Submitted Photo Tubist David Rolandson will be the featured performer at the Minot Symphony Orchestra opening concert of the season on Sept. 23.

The Minot Symphony Orchestra will open its 98th season, “Our Town” on Saturday, Sept. 23, with musicology, the story behind the music, at 6 p.m. and a performance at 7 p.m. in MSU’s Ann Nicole Nelson Hall.

“It’s All About That Bass” is the first of the symphony’s six concerts in the series for the 2023-2024 season.

Other performance dates include Oct. 28, Dec. 9, Feb. 3, March 16 and April 27. Programs for the 2023-2024 season include works by Bizet, Ravel, Liszt, Shostakovich, Sibelius, Copland and more.

The season will feature two world premieres, a North Dakota premiere, works by three local composers that include the winner of the annual Young Composer Competition, North Dakota High School soloist competition winner and the Minot State University Division of Performing Arts Honors Competition winner.

Featured soloists include MSU professor of music Dianna Anderson, and associate professor of music David Rolandson. Sharing the stage with the symphony this season will be the voices of the MSU Concert Choir, Minot High School Choir and the Minot Chamber Chorale. The symphony also will feature three short films with music played by the local musicians.

The season opener on Sept. 23 will feature music from one of the most familiar operas, “Carmen, Suite No. 1,” by George Bizet.

The program continues with Ralph Vaughn Williams’ “Tuba Concerto in F Minor.” The featured soloist is tubist David Rolandson. Rolandson is chair of the Division of Performing Arts, and associate professor of Music and director of Bands at MSU, where he conducts the Concert Band and leads the MSU Marching Band.

Darius Milhaud’s “Suite Provencal” is a four-movement suite is based on authentic folk tunes from the beautiful southern province in France, the “Provence.”

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” includes six concert tickets for the price of five and can be used for multiple tickets to the same performance or spread out between performances. All tickets are available at minotsymphony.com or through the box office at 858-4228. Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.

Musicology, the study of music, will begin one hour before each concert starts. Concertgoers are encouraged to attend this 30-minute engaging overview of the works being performed, the story behind the music, the composer, and historical context. It will not be held for the Dec. 9 performance.