On a late-summer Wednesday inside the jewel box of downtown Fort Worth — the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall — the city’s beloved orchestra will do something rare. For one night only, the spotlight shifts not to the podium or a touring soloist, but to the musicians themselves — the heartbeat of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO).
“Stars of the Symphony,” taking place August 20 at 7:30 p.m., is no ordinary evening at the hall. Led by Resident Conductor Stephanie Rhodes Russell, the performance gives center stage to three standout players: Principal Oboe Jennifer Corning Lucio, Associate Principal Cello Keira Fullerton, and Associate Principal Viola Anna Kolotylina — an all-female lineup whose command of their instruments is matched only by the depth of their musicality.
It’s a program built on beauty and boldness. Expect the sweeping drama of Verdi and Puccini, the fire and color of Borodin and Saint-Saëns, and a handful of lesser-heard works that shine just as brightly — including pieces by Czech modernist Bohuslav Martinů, Venetian Baroque composer Benedetto Marcello, and the 20th-century Italian virtuosa Matilde Capuis. Each soloist steps into the spotlight not simply to play, but to interpret, to risk, to dazzle.
For over a century, the FWSO has played a foundational role in the city’s cultural life. Founded in 1912 and now under the artistic leadership of Music Director Robert Spano, the orchestra performs more than 120 concerts each year, serving more than 150,000 listeners through everything from traditional classical programming to education and outreach.
That legacy continues with “Stars of the Symphony” — a concert that feels uniquely Fort Worth, blending elegance, daring, and community pride. It’s a reminder that the musicians who perform Brahms and Bernstein with effortless polish week after week are also soloists in their own right. They are stars, and on August 20, they shine.
Tickets are available at www.fwsymphony.org