Nashville Symphony: Upcoming October 2025 Events
Nashville Symphony October 2025 Concerts Feature
Guest Conductor Jonathan Taylor Rush Conducts Beethoven’s Fifth; and
Guest Conductor Christian Reif Conducts the World Premiere of Amanda Gorman’s
Poetry Set to Symphonic Music
Plus:
- Raphael Saadiq (w/o orchestra)
- Jamey Johnson with the Nashville Symphony
- The Composer is Dead
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (w/o orchestra)
- Indigo Girls with Members of the Nashville Symphony
- An Evening with Reese Witherspoon & Harlan Coben (w/o orchestra)
NASHVILLE, TN—September 2, 2025 The Nashville Symphony’s October 2025 schedule features Guest Conductor Jonathan Taylor Rush leading the orchestra in a performance of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony alongside cellist Zlatomir Fung; Guest Conductor Christian Reif conducting contemporary works by Charles Ives, Julia Perry, Kurt Weill, and Brian Field – whose Hymn for the Hunting features the world premiere of Amanda Gorman’s poetry set to symphonic music and performed by mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges; a family-friendly symphonic whodunit written by Lemony Snickett; a one-night-only concert featuring R&B legend Raphael Saadiq; the return of the Indigo Girls with members of the Nashville Symphony; three nights with country singer-songwriter Jamey Jonson with the Nashville Symphony; a 50th anniversary screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show; and a special engagement with Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben. Listed concerts, dates, times, and pricing subject to change.
Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony: Elgar’s Cello Concerto
Thursday, October 2 & Friday, October 3, 7:30 PM
Tickets: Starting at $29
Experience this emotionally charged program under the baton of rising star conductor Jonathan Taylor Rush, making his Nashville Symphony Classical Series debut. Cellist Zlatomir Fung, an international award-winner, brings fiery passion and lyrical nuance to Elgar’s meditative and intimate masterpiece. With Rush at the podium, expect a fresh perspective on three deeply expressive works.
Tuesday, October 14, 7:30 PM
Tickets: Starting at $61.50
Experience a Schermerhorn Symphony Center premiere with the incomparable Raphael Saadiq. This GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, producer, and songwriter has sold more than 30 million records worldwide, shaping contemporary music for more than three decades. From his early days touring with Prince and Sheila E., to defining ’90s R&B with Tony! Toni! Toné!, and through his critically acclaimed solo career and extensive collaborations with icons like D’Angelo, Solange, and Beyoncé, Saadiq’s influence is undeniable. Presented without the Nashville Symphony.
Jamey Johnson Symphony in the South with the Nashville Symphony
Friday, October 17 & Saturday, October 18, 7:30 PM
Tickets: Starting at $37
Ten-time GRAMMY® nominee and Grand Ole Opry member Jamey Johnson joins the Nashville Symphony for their first collaboration as part of the Nashville Symphony’s 2025/26 Pops Series. Jamey is set to perform his 5x platinum-certified single “In Color” with orchestrations from the Symphony, along with other hit songs like “Lead Me Home” and “Even the Skies are Blue.”
Sunday, October 19, 3:00 PM
Tickets: Starting at $28
Put on your detective hat and join the Nashville Symphony for a thrilling orchestral murder mystery! With clues hidden in the music, Lemony Snicket’s The Composer Is Dead brings to life a comedic whodunit where every section of the orchestra is a suspect. Will you solve the case before the Inspector does? Featuring Nathaniel Stookey’s dynamic score and narration written by Lemony Snicket, this witty and entertaining program introduces children to the orchestra in a fun, unforgettable way – while keeping adults laughing with its clever twists and musical humor.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary Spectacular Tour
Tuesday, October 21, 7:30 PM
Tickets: Starting at $56
Join the original ‘Brad Majors’ – Barry Bostwick – for a screening of the original unedited Rocky Horror Picture Show like you’ve never seen it before! Plus, a live shadow cast and audience participation, a memorabilia display with artifacts and an actual costume from the movie, a costume contest, and more! Presented without the Nashville Symphony.
WORLD PREMIERE
Friday, October 24 & Saturday, October 25, 7:30 PM
Tickets: Starting at $29
A concert of powerful emotions, poetic storytelling, and bold new works. Mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges joins conductor Christian Reif for the world premiere of Everything Hurts, a poignant musical setting of Amanda Gorman’s searing poem “Hymn for the Hurting, ” and Charles Ives’s timeless meditation, The Unanswered Question. The program continues with Julia Perry’s haunting Stabat Mater and Kurt Weill’s vibrant Symphony No. 2. These performances are a hopeful reminder of music’s enduring ability to heal, uplift, and inspire
Indigo Girls with Members of the Nashville Symphony
Sunday, October 26, 7:30 PM
Tickets: Starting at $36
Experience the GRAMMY® Award-winning Indigo Girls take the stage with members of the Nashville Symphony. This one-of-a-kind concert blends the Indigo Girls’ signature folk-pop sound with the grand sound of a symphony orchestra. Enjoy breathtaking orchestrations of their most beloved hits, including “Power of Two,” “Galileo,” “Closer to Fine,” “Get Out the Map,” and more. Don’t miss this powerful fusion of heartfelt songwriting and symphonic brilliance.
An Evening with Reese Witherspoon & Harlan Coben
Wednesday, October 29, 7:00 PM
Tickets: Starting at $78
Join two titans of storytelling – Academy Award-winning actress, producer, and New York Times bestselling author Reese Witherspoon and #1 global suspense phenomenon Harlan Coben – for a special event in partnership with Humanities Tennessee and Parnassus Books to celebrate the publication of their gripping new thriller, Gone Before Goodbye. Presented without the Nashville Symphony.
The Nashville Symphony is where music comes alive for Middle Tennessee and beyond. Founded in 1946, the orchestra performs at the world-class Schermerhorn Symphony Center, presenting a mix of classical masterpieces, groundbreaking new works, jazz, pop, film concerts, and family programming. A champion of contemporary American orchestral music, the Symphony has premiered and recorded works by today’s most celebrated and innovative composers, earning 14 GRAMMY® Awards and 27 nominations. The Nashville Symphony performs nearly 200 concerts, including many free and low-cost education and community programs that annually reach nearly 550,000 people of all ages across the Middle Tennessee region. Through broadcasts, recordings, and streaming, the Nashville Symphony reaches an additional 13 million listeners worldwide each year. As a nonprofit organization, the Nashville Symphony is dedicated to enriching the community, inspiring the next generation of music lovers, and showcasing the power of live music to unite and inspire. Learn more at nashvillesymphony.org.
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