John Williams News

Today, in its 50th day of release, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is expected to cross the $900 million mark at the domestic box office. It is the only film in history to reach this milestone.

The Oscar celebration starts early this year with PNC Pops: The Ultimate Oscars at Heinz Hall on February 5-7.

have been and where we are going? Or how certain kinds of music fit into this diverse universe of sound? These are some of the important questions that music raises, and each year, Pacific Symphony, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, attempts to shed light on the answers by exploring a different facet of American music through the American Composers Festival (ACF). This year's ACF spotlights organ music through four highly acclaimed organists and the splendor of the king of instruments-in this case, the one-of-a-kind William J. Gillespie Concert Organ, located in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Built from steel, tin, oak, poplar, maple, lead and carbon fiber, the astounding instrument found in the Symphony's concert hall required three years and 42,000 hours of labor by a team of organ builders at C.B Fisk in Gloucester, Mass., before making its debut with Pacific Symphony in 2008.

New Musicals at 54 is a series produced by Feinstein's/ 54 Below Programming Director Jennifer Ashley Tepper. Some of the 10 new and diverse musicals by a selection of today's most talented writers have had out-of-town productions, some have had workshops... now's your chance to be first to see them in NYC! Join us at New Musicals at 54 for one-night-only concerts celebrating each new show with songs, behind-the-scenes stories, and all-star casts!

?The award-winning Oakland University Brass Band will perform at 8 p.m. on Friday, January 29, in Varner Recital Hall. The group will be joined on stage by guest artist, euphonium soloist Matthew Murchison. 

The Houston Symphony's 2016-17 season, Andres Orozco-Estrada's third season as music director, celebrates more than a century of leadership in Houston's cultural landscape. In its 103rd year, the Houston Symphony announced the upcoming season at Jones Hall on Monday, January 25, in front of several hundred guests and supporters, emphasizing the institution's ongoing collaboration with living composers, a continued focus on new music, a renewed concentration on innovative programming, and world-class musicianship and entertainment. Houston Symphony Music Director Orozco-Estrada, Principal POPS Conductor Michael Krajewski, and Executive Director/CEO Mark C. Hanson were on hand to unveil the new season and share their favorite highlights.

The Houston Symphony's 2016-17 season, Andres Orozco-Estrada's third season as music director, celebrates more than a century of leadership in Houston's cultural landscape. In its 103rd year, the Houston Symphony announced the upcoming season at Jones Hall on Monday, January 25, in front of several hundred guests and supporters, emphasizing the institution's ongoing collaboration with living composers, a continued focus on new music, a renewed concentration on innovative programming, and world-class musicianship and entertainment.

Am 31. Januar erklingt im Saal des Tempodroms in Berlin zum ersten Mal in Deutschland die anlasslich des Jubilaums von John Willams neu komponierte umfangreiche Suite aus „Krieg der Sterne' - sein einzigartiges Magnum opus der gesamten Serie, nicht nur die beliebten Motive der ersten drei Teile der Star-Wars-Saga, sondern auch musikalische Themen aus der letzten Trilogie, angefuhrt von dem Titel „Duel of the Fates'

Grammy-, Golden Globe- Drama Desk- and three-time Tony Award-winning actress and singer Bernadette Peters-known for her raw talent and ability to knock the socks off an audience with her glorious voice-joins Pacific Symphony just in time for Valentine's Day weekend! The ageless Peters, who boasts a decades-long successful career on the Broadway, film and television stage, recently starred in the critically acclaimed Broadway production of "Follies" after a highly successful run at the Kennedy Center, and can be seen in the Golden-Globe winning TV series, "Mozart in the Jungle." Recent hit performances (backed by orchestras) have included Peters turning up the heat for Peggy Lee's "Fever"; Rodgers and Hammerstein's "There is Nothin' Like a Dame" (from "South Pacific"); "Children Will Listen" and "No One is Alone" (from "Into the Woods"); "In Buddy's Eyes" and "Losing My Mind" (from her turn as Sally Durant Plummer in the 2011 revival of "Follies"); and "Let Me Entertain You" (from the Grammy Award-winning Broadway cast album "Gypsy"), among many, many others.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's popular Baroque Conversations spotlights esteemed LACO Principal Bassoon Kenneth Munday, celebrating his 40th anniversary season with the Orchestra, as host and featured performer in a diverse program centered on the bassoon and oboe on Thursday, February 4, 2016, 7 pm, at Zipper Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles.  The program includes Boismortier's Rondeau from Suite de Pieces qu'on peut jouer seule; Les Sauvages from Les Gentils Airs by Rameau; and Sonatina in A minor by Telemann.  Also presented are Handel's Trio Sonata in E-flat major; Zachow's Trio Sonata in F major; and Fasch's Sonata in D minor.  Joining Munday are LACO principals Patricia Mabee, harpsichord, and Allan Vogel, oboe; Claire Brazeau, oboe; and guest artist Edward Meares, bass.  A complimentary wine reception for all ticket holders begins at 6 pm.

On Friday, March 11, 2016 at 8:00PM, The New York Pops, led by Music Director Steven Reineke, will continue its 33rd season at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage with 42nd on 57th: Broadway Today. With guest artists Darren Criss (Glee) and Betsy Wolfe (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), the concert brings the best of Broadway uptown. The program will feature a variety of musical theatre hits. Darren Criss replaces the previously announced Jeremy Jordan, who is unavailable due to a scheduling issue.

The Oscar celebration starts early this year with PNC Pops: The Ultimate Oscars at Heinz Hall on February 5-7.

Philadelphia Orchestra Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin and President and CEO Allison Vulgamore today announce The Philadelphia Orchestra's 2016-17 season. The season underscores the incredible versatility and depth of the ensemble under Nezet-Seguin's leadership, as he embarks on his fifth season and continues shaping a modern definition of the Orchestra's legendary Philadelphia Sound.

The LA Phil's 2015/16 Songbook Series continues with Brian Stokes Mitchell at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Saturday, February 6, 2016, at 8:00 PM. The Tony®-winning singer, actor, arranger and musician joins long-time pianist and collaborator,Tedd Firth, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by conductor Kevin Stites, for 'In Character,' an evening of Broadway tunes filled with beauty, joy, whimsy, romance, and Stokes' signature, inspired vocal interpretations. Expanding on his most recent album, Simply Broadway (which USA Todaydeemed as 'one of the best albums of 2012'), Stokes will perform such Broadway classics as 'I, Don Quixote,' 'Feeling Good,' 'Wheels of a Dream' and 'It Ain't Necessarily So,' among many others.

have been and where we are going? Or how certain kinds of music fit into this diverse universe of sound? These are some of the important questions that music raises, and each year, Pacific Symphony, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, attempts to shed light on the answers by exploring a different facet of American music through the American Composers Festival (ACF). This year's ACF spotlights organ music through four highly acclaimed organists and the splendor of the king of instruments—in this case, the one-of-a-kind William J. Gillespie Concert Organ, located in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Built from steel, tin, oak, poplar, maple, lead and carbon fiber, the astounding instrument found in the Symphony's concert hall required three years and 42,000 hours of labor by a team of organ builders at C.B Fisk in Gloucester, Mass., before making its debut with Pacific Symphony in 2008.

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO)'s SaturdayEvening POPS! concert returns with Silver Screen Salute II on Saturday, February 6, at 8 pm, at Richardson Auditorium on the campus of Princeton University. Hosted and conducted by movie industry insider Lucas Richman and guest starring Broadway singer Jessica Hendy, the program spotlights iconic and popular music of movies including "Parade of the Charioteers" from Ben Hur, music from Psycho, John Williams' "Shark Theme" from Jaws, "Can You Read My Mind?" from Superman, and his original Star Wars score, plus James Newton Howard's award-winning score from The Village, showcasing PSO concertmaster Basia Danilow. As a nod to the PSO's season celebrating the creativity of women, the orchestra is performing Rachel Portman's suite from Chocolat and Kristen Anderson-Lopez' collaboration on "Let it go" from Frozen.

The Kansas City Symphony has unveiled its 2016-17 season, including Classical, Pops and Family Series plus special and holiday concerts. The Symphony also revealed individual seats will replace bench seating in the Helzberg Hall Choral Loft at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts prior to the start of the 2016-17 season.

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra Chamber Series presents an afternoon of violin with sung and spoken word with PSO principal second violinist Alexander Chaleff, soprano Winnie Nieh, and poet Alexandra Zelman-Doring at the Institute for Advanced Study. The concert features works by composers Anna Clyne, Ralph Vaughn Williams, and Gustav Holst interspersed with Ms. Zelman-Doring's multi-lingual recitation of poetry related to the orchestra's season.

The 88th Oscars Nominations Announcement was broadcast live today, Thursday, January 14, from the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

The most acclaimed and enduring film music in Hollywood history, the original soundtracks of Star Wars Episodes I-VI will be reissued by Sony Classical in three new, definitive editions