University City Symphony Orchestra

The University City Symphony Orchestra looks forward to an exciting 2025-2026 Season, “CONNECTIONS!” We invite you to join us in this look back at Maestro Leon Burke’s musical connections throughout his career, linking the Orchestra with artists and musical works from around the country and around the globe.

The UCSO will continue our tradition of providing an outlet for local artists and celebrating extraordinary lesser-known works by well-known composers. All concerts will remain free of charge.

Season highlights include:

• Illinois pianist Timothy Ehlen returns to perform with the UCSO. Mr. Ehlen filled in as a guest artist at the last minute in October 2023. He and Maestro Burke forged a strong relationship, and thus Ehlen has been invited back to solo with the Orchestra.
• Local trombonist Jonathan Reycraft (SLSO) will make his debut with the UCSO on the season opener concert.
• The first collaboration between the UCSO and the Arianna String Quartet, made up of music faculty members at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
• Violist Marcelo Jiménez of Paraguay will perform Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Viola and Orchestra in his debut with the UCSO. He is the Principal Viola for the Asunción City Symphony Orchestra Paraguay, an orchestra for which Maestro Burke guest conducts annually. Jiménez brings his masterful interpretation of the Bartók Concerto from his performances in Paraguay to St. Louis.

UCSO features and supports emerging young artists through the Schatzkamer Young Artist Competition (YAC). The original conductor of the UCSO, William "Willie" Schatzkamer founded the YAC in the late 1960s. Initially, he was the sole judge for the competition, and the young musician he ranked highest performed as soloist with the Orchestra. The UCSO is proud to continue this tradition, for instrumentalists aged 13-22, and vocalists aged 16-26. Young musicians from all over the St. Louis Metro Area compete before a panel of three professional adjudicators to earn a cash award and the honor of playing as soloist with the UCSO. While there is generally one annual winner, the panelists do, at times, award honorable mention status to other competitors, and these runners-up also perform on the season finale.

The UCSO will continue our tradition of providing a venue for local and regional composers and soloists and celebrating extraordinary lesser-known works by well-known composers. All concerts will remain free of charge, granting access to a diverse audience.