ProMusica Wraps Up Its 46th Season with Guest Pianist Aaron Diehl and a New Commission
Columbus native and acclaimed composer and pianist Aaron Diehl will make his debut with ProMusica
(Columbus, OH) – ProMusica Chamber Orchestra will welcome Columbus-native and acclaimed pianist and composer, Aaron Diehl, for their season finale May 10-11, 2025, at the Southern Theatre. Led by Music Director David Danzmayr, Aaron Diehl & Rhapsody will feature the orchestra’s 72nd commission and the Midwest premiere of Being and Becoming, Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra*, a new work written for Diehl by composer Michael Schachter commemorating the centennial of Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue.
Schachter’s lively Rhapsody, co-commissioned by ProMusica along with Carnegie Hall and The Knights, will be a centerpiece of the program, showcasing its dynamic energy and vibrant character. The piece is an old-school rhapsody—an extension of a musical lineage spanning classical and contemporary influences—in a single-movement that is tuneful and vernacular, driven more by impulse than by structure.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Columbus’ own Aaron Diehl for our 46th season ending,” said Janet Chen, ProMusica’s CEO. “Aaron’s debut with ProMusica being the premiere of our 72nd commission of Michael Schachter’s Rhapsody, is incredibly meaningful for the orchestra especially at a time when we think about the American styles and influences on orchestral music over the past 100 years. We are proud to present this premiere to Columbus audiences to close an exciting year.”
Diehl was born and raised in Columbus and has now garnered attention across the globe. Diehl got his start performing with the Jazz Arts Group’s Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra and has since performed with musical giants such as Wynton Marsalis, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Tyshawn Sorey, and Philip Glass. He has also been a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra, working with conductors like Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Marin Alsop, and Alan Gilbert.
Still’s powerful Darker America will kick off the evening, followed by Schachter’s Rhapsody, which had its world premiere in October 2024 by the New York based chamber ensemble, The Knights at Carnegie Hall. The second half of the program includes Brahms deeply romantic Symphony No. 3, completing an unofficial Brahms Cycle for the orchestra. Brahms symphonies are not typically played by chamber orchestras, making this is a unique achievement for ProMusica. The evening concludes with the brief but lively Hungarian Dance. No. 1, also by Brahms, bringing ProMusica’s 46th season to a powerful close.
Aaron Diehl & Rhapsody is supported by the E. Nakamichi Foundation. Additional information about the concerts is available at https://promusicacolumbus.org/event/aaron-diehl-rhapsody-2024/.
*Lead commissioning by ProtoStar Group and Carnegie Hall, co-commissioned by ProMusica Chamber Orchestra. Support for Schachter’s commission is made possible by Dr. Richard and Yvonne Heather Burry, and an anonymous donor.
###
TICKET INFORMATION
Concert-only tickets range from $18-$64. Tickets are available through the ProMusica Box Office at 614.464.0066 ext. 101 and online at promusicacolumbus.org via Ticketmaster.
ABOUT PROMUSICA
ProMusica Chamber Orchestra delivers a world-class and unique classical music experience—through innovative chamber orchestra programming, education outreach, audience intimacy, and artistic excellence. Recognized for its commitment to performing new and contemporary repertoire, ProMusica has commissioned 72 new works and has presented more than 120 world and regional premieres.
Bringing worldwide talent to Columbus since 1978, ProMusica offers an adventurous musical experience through intimate performances on the stage of the historic Southern Theatre. The orchestra, comprised of 37 musicians, showcases homegrown talents, rising stars, and guest artists of international acclaim. Beyond the concert hall, the orchestra is equally at home throughout the community, serving thousands of individuals through key education and outreach programs. Known for its dual traditions of artistic integrity and fiscal responsibility, ProMusica is now in its 46th season.
ProMusica’s 2024-2025 season is supported by the Greater Columbus Arts Council, The Columbus Foundation, the Ohio Arts Council, the Reinberger Foundation, and the ProMusica Sustaining Board. Media support is provided by WOSU Classical 101 FM.
