The Owensboro Symphony will return to the Cannon Hall stage inside the RiverPark Center for its first concert of 2026 — “¡Vamos a la Sinfonía!” — at 7 p.m. Saturday.
The program, which will be the Symphony’s third of five concert hall performances of the organization’s ongoing 60th season, will celebrate the influence of Hispanic and Latin American composers from the likes of Emmanuel Chabrier, Arturo Márquez, Joaquín Rodrigo and more.
Multi-Grammy Award-winning classical guitarist Sharon Isbin will serve as the concert’s featured guest artist.
Despite the ongoing cold weather, Gwyn Payne, the Symphony’s chief executive officer, says: “(T)he show will undoubtedly go on.”
“Inside the RiverPark Center, we’ll create a lively, fun and warm atmosphere. It’ll be a true celebration of Latin and Hispanic culture, filled with vibrant performances and a sense of community,” she said. “No matter the weather, you’ll find an exhilarating energy waiting for you inside.”
Troy Quinn, music director and conductor, feels “¡Vamos a la Sinfonía!” to be a “perfect fit” to the Symphony’s current season as the concert aims to “(celebrate) cultural diversity and the energy of Latin music.”
“The program reflects the rich musical traditions of these cultures while showcasing the talent and creativity of today’s composers,” Quinn continued. “It’s music that connects with our community and leaves a lasting impression on everyone who experiences it.
“… The program reflects the beauty and energy of Latin American culture — from upbeat, rhythmic pieces that make you want to move to emotional, powerful classical works,” Quinn adds. “This music connects with people of all ages and backgrounds. It brings our community together and celebrates joy, connection and the universal language of music.”
Pieces to be performed Saturday night includes Chabrier’s “España,” Márquez’s “Danzón No. 2,” Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez” — which will feature Isbin, Manuel de Falla’s “El amor brujo: Ritual Fire Dance,” José Pablo Moncayo’s “Huapango,” Michael Giacchino’s “Día de los Muertos Suite” from the 2017 film “Coco” and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Capriccio espagnol.”
Regarding the program, Quinn said patrons inside the concert hall can expect to hear “rhythms and melodies that inspire celebration and emotion.”
“The atmosphere will be lively and full of energy, with music that encourages everyone to move, feel and connect,” he said. “While some of our past concerts have highlighted traditional European classical music, ‘¡Vamos a la Sinfonía!’ brings a refreshing perspective — embracing modern influences and diverse cultural stories.
“It’s part of our commitment to exploring new sounds and expanding our audience’s musical horizons, offering something exciting for longtime patrons and new listeners alike,” Quinn said.
Coined by the Boston Globe as “one of the best guitarists in the world,” the Minneapolis, Minnesota-born Isbin will be coming to perform in Owensboro for the first time.
A graduate of both Yale University and the Yale School of Music, Isbin first picked up classical guitar at the age of 9 after her family relocated to Italy for her father’s work as a nuclear scientist.
“… (M)y older brother asked for guitar lessons, hoping to become the next Elvis. After learning the teacher was a famous classical guitarist, however, he bowed out and I volunteered to take his place,” Isbin said. “It seemed an exotic opportunity and I immediately loved the instrument’s intimacy and beautiful sounds.”
Throughout her five-plus-decade professional career, Isbin has achieved success in a number of mediums from performing with the likes of guitarist Steve Vai, vocalist and songwriter Josh Groban and jazz guitarists Romero Lubambo and Stanley Jordan, to teaching at The Juilliard School — where she founded and serves as the chair of the school’s guitar department — and the author of such works including “Classical Guitar Answer Book.”
The first guitarist to receive Musical America’s “Instrumentalist of the Year” award and a recipient of the Guitar Foundation of America’s Hall of Fame’s “Artistic Achievement Award,” Isbin’s discography of over 40 albums has collectively sold over 1 million copies and has been streamed more than 30 million times, which includes the Grammy-winning 2009 record “Journey to the New World” — which would go on to spend 63 consecutive weeks on top of the Billboard Classical Crossover albums chart, and the Latin Grammy-nominated recording of Rodrigo’s “Aranjuez” with the New York Philharmonic — the latter’s only recording with guitar.
One of Isbin’s most recent recordings, “Romántico,” is currently nominated for a Grammy this weekend for “Producer of the Year, Classical” for Elaine Martone.
“I’ve collaborated with over 200 orchestras in 40 countries and have premiered more than a dozen concertos composed for me, most recently a dynamite Latin dance-inspired ‘Miami Concerto’ by Karen LeFrak which, like the Rodrigo (piece), audiences love,” Isbin said. “… (Saturday’s) concert is a journey to beautiful, majestic visions of Spain and Mexico, and a perfect match for Maestro Quinn’s tremendous energy and inspiration.”
Quinn said the addition of classical guitar in an orchestral program is both “exciting and challenging.”
“… A lot of the repertoire demands complex rhythms and timing, so the soloist and musicians need to work closely together. That’s why rehearsals are an integral part of the music-making process,” Quinn said. “Sharon adds her own artistic style to each piece, many of the pieces in the repertoire she premiered and has first-hand knowledge of the compositional process and the collaborative nature when working with a composer or an orchestra.
“In the end, this collaboration is a creative journey,” Quinn continued. “Mixing different musical styles adds depth and energy to the performance, giving the audience a richer, more dynamic concert experience. It also shows how expressive and versatile the guitar can be.”
Saturday’s programming will also include “Behind the Music with Troy Quinn,” a free pre-concert conversation with Quinn — presented by Baird Private Wealth Management — The Settle Group — beginning at 6:15 p.m.
The concert’s premier sponsor is Four Seasons Heating & Cooling, with additional support from community partner Margaret Holbrook Estate.
The 2025-26 season is presented by Owensboro Health.
The Symphony’s gift package of its final three concerts of the season for $170, including RiverPark’s box office fees, is still available for purchase.
Tickets can be purchased at owensborosymphony.org or by calling 270-684-0661.
