John Williams News

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra has appointed Bernhard Fleischer as its new Chief Executive, effective September 1, 2025. Fleischer, a Salzburg-born producer and consultant, has worked with Gustavo Dudamel, Lang Lang, John Williams, and Anne-Sophie Mutter, and will join the HK Phil alongside Music Director Designate Tarmo Peltokoski.

Brisbane has joined the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of JAWS, the original summer movie blockbuster from 1975, with JAWS in Concert - an unforgettable film-with-live-orchestra experience.

The West Coast Jazz Hour Quintet, led by drummer Kevin van den Elzen and pianist Josh Nelson, will bring the iconic sounds of 1950s and ‘60s West Coast jazz to Sierra Madre Playhouse on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.

Experience the Magic of John Williams at the Hollywood Bowl! A cherished Bowl tradition, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and conductor David Newman salute one of Hollywood’s living legends with three performances of John Williams: Maestro of the Movies.

“Do, or do not. There is no try.” On this occasion, the National Youth Orchestra chose to ‘do’, as they took on some of the most iconic orchestral music of the 20th century. The teenage ensemble were very keen to perform Gustav Holst’s Planets, and so it was quite natural that a suite of music from the Star Wars films should follow; the first performance at the Proms of Caroline Shaw’s The Observatory was chosen as a natural bridge between the two. This was kimono-clad conductor Dalia Stasevska’s first time working with the National Youth Orchestra - her natural enthusiasm proved a great match for their youthful exuberance.

The Harry Potter Film Concert Series will return to San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hall with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in Concert. Learn more!

The Weidner Philharmonic will perform this magical score live from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban while the entire film plays in high-definition on a 40-foot screen.

This season, leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra will deliver “The American Journey: Struggle, Spirit, and Triumph,” a six-concert series at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. 

The Philadelphia Orchestra has announced new programs and updates for its 2025–2026 season under the leadership of Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, as the ensemble prepares to celebrate its 125th anniversary.

How better to celebrate a selection of Gallic compositions than with Cristian Măcelaru conducting the Orchestre Nationale de France? The programme for the evening was bookended by a pair of pieces by Ravel, with works by Joseph Bologne (better known as the Chevalier de Saint-Georges), Charlotte Sohy and Ernest Chausson - with young American violinist Randall Goosby making his first appearance at the Proms as the night’s featured soloist.

UtahPresents, the University of Utah’s performing arts presenter, will launch its 2025–2026 season with two high-profile events: the 2025 Mariachi Festival on August 22 at the Eccles Theater, and a concert by jazz legend Arturo Sandoval on September 4 at Kingsbury Hall.

What did our critic think of PICKNIC POPS: “PATRIOTIC POPS” at Grand Rapids Symphony? The Grand Rapids Symphony is reviving its most iconic and popular summer tradition. The Family Fare Picnic Pops has moved to Secchia Meadows at Millennium Park, and a unique concerts for every music lover!  Picnic Pops debuted at Cannonsburg Ski Area in 1995 and quickly became a family-friendly West Michigan summer favorite. The series was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and since then, the Symphony has been working to bring Picnic Pops back to the community.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that lyricist Alan Bergman, who worked with his late wife Marilyn on numerous hit songs for the screen, passed away on Thursday at his Los Angeles home at the age of 99.

The Harry Potter Film Concert Series will return to Morris Performing Arts Center with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Concert. Learn more and see how to attend.

This month, 89 outstanding teen musicians from across the United States come together as Carnegie Hall's NYO2 (National Youth Orchestra 2). Created in 2016 for outstanding American instrumentalists, ages 14–17, NYO2 is one of Hall's three acclaimed national youth ensembles that convene each summer in New York City for concerts at Carnegie Hall and tour performances.

National Geographic continued its 50th anniversary celebration of Jaws with the European premiere of JAWS @ 50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. Check out photos from the event.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, the blockbuster film is returning to theaters nationwide in 4K this summer, with select screenings in IMAX®, RealD 3D, 4DX and D-BOX.

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is July 1, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Karl E. Held, a Tony Award-nominated Broadway producer whose wide-ranging career in the performing arts spanned more than four decades, died on June 23 in New York City.

In a new video for the scoring session of Jurassic World Rebirth, Jonathan Bailey can be seen playing the clarinet along with the orchestra on the iconic John Williams score. Watch it now!