Season 33 Halftime - Looking Back and Forward

Pam Hahn & Chuck Stewart

Chuck Stewart has blazed through the first three Classics concerts of 2025-26 and as our January 25, 2026 concert approaches, I wanted to check in with him to see how it's going.

Q:  What have been the highlights of your time as Interim Music Director with CSO during the first half of the 2025-26 season?

A:  What I have enjoyed most about serving as Interim Music Director for the first half of the season is getting to grow my relationship with the CSO. After first conducting the orchestra in 2019, I have been able to play with and conduct them a number of times which has contributed to a sense of my belonging in the community. As Interim Music Director, it has been nice to feel even more welcomed into the community that is the CSO. From a musical aspect, I’ve enjoyed all of the concerts, but I think I enjoyed the November concert the most. Between the exciting repertoire, large orchestra, and growing comfort level between me and the orchestra, this concert was a lot of fun.

Q: You've planned an interesting Chamber Music Series concert for February 21, 2026. Tell us a little about that program.

A:  I have decided to program a concert with pieces exclusively for wind instruments. Audience members will hear our CSO woodwind and brass players shine in a more intimate setting than usual. I think the piece I’m most excited about on the program is the Serenade by Richard Strauss. His opus 7, Strauss composed this work at the age of 17, but it perfectly demonstrates the young musicians instinct for beautiful music that would continue throughout his life. I’ve been able to play and conduct this work several times, but I’m excited to bring it to life with the musicians of the CSO.

Q:  Is there a concert and/or a piece of music in the second half of the season that you're most excited about? Why?

A:  Channeling my inner politician, there are 3 aspects of the second half of the season I am very excited about. For the March concert, I am excited to have some wonderful soloists join the orchestra. In the first half of that program, our own Principal Clarinetist, Nancy Smith, will be performing Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto. Of the Mozart concerti, it is one of the most beautiful and complex; I’m excited to get to work with Nancy on it. We will also have a soprano and mezzo-soprano from the Valley Opera company join us for two arias and a duet from three different Mozart operas. It is exciting to share a snapshot of Mozart's operatic expertise with those in our audience who may not be familiar with it. For the May concert, I am very excited to bring Omar Thomas’s Come Sunday to life with the CSO. Originally composed in 2018, Come Sunday pays homage to the Hammond organ’s central role in black American’s worship services. The first half of the piece draws inspiration from Bach, blues, jazz, and R&B, and the second half ends with a celebration. It’s a very exciting piece. For a contrast to Come Sunday, I’m glad to bring Aaron Copland’s contemplative work Quiet City for English Horn, Trumpet, and strings to our audiences. This performance will be made even more special for me personally as it will allow me to share the stage with my wife and CSO English Hornist Karen Bryson and my colleague and close friend, trumpeter Jared Bushee. I’m excited to get to work on a great second half of the season!