed by Grieg’s passionate and lyrical Piano Concerto, performed by the exceptional Young-Ah Tak. We conclude with Vaughan Williams’ A London Symphony- a beautifully atmospheric portrait of the city he called home, blending grandeur with quiet introspection.
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On December 7, we present “Coming to America,” a program centered on the immigrant experience and the idea of transformation. DvoÅ™ák’s American Suite captures the composer’s reflections on his time in the United States, while Korngold’s deeply expressive Cello Concerto- performed by Branson Yeast- bridges the worlds of film and concert hall. We end with Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, a richly layered and rhythmically compelling work that was written entirely while Rachmaninoff was in the United States.
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March 1 brings “Fanfare for the New World,” a celebration of American voices, both historic and modern. William Grant Still’s Festive Overture sets a vibrant tone, followed by Edward MacDowell’s Piano Concerto No. 2, performed by rising star Artem Tenkeli. William Schuman’s New England Triptych gives new life to early American hymns, and we finish with Duke Ellington’s magnificent Three Black Kings- a tribute to spiritual, cultural, and political leadership through jazz-infused orchestration.
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Our season concludes on May 3 with “Celebrating America 250,” as we look ahead to the nation’s semi-quincentennial. Leonard Bernstein’s exciting Candide Overture sets the stage for our annual spotlight on emerging talent: the winner of the DCS Youth Concerto Competition. We then perform two deeply American works- Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, a powerful blend of narration and orchestra, and William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony, a masterpiece that speaks to resilience, struggle, and cultural legacy.
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All concerts are held at 3:00 PM on Sundays in Neumann University’s Meagher Theatre. I also invite you to join us an hour earlier for our pre-concert Meet the Music talks, where we explore the background and context of the music you’ll hear.
I look forward to seeing you for a wonderful season of music-making!
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~Sebastian Grand- DCS Music Director
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Tickets are now available for the Symphony Series and the Chamber Series. Click Here to Purchase Tickets!
DCS Symphony Explorers
A FREE introduction to symphonic music for school age children accompanied by a parent or guardian. At each event, the children will learn about a specific orchestral instrument AND have the opportunity to experience part of a rehearsal. The children are invited to sit as part of the orchestra on stage to observe the interactions between the conductor and the musicians. DCS Symphony Explorers takes place on select Monday evenings in the McNichol Art Gallery in the Thomas A. Bruder Life Center Building at Neuman University.
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New Members Welcome
The Delaware County Symphony currently has openings in all of the string sections and several other instruments. To apply, please complete a form on the Contact Us page, including a brief description of your experience.


The brochure cover art was created by artist Grace Darden. Click HERE to find out more about her.
Financial support for the Delaware County Symphony has been
provided by grants from The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance and PA Council on the Arts and The Presser Foundation