Western Piedmont Symphony (WPS), the professional orchestra of the western foothills of North Carolina, presents MASTERWORKS: ROMANTIC MASTERS on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at P.E. Monroe Auditorium in Hickory. This winter Masterworks concert invites audiences to gather and celebrate the season with an evening of rich, expressive orchestral music, offering warmth, beauty, and connection through beloved works of the Romantic era.
The program features a compelling blend of dramatic, lyrical, and emotionally resonant works, opening with Dame Ethel Smyth’s spirited Boatswain’s Mate Overture, followed by Jean Sibelius’s Violin Concerto in D minor, a cornerstone of the Romantic repertoire known for its virtuosity and expressive depth. The evening concludes with Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7, a powerful and deeply moving work that captures both intensity and warmth, making it a fitting centerpiece for a winter concert experience.
“In the midst of the winter season, things are warming up at the symphony with music by some of the most celebrated composers of the Romantic era,” said Music Director Matthew Troy. “The concert opens with a charming and dramatic overture by Dame Ethel Smyth, then moves to the grand Violin Concerto of Jean Sibelius, and closes with the deeply emotional and exhilarating melodies of Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7. This program features renowned violin soloist Andrew Sords, who is making his debut appearance with the Western Piedmont Symphony. I look forward to welcoming our community to hear this night of exceptional music!”
Featured soloist Andrew Sords is an internationally acclaimed violinist known for his virtuosic technique and expressive performances. He has appeared with more than 300 orchestras across four continents, with recent debuts in New Zealand, Puerto Vallarta, and Québec City, and has been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition and Australia’s ABC Cultural News. In addition to his performance career, Sords is a passionate advocate for musical outreach and education.
Behind the Music: Pre-Concert Conversation with Music Director Matthew Troy
Enhance your concert experience with Behind the Music, a special pre-concert conversation led by Music Director Matthew Troy. This complimentary talk, included with concert admission, will take place from 6:30 to 6:50 p.m. in P.E. Monroe Auditorium prior to MASTERWORKS: ROMANTIC MASTERS. Audiences are invited to gain deeper insight into the composers and works featured on the program before the performance begins.
MASTERWORKS: ROMANTIC MASTERS is funded with support from the Kenneth K. Millholland and Suzanne G. Millholland Endowment Fund, a fund administered by the North Carolina Community Foundation. Additional support is provided by Our State magazine, Arts Culture Catawba, and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
MASTERWORKS tickets are $20–$58 for adults. Student tickets are $10 with a valid ID. Students can purchase $10 tickets in sections A and B only when accompanied by an adult who also buys a ticket in the same section. To purchase tickets, visit wpsymphony.org, call 828.324.8603, or stop by the Western Piedmont Symphony Box Office located on the SALT Block at 243 Third Avenue NE, Hickory, NC 28601. The Box Office is open Wednesday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. P.E. Monroe Auditorium, where MASTERWORKS concerts are held, is located at 625 7th Ave NE, Hickory, NC 28601.
Up next, Western Piedmont Symphony invites audiences to a special Valentine’s Day celebration with Love Music by Candlelight, an intimate evening of favorite love songs performed by the WPS Maestro’s Quartet on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in Drendel Auditorium on the SALT Block campus in Hickory. This romantic concert features a warm and inviting mix of light classical favorites, jazz standards, and beloved pop love songs, including My Funny Valentine, The Power of Love, A Thousand Years, Marry You, and more. Concessions will be available beginning one hour prior to the performance, and tickets start at $30. To purchase tickets or learn more, visit wpsymphony.org.
Western Piedmont Symphony continues its Masterworks series with MASTERWORKS: GRANT US PEACE on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at P.E. Monroe Auditorium in Hickory. In a powerful collaboration with the Hickory Choral Society, Catawba Valley Community College Chorus, and Lenoir-Rhyne University A Cappella Choir, this moving program explores humanity’s enduring longing for peace in a turbulent world. Featuring acclaimed baritone Michael Adams and soprano Janinah Burnett, the concert brings together orchestral and choral masterworks including Adams’s Christian Zeal and Activity, Debussy’s The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian, and Vaughan Williams’s Dona nobis pacem (Grant Us Peace). For more information about the Western Piedmont Symphony 2025–2026 season of concerts and events, visit wpsymphony.org. Please note that all programs, artists, venues, prices, and dates are subject to change.
About the Artist:
Andrew Sords is an internationally acclaimed violinist who has appeared as a soloist and recitalist with leading orchestras and presenters across North America, Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean. He has performed with more than 300 orchestras, including the Greensboro Symphony, Cleveland Philharmonic, Toronto Philharmonia, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica de Vallarta, and Melbourne Chamber Symphony, and has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and western Europe. A frequent interpreter of major concerto repertoire, Sords is especially known for performances of works by Sibelius, Dvořák, Beethoven, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky, as well as for championing lesser-known and rarely performed concerti. Sords has appeared at prominent venues and series including Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall, the Ravinia Festival, the Glenn Gould Theatre in Toronto, and major recital series throughout the United States and Canada. His performances and recordings have been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, SiriusXM, Australia’s ABC, Colorado Public Radio, and WFMT Chicago, and he has been profiled by OUT magazine and Strings magazine. In addition to his performance career, Sords is a dedicated advocate for musical outreach and education, regularly presenting masterclasses and community programs and collaborating with organizations focused on access, inclusion, and youth engagement. He makes his home in Ohio. www.andrewsords.com
About Western Piedmont Symphony:
Western Piedmont Symphony (WPS) is the professional orchestra of the western foothills of North Carolina, based in Hickory. For 61 years, WPS has enriched and engaged the communities of western North Carolina through high-quality symphonic music with creative, relevant performances, and educational opportunities for all ages. Each season, the Symphony presents an inspiring classical Masterworks series, a fun and entertaining Foothills Pops series, plus education and community engagement programs in the Catawba Valley, all under the artistic direction of Music Director Matthew Troy. Western Piedmont Symphony is supported by the North Carolina Arts Council and is a funded affiliate of Arts Culture Catawba. Business offices are located on the SALT Block at 243 Third Avenue NE, Hickory. Box Office hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Wed. – Fri. For more information about Western Piedmont Symphony, visit wpsymphony.org, call 828-324-8603, or email info@wpsymphony.org. Follow Western Piedmont Symphony on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or X.