The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra is tuning up with excitement as they get ready to open the 2025-26 season this September! With an exciting lineup of concerts, creative collaborations, and the highly anticipated debut of new director, Maestro Henry Cheng, this is a season you won’t want to miss.
That’s right! After a global search that narrowed down 106 talented finalists, JCSO is proud to welcome internationally acclaimed conductor Henry Cheg to the podium. Recognized for his innovative programming and ability to reimagine the concert experience, Cheng brings a unique blend of musical excellence, cultural curiosity and a true passion for community engagement to JCSO. Whether blending classical works with unexpected genres or inspiring audiences through unique performances, Maestro Cheng is setting the stage for a new era with JCSO.
This season, the orchestra invites you to IMAGINE: Your Playlist – a musical journey that redefines our connection with music. Each performance is a chapter in a personal soundtrack that celebrates memory, explores global rhythms, honors tradition, and invites you into familiar and yet entirely new moments. Under Maestro Cheng’s visionary direction, JCSO’s 2025-26 season is more than a concert series, its a soundtrack to your own story.
Check out the exciting performances below and make sure to visit https://johnscreeksymphony.org/ to purchase tickets!
2025-26 Season Performances
September 20: IMAGINE: Stories in Sound
Kick off the season with a cinematic journey through music, featuring violinist Holly Mulcahy and the Michael O’Neal Singers. Experience music not just as a sound but as storytelling that stays with you.
October 4: IMAGINE: Pops Without Borders
Join us on a thrilling journey through the sounds that have captivated audiences worldwide! International chart-toppers come to life in this vibrant celebration, featuring The Voice standout Mikeala Ayria.
December 20: IMAGINE: From Our Family to Yours
Enjoy two concerts in one day filled with holiday magic. In the afternoon, JCSO presents IMAGINE: A Kids’ Christmas, a sensory and family-friendly concert for all. In the evening, join them for a heartwarming holiday tradition with festive classics.
January 24, 2026: IMAGINE: What We Carry
What if healing isn’t loud? What if it begins with listening to ourselves, to each other, and to the music? This powerful program offers an evening of reflection and renewal through the meditative and moving works of Bach, Shostakovich, Pärt, and Wagner. A breath of fresh air, this concert invites us to pause, reflect, and begin again this new year. Join us early for a thought-provoking conversation on mental health and resilience.
March 28, 2026: IMAGINE: It’s Magic
Some voices live forever, not because they were loud but because they sang the truth. Relive the golden age of song with timeless hits by Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, and more, brought to life by acclaimed vocalist Joan Ellison.
May 23, 2026: IMAGINE: Passing the Baton
JCSO’s grand finale celebrates legacy and new beginnings with Mendelssohn’s classics, featuring Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster David Coucheron and pianist Julie Coucheron. Honor the imagination built together with a vibrant finale to a transformative season under the new direction of Maestro Henry Cheng.