John Williams to Conduct Cleveland Orchestra in Program of His Movie Music

The Cleveland Orchestra has announced that composer John Williams will conduct the Orchestra in a program including music from his celebrated film scores at Severance Hall on Sunday, April 8, 2018, at 7:00 p.m.

One of the most prolific and iconic American film composers, Mr. Williams's scores include Star Wars, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the Indiana Jones films, Schindler's List, and Superman, just to name a few. Among Mr. Williams's numerous works for the concert stage are two symphonies and a variety of concertos, including a trumpet concerto written for The Cleveland Orchestra and principal trumpet Michael Sachs, which premiered in 1999. Mr. Williams has conducted The Cleveland Orchestra numerous times over the years at Blossom Music Festival starting with his first appearance in 1983. This is the first time he is conducting the Orchestra at Severance Hall. Details of the April 8 program will be announced at a later date.

John Williams is one of America's most accomplished and successful composers for film and for the concert stage. In a career that spans five decades, he has composed the music and served as music director for more than 100 films, including all seven Star Wars films, the first three Harry Potter films, and Superman, and his 40-year artistic partnership with Steven Spielberg has resulted in many of Hollywood's most acclaimed and successful films, including E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, Jurassic Park, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the Indiana Jones films, and Schindler's List. Among his many honors are 5 Academy Awards and 50 Oscar nominations, 23 Grammys, 4 Golden Globes, and 5 Emmys. Mr. Williams served as music director of the Boston Pops Orchestra for 14 seasons, from 1980 to 1993, and now holds the title of laureate conductor of the ensemble.

Tickets for the concert will be available for Cleveland Orchestra subscribers and donors on Wednesday, May 17, prior to being made available to the general public. For those not already subscribers and/or donors, the best way to assure obtaining tickets is to become a subscriber to the Orchestra's 2017-18 Centennial Season by calling Cleveland Orchestra Ticket Services at 216-231-1111 or 800-686-1141, or visiting clevelandorchestra.com. All programs, artists, and prices are subject to change.