Whether you love the sweeping emotion of strings, the thrill of world-class soloists or simply the energy of exceptional musicians performing together in the same room, these concerts deliver all of that and more. Don't miss the Australian Chamber Orchestra on Saturday, April 18 and the Curtis Chamber Orchestra on Tuesday, May 19. Pick your favorite or join us for both. Both performances promise to be unforgettable nights of music at a price that's hard to beat.
Australian Chamber Orchestra
Saturday, April 18, 8 pm
“The Australian Chamber Orchestra is uniformly high-octane, arresting and never ordinary.”
-The Australian
The Australian Chamber Orchestra lives and breathes music, making waves around the world for its explosive performances that redefine orchestral music. With their fearless leader of 35 years, artistic director Richard Tognetti, in 2026 the Orchestra celebrates 50 years of invention, disruption and unforgettable music-making.
The ACO performs more than 100 concerts each year, with programs that embrace celebrated classics alongside new commissions and ground-breaking collaborations. Audiences at their performance in Fayetteville can expect to hear an exquisite selection of classical music: Henry Purcells’ Fantazia upon One Note; George Frideric Handel’s Concerto Grosso in A major, Op.6, No 11; John Luther Adams’ Horizon, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending (arranged by Adam Johnson) and Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel’s String Quartet in E-flat major.
The ACO has its own streaming platform, ACO On Demand, which hosts the Orchestra’s award-winning cinematic concert films, ACO StudioCasts, alongside live concert streams. The Orchestra also has an active recording program. Their recordings of Bach’s violin works won three consecutive ARIA Awards, alonside their albums River and Indies & Idols. Their recent release, Water | Night Music, is the first Australian-produced classical vinyl in two decades.
Curtis Chamber Orchestra
Tuesday, May 19, 7 pm
“With their handling of the shifts between determined attacks and tender, blossoming notes, the musicians bring a sprawling score to life!” - South Florida Classical Review
Performing alongside celebrated alumni and faculty, The Curtis Chamber Orchestra is infused with the energy and passion of extraordinary emerging artists – the students at the Curtis School of Music. This ensemble performs over 30 concerts annually, both in the top concert halls in the U.S. and internationally.
The Curtis Chamber Orchestra is a conductor-less group led from the first chair by Minnesota Orchestra concertmaster and Curtis violin faculty Erin Keefe. Their program includes Mozart’s masterful Sinfonia Concertante for violin, viola and orchestra performed by Erin Keefe and Curtis president and renowned violist Roberto Díaz, as well as beloved works by Barber and Beethoven.
At the Curtis Institute of Music, the world’s most talented young musicians develop into exceptional artists, creators and innovators, and are motivated by a learn-by-doing philosophy. This performance with the Curtis Chamber Orchestra is part of their education and offers audiences a unique opportunity to participate in pivotal moments in these young musicians’ careers.