Charlotte Symphony Kicks Off 94th Season With Dolly Tributes, Film Scores and So Much More

Starting Oct. 3, the Charlotte Symphony will fill concert halls with sounds from film scores to folk music. Their new season mixes blockbuster movies, pop hits, and classical works.

Live orchestra meets big screen when musicians play alongside "Pirates of the Caribbean" in October. The film series continues with "Encanto" next March and "Black Panther" in summer 2026. Each show pairs the movie with a full orchestra bringing the score to life.

Mid-October brings a tribute to country music icon Dolly Parton. Guest singers will perform her hits backed by the symphony, while video clips show Parton herself. Later shows spotlight Motown hits in January and ABBA's chart-toppers in February.

The symphony steps out of the concert hall for its On Tap Series. Musicians will play at three local beer makers — NoDa, Triple C, and Lenny Boy — from fall through winter.

Kids can catch "Peter and the Wolf" on Oct. 18. When winter comes, acrobats will soar above the orchestra during "Cirque de Noël" just before the holidays.

New works by Gabriel Kahane tell American stories through music. His train-inspired pieces come in February. By May, his work about housing needs brings local singers to join the orchestra.

Classical fans won't miss out. The symphony plays Beethoven's Eighth in November. Guest leader Francesco Lecce-Chong conducts Respighi that same month. Spring brings Dvořák's famous New World Symphony.

Buyers can save half off ticket prices with season packages. Pick from themed bundles or mix different shows to build a custom series.