First Free Concert November 1-Saunders High School
If you love classical music or are a curious newcomer, the upcoming 2025-26 Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra season holds a special treat for three Saturday afternoons—absolutely free concerts. These concerts provide a unique opportunity for families to experience the joy of live orchestral music in a welcoming environment. It’s a wonderful chance to support the arts, discover new music, and spend an inspiring Saturday afternoon with friends and family. Don’t miss out on experiencing the magic of live orchestral music under the baton of Maestro Ariel Rudiakov right in your community.
The concerts take place on SATURDAY at Saunders Trades and Technical High School, 183 Palmer Road, Yonkers and feature a diverse repertoire that will appeal to audiences of all ages. Each concert will be a celebration of music, creativity, and community spirit, showcasing the incredible talent of our musicians and inviting families to create lasting memories together.
Connections – Saturday, November 1, 2025 3:00 pm. This concert is devoted to the connection between the orchestra, patrons of the arts and audience; how they are intertwined as a collective in bringing music to life. The concert begins with Porcelana de Oro by Cristobal MarYan. Soloist Hannah Holman joins the orchestra for Elgar’s Cello Concerto and we round out the afternoon with Brahms’ Symphony #4.
International Voices – Saturday, March 14, 2026 (snow date March 15, 2025) 3:00 pm. This concert explores international music voices from Italy, Bulgaria and a “roundtrip” back home to the United States. Our soloist, Joana Genova-Rudiakov, grew up in Bulgaria when it was a Soviet-bloc country under communism. She’ll join the orchestra in a performance of Pancho Vladigerov’s Bulgarian Rhapsody Vardar. We start with the theme from the Lone Ranger, Rossini’s William Tell Overture, and snap our fingers to end with Bernstein’s West Side Story Symphonic Suite.
47th Annual Young Artists Concerto Competition Winners – Saturday, May 9, 2026 3:00 pm. Eligibility, audition dates, times and other details can be found at www.yonkersphilharmonic.com. “We believe music is a universal language that should be shared by all,” said Victoria Jimpson-Fludd, President of the Fine Arts Orchestral Society. “These free concerts are an invitation for families to come together, enjoy the magic of orchestral music, and foster a love for the arts in the next generation.”
All concerts are FREE. Please visit our website, www.yonkersphilharmonic.com to stay updated on the latest news, special events and donate.
The Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra, presented by the Fine Arts Orchestral Society of Yonkers, Inc., is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of live music in Yonkers and beyond. We provide enriching musical experiences for audiences of all ages. Our concerts are made possible by generous grants from the NYS Senate, The Westchester Board of Legislators, the Thomas and Agnes Carvel Foundation, ArtsWestchester, the City of Yonkers and the donors to The Fine Arts Orchestral Society. We extend special thanks to the Mayor of the City of Yonkers, the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Board of Education for the use of Saunders’ Auditorium.
