Hays Symphony to open 113th Season with free outdoor concert "An American Tribute"
HAYS, Kan. (Aug. 18, 2026) — The Hays Symphony will open its 2026–27 concert season with “An American Tribute,” a free outdoor concert scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at the Downtown Hays Pavilion, 117 E. 10th St.
The family-friendly performance marks the start of the orchestra’s 113th season and celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States. Attendees are encouraged to bring folding chairs or blankets for seating. Following the concert, attendees are invited to a complimentary cookie reception.
The program highlights works by prominent American composers, including John Philip Sousa, Morton Gould, Calvin Custer, Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, and Leroy Anderson. Special guest Terry Crull will emcee part of the performance.
“We are thrilled to welcome our community back for another remarkable year of live symphonic music,” said Joan Crull, president of the Hays Symphony Guild. “An outdoor performance like this offers an accessible, relaxed atmosphere where families and music lovers of all ages can gather. We are deeply grateful to our sponsors and donors whose generosity allows us to keep these performances open to the entire region.”
The concert is sponsored by Great Plains Dermatology, with the post-concert reception sponsored by the Hays Area Bicyclists.
The Hays Symphony’s entire 2026–27 season is supported by an anonymous Ellis County family.
While the Aug. 21 outdoor concert serves as the seasonal prelude, the symphony’s formal subscription season launches Sept. 26 with “Simply Strings II” at St. Joseph Catholic Church. That performance will feature Hays Symphony flautists Hilary Shepard and Mel Sauer performing works spanning from the Baroque era to the present.
The upcoming season takes inspiration from three significant milestones: America’s 250th anniversary, Fort Hays State University’s 125th anniversary, and the 50th anniversary of the 1977 premiere of Star Wars.
“As we prepare for the 113th year of the orchestra, we are so fortunate to be part of this community and look forward to sharing some fantastic music with our audiences,” said Benjamin Cline, music director of the Hays Symphony. “Our 2026–27 season is built around themes of celebration, heroism, and local heritage. Community support is an invaluable gift to the cultural life of Hays, and we are eager to celebrate these milestones together through music.”
The remainder of the 2026–27 season lineup includes:
Nov. 1, 2026 – Children’s Halloween Concert: A family-oriented concert featuring Modest Mussorgsky’s masterwork, “Pictures at an Exhibition.”
December 2026 – Poinsettia Pops: The annual holiday performance hosted by emcee Ken Windholz, featuring traditional Christmas carols, festive arrangements, and an audience sing-along.
February 2027 – The Hero’s Journey: An exploration of musical heroism highlighted by John Williams’ “Star Wars Suite” in honor of the film franchise’s 50th anniversary.
May 2027 – Inspiration Strikes: The season finale commemorating FHSU’s 125th anniversary, featuring Carl Nielsen’s “Helios Overture” and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2” with guest pianist Irena Ravitskaya.
Admission to the Aug. 21 outdoor concert is free, and no tickets are required.
For more information regarding concert details and season programming, visit hayssymphony.org or email hayssymphony@gmail.com.
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