The Quincy Symphony Orchestra brings Radiance & Reform to the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, November 15, at Quincy Junior High School. Under the direction of Dr. Bruce Briney, the orchestra delivers an inspiring celebration of symphonic music that showcases both classical tradition and contemporary artistry.
The concert opens with Brahms’ spirited “Academic Festival Overture,” a work that’s both parody and masterpiece. Brahms wrote it in 1880 as a tongue-in-cheek thank-you to the University of Breslau, which had awarded him an honorary doctorate. The university expected something solemn and academic; instead, Brahms delivered a piece built around boisterous student drinking songs—essentially turning a scholarly ceremony into a musical wink.
It’s a perfect example of his ability to take everyday or humorous material and elevate it into something grand and complex. Despite its humor, the piece also carries a sense of joy and celebration for academic life—a lively tribute to the spirit of learning, camaraderie, and tradition.
The program continues with Timothy Hagen’s “Concerto for Flute,” performed by QSO Principal Flute Rose Bishop. Accompanied by strings, harp, and percussion, this luminous work is described by the composer as his “love letter to the flute community.”
Rose Bishop serves as Instructor of Flute at St. Ambrose University, Coe College, Cornell College, Clarke University, and Kirkwood Community College. An active orchestral musician, she serves as Principal Flute of the Quincy Symphony Orchestra and the Southeast Iowa Symphony. She is Acting Principal Flute with the Dubuque Symphony, a Section Member of the Colorado Mahlerfest Orchestra, and has performed with the York, Battle Creek, Quad City, Cheyenne and Salina Symphony Orchestras, among others.
As a guest artist, Bishop has appeared with ensembles including the Southeast Iowa Symphony and Bernardo Alcedo Symphony Orchestra, and numerous university and municipal bands, in addition to artist residencies at universities throughout the nation. An active clinician, Bishop has performed, lectured, and presented at events including several National Flute Association Conventions, the Festivales Internacionales de Flautistas (Lima, Perú), the Kansas Wesleyan International Music Festival, the Mid-Atlantic Flute Festival, and over a dozen other festivals across the country.
The evening concludes with Mendelssohn’s majestic “Reformation Symphony” (No. 5), a powerful tribute to faith and renewal, written to honor the 300th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession. The work interweaves the solemn “Dresden Amen” with Martin Luther’s chorale “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” creating a musical journey from tension to triumph. Balancing classical form with Romantic emotion, the symphony reflects Mendelssohn’s deep spirituality and his gift for transforming history and belief into uplifting, radiant sound.
The Reformation Symphony leads listeners on a journey from darkness to light, moving from tension and struggle to radiant affirmation that mirrors the Reformation’s spirit of renewal and conviction. The work blends Romantic warmth and dramatic contrast, balancing intellectual craftsmanship with heartfelt expression.
The concert sponsor for Radiance & Reform is Royal Printing. The guest artist sponsor is Blessing Health System, the music sponsor is Stevenson Paxton Wealth Management, and the media sponsor is KHQA-TV.
QSOA season tickets include this concert and offer great savings over single ticket prices. Season tickets are $70 for adults and $60 for seniors 62 and older. A special offer allows first-time season ticket holders to get two season tickets for the price of one.
Single tickets are available at Quincy HyVee stores, Sturhahn Jewelers, and the QSOA website. Single ticket prices are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors. Thanks to support from the Tracy Family Foundation, children 18 and under are admitted free to all concerts and are encouraged to attend.
The 2025-26 Season Sponsors are Quincy Recycle and The Knapheide Manufacturing Company. In-depth information, including program notes and soloist biographies, will be posted throughout the season on the QSOA website, www.qsoa.org. Call 217-222-2856 for more details or a brochure.
