FROM THE PODIUM

What a remarkable spring it has been at the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra. From the stunning collaboration on Ellis Island with Lean Ensemble Theatre, to the magic of Harry Potter, and the thrilling finals of the Hilton Head International Piano Competition, the past several weeks have been filled with unforgettable moments.

April begins on a high note with Symphony Under the Stars and Opera Night—both showcasing the HHSO Chorus alongside exceptional guest soloists. The season then concludes with our inspiring LinkUP Educational Concerts and the triumphant return of Jonathan Mamora performing the glorious Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2.

With a long summer ahead, don’t miss these final concerts—filled with beloved favorites and performed by the orchestra at the very top of its form.

We have been planning NEXT season throughout the winter months and are putting on the final touches before we announce in a few days. As usual, we like to present a panoply of styles and represent a variety of musical epochs in our concerts, possessing a varied palette of orchestral textures, from the largest and most audacious to the most intimate and delicate. And always a surprise or three. I love to curate experiences that are unique to our orchestra and to the Lowcountry—that appeal to your ears as much as what is in between them. Most importantly, we like to create the kinds of concerts that can be SHARED—with family, friends, and neighbors. When we reveal the new season, please tell the music lovers in your life to join us as subscribers. There is SO much great music to come.

Cheers.

—John Morris Russell, Music Director

From the SoundWaves Studio

A Springtime Postcard From SoundWaves

Ah, we’ve had such a stunningly beautiful introduction to Spring here at SoundWaves. Once again, my walls and rafters have been swelling with pride and gratitude. Our chamber music musicians romanced us with Salut d’Amour for Valentine’s Day, followed very quickly by Coastal Home Supper Club’s embrace of songs from the silver screen with Cinematic Sounds. Scott Garrett and Vasily Gorkovoy, two of our wonderful violists, reprised their virtuosic and entertaining Musicale program for HHSO’s major donors, and the Supper Club crew returned with a touching cover program of lyricists of our youth with Songbirds & Storytellers. International Women’s Month concluded with a special Gullah Geechee celebration of great women of our community!

In and around orchestra rehearsals that truly fill my room with consonant warmth, I hear of even more great events planned for the next few months. Those fun piano people are at it again soon, with Elliot Wuu, one of their favorites, returning for a solo recital on a Friday in April. Supper Club brings a new twist with Beautiful Broken, Brilliant: Songs from the Edge, music by artists rebounding from personal or professional devastation to reclaim hit status. In May, our chamber musicians finish their inaugural season with an all-Mozart delight titled Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and featuring principal strings in the title selection and principal oboist Reid Messich on good ole’ Wolfgang’s brilliant and expressive Oboe Quartet. Partnering with friends from the local Rotary Club, we’re going to have the world’s youngest certified farmer, Kendall Rae Johnson, appear for a one-night-only presentation discussion. The Gullah Geechee Cultural Series partnership team brings us their season finale, and bassist Marc Chesanow leads Supper Club’s Paul Simon Tribute. Phew!

I am tickled by the magnitude of music for everyone here in my humble home. It’s always so nice to share this space, these moments with so many of you. And, I do love it when you come to visit me. Speaking of… please do visit me often and to tell your friends, “I’ll see you at SoundWaves.” — SoundWaves

— Mario Incorvaia, HHSO Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

For this edition of Overtures, I am wearing my hat as Director of Education and Community Engagement, and I am happy to report on our early 2026 successes…

We started in late January with our 18^th annual HHSO Youth Concerto Competition for young string players, when we had ten talented teenage finalists perform (from five states) at St. Luke’s Anglican Church.  Our expert panel of three judges—comprised of HHSO principal string players—selected 18-year-old violinist Mana Takahashi from Tampa, FL as the First Prize winner.  This is a wonderful success story, since Mana was the second prize-winner last year.  As a result of her victory, we are excited to welcome Mana back to perform with the HHSO and JMR in late November!

During the recent March HHIPC, I am delighted that our Ambassadors program, which brings our competitors into local schools and community centers, was thriving again!  All 20 competitors (ranging in age from 13 to 17 from six countries) offered to participate, and 15 of them were able to fulfill a total of 22 performance opportunities!  Most of these were in public and private schools in Beaufort County, but we also had four senior residences and the HHI Rotary Club weekly luncheon.  In all, our talented teenagers impacted the lives of approximately 2,000 students and 500 senior citizens, while also giving these pianists valuable added opportunities to perform in a more intimate setting.

Looking ahead, our next big educational events happen in late April with our annual Young Persons Concerts (YPCs), and we have some exciting news on that front!  In addition to our traditional pair of morning student concerts at First Pres on Tuesday, April 28, we have achieved our longtime goal of scheduling a second pair of concerts the next day for schools located north of the Broad!  On Wednesday, April 29, the HHSO will make its debut at Beaufort HS Performing Arts Center with two additional morning performances of this year’s YPC Program, “The Orchestra Sings” (which is part of Carnegie Hall’s inspiring Link-Up program).  In total, for the two days, we have 13 Beaufort County Public Schools participating and one private school, yielding a total of nearly 2700 students who will enjoy this immersive musical experience!  We are always looking for volunteers to help us with these YPC concerts—and now we also need help in Beaufort on Wed., April 29—so please let us know if you would like to join us and experience these high-energy concerts first-hand!

—Steven Shaiman, Director, Hilton Head International Piano Competition and Education and Community Engagement