Third Coast Symphony, a new regional orchestra in the Greater Chicago area, presents a free concert on June 14, 2026

Performance at Chicago’s historic First Congregational Baptist Church includes Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” and Saint-Saëns’ “The Carnival of the Animals”

On June 14, 2026, the Third Coast Symphony presents a free orchestral concert at Chicago’s historic First Congregational Baptist Church. The new organization is the result of a merger between two former Chicago area orchestras: the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra and Park Ridge Civic Orchestra.

“We’re thrilled to kick-off this new entity with a free concert of orchestral favorites that are fun for the whole family,” said Music Director Victor Muenzer. “We also look forward to continued programming this fall with two concerts at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie and a holiday performance of Handel’s Messiah at the Studebaker Theater, part of their Second Fridays open studios event.”

For the June 14 concert, Muenzer will conduct, along with Third Coast Symphony’s associate conductor, Charles Taylor, also coordinator of vocal ensembles at Roosevelt University. Local Chicago actor, Penelope Walker, will narrate The Carnival of the Animals.

Third Coast Symphony: Appalachian Spring & Carnival of the Animals  
Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 2 p.m.
First Congregational Baptist Church
1613 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, IL 60612

Third Coast Symphony Chamber Orchestra
Victor Muenzer, conductor
Charles Taylor, associate conductor
Penelope Walker, narrator

COPLAND  Appalachian Spring (complete ballet suite for 13 instruments)
GEORGE WALKER  Lyric for Strings
MILHAUD  The Creation of the World (La Création du Monde)
SAINT-SAËNS The Carnival of the Animals

 The performance is free and open to the public. For more information, visit thirdcoastsymphony.org.

Coming Up at the Third Coast Symphony

Rhapsody in Blue & A World Premiere
Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 3 p.m.
North Shore Center for the Arts
9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, IL

Third Coast Symphony
Victor Muenzer, conductor
Jeremy Vigil, piano

KAREEM ROUSTOM Fanfare for a Defiant City (world premiere)
GERSHWIN  An American in Paris
GERSHWIN  Rhapsody in Blue
MUSSORGSKY/RAVEL  Pictures at an Exhibition

The 007 Days of Christmas
Sunday, November 29, 2026 at 3 p.m.
North Shore Center for the Arts
9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, IL

Third Coast Symphony
Victor Muenzer, conductor
Anna Therese George, assistant conductor
Charles Taylor, associate conductor
Cheryl Wilson, vocalist, and jazz trio

Bring the whole family to this festive event featuring 007 film music — The Pink Panther, For Your Eyes Only, Live and Let Die, Goldfinger and more — plus festive Christmas carols and other holiday tunes.

Handel’s Messiah
Friday, December 11, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Studebaker Theater, Fine Arts Building
410 South Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL

Part of the Studebaker’s Second Fridays open studios event

Third Coast Symphony
Victor Muenzer, conductor
TBD, soprano
Anna Therese George, mezzo-soprano
Gabriel Muenzer, tenor
TBD, bass
Roosevelt University/CCPA Chorus, Charles Taylor, director

HANDEL  Messiah

Tickets go on sale in Fall 2026.

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About Third Coast Symphony

Third Coast Symphony was formed by a merger between The Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra and Park Ridge Civic Orchestra. The mission of Third Coast Symphony is to promote education, provide entertainment, enrich audiences in the greater Chicago area through classical music concerts, encourage unity for diverse audiences through music, and present classical music in a way that is welcoming and enriching to all communities in the Chicago area.  thirdcoastsymphony.org