The Minot Symphony Orchestra will open its 97th season on Saturday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. at MSU’s Ann Nicole Nelson Hall.

According to the symphony association, the season opener, “All That Jazz,” will feature familiar jazz tunes that will have concertgoers dancing in their seats — “Gershwin’s Cuban Overture” and Bernstein’s “West Side Story: Symphonic Dances.”

The program continues with the world premiere of “Concerto Nova,” an original composition by Minot native Erik Mychal Anderson. This piece was written for electric cello and will be performed by his father, MSU Division of Performing Arts Chair and MSO principal cellist J. Erik Anderson. Electric violins, viola and bass also are featured in the composition.

MSU Professor of Woodwinds and Director of Jazz Studies Charles Young will be featured on alto saxophone for “Autumn in New York,” which was recorded by Charlie Parker with strings in 1952. Following Young’s performance, one of his former students, Minot native Jasmine Spitzer, will join the MSO to sing familiar jazz tunes recorded by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Bublé and Aretha Franklin.

Tickets start at $30 for adults with active military, senior, and student discounts available. Season tickets, individual tickets and Pick 6 Flex Passes are available. The Pick 6 Flex Pass, which includes six concert tickets for the price of five, can be used for multiple tickets to the same performance or spread out between performances. All tickets are available at www.minotsymphony.com or through the box office at 858-4228. Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.

Performances will begin at 7 p.m., half an hour earlier than in the past. Programs will include about 80 minutes of music and a 20-minute intermission.

Attendees also will notice the addition of two 98-inch high definition digital monitors in the auditorium, which were funded with a grant from SRT Cares and supporting funds from Minot State University.

“The addition of the two digital monitors will help us provide education to our patrons, are attractive for sponsors’ messages to the audience and will provide many opportunities for the symphony, MSU and the numerous other community groups that utilize the hall,” said symphony executive director Ellen Fenner. “The symphony concerts will show the livestream video footage on the monitors during the performance to enhance the patron experience. We are already planning something big in the near future.”

Future performance dates in the six-concert series for 2022-23 are Oct. 29, Dec. 10, Feb. 4 (3 p.m.), March 4 and April 29. Programs for the season include works by Glinka, Tchaikovsky, L. Mozart, Mendelssohn, Franck, Williams, Holst and more.

The season also will feature a guest conductor, the N.D. High School Soloist Competition winner, the MSU Division of Performing Arts Honors Competition winner and the winning piece of the annual Young Composer Competition. More information and details about programming are available at www.minotsymphony.com.

“I am so excited about this year and to play music that is dear and familiar to me — “The Planets” — music that I absolutely love — “West Side Story” — and music in many different styles and genres written from the 1700s to today. I think there is truly something for everyone this season,” said Christine Baumann, Minot Symphony Association board president and violist.

Pre-concert talks, which provide an engaging overview of the works being performed, discuss the story behind the music, the composer and historical context. They will be presented one hour before the concerts, or 6 p.m. for the Sept. 24 concert.

The Minot Symphony Orchestra is a blend of student, community and professional musicians from the Minot area. The symphony is directed by Efrain Amaya, associate professor of Performing Arts at MSU.