Boston Civic Symphony Marks America’s 250th with a Powerhouse Program at Jordan Hall!

The Boston Civic Symphony isn't just playing a concert on March 28—they’re marking a massive national milestone. To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, Music Director Francisco Noya is bringing a heavy-hitting lineup to NEC’s Jordan Hall that balances American grit with symphonic grandiosity.

The Program: Democracy and Resilience

The night kicks off with Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, a work that serves as a musical heartbeat for the American experience. Using Abraham Lincoln’s own speeches, the piece is a meditation on unity and "a new birth of freedom."
Adding a modern edge to the classics, the symphony has tapped three-time Boston Music Award winner Amanda Shea as the narrator. A powerhouse in the spoken-word scene, Shea’s participation bridges the gap between 19th-century ideals and today’s social dialogue.

From Darkness to a "Shout of Joy"

The second half of the night belongs to Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. While Mahler is often associated with European tradition, Noya points out that this specific work was revised while the composer lived in New York, soaking in the energy of the New World. It’s an emotional gauntlet:

• It starts with a somber, heavy funeral march.
• It transitions through the intimate, world-famous Adagietto.
• It ends in a "shout of joy"—a Rondo-Finale that Noya describes as a spiritual revolution in motion.

A Century of Boston Music

Now in its 101st season, the Boston Civic Symphony is a local institution with a world-class pedigree (alumni include legends like Yo-Yo Ma and Leonard Bernstein). Under Noya’s leadership, the ensemble continues to prove that "amateur" and "student" musicians can deliver professional-grade intensity.

Plan Your Visit

• When: Saturday, March 28 at 8:00 PM
• Where: New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall
• Tickets: Available now at bostoncivicsymphony.org