DALLAS - s4story -- The New Texas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas' premier all-volunteer community orchestra, opens its 23rd season with Nature on Sunday, October 18, at 3 p.m. at Moody Performance Hall in the Dallas Arts District. Admission is free.

Led by Artistic Director and Conductor Dr. Michelle Perrin Blair, the concert begins NTSO's 2026–2027 ROOTS season, exploring the people, places, traditions, and experiences that connect and sustain us.

The afternoon begins at 2 p.m. with a pre-concert program featuring Dallas City Forester Colby Thompson. Thompson will discuss efforts to expand Dallas green spaces, plant trees, and maintain the city's urban forest, followed by audience questions.

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"For the opening concert of our 'Roots' season, we wanted to create an immersive experience that both celebrates the natural world and emphasizes our mandate of stewardship," said Blair. "So, providing relevant, local environmental education was a key part of the vision for this concert from the get-go. The City of Dallas Forestry Department is doing extremely important work every day; we're excited to learn from them how we can each better take care of our city and our planet."

The concert opens with Twister by award-winning composer Lisa Neher, evoking the intensity of a tornado. Takashi Yoshimatsu's And Birds Are Still, Op. 72 offers a more reflective view of nature before Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 ("Pastoral") concludes the program with one of classical music's best-known celebrations of the countryside.

Four artists from the Dallas Creative Collective will exhibit nature-themed works in the Moody Performance Hall lobby before and after the concert. Their works will be available for purchase.

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WHO: New Texas Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Michelle Perrin Blair, Dallas City Forester Colby Thompson, and artists from the Dallas Creative Collective

WHAT: Nature, opening concert of NTSO's 23rd season and ROOTS season

WHEN: Sunday, October 18, 2026
Pre-concert talk: 2 p.m.
Concert: 3 p.m.

WHERE: Moody Performance Hall, 2520 Flora St., Dallas

ADMISSION: Free

Concert information and tickets:
https://www.ticketdfw.com/event/roots-nature

Separate reservation for the pre-concert talk:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pre-concert-talk-with-dallas-city-forester-colby-thompson-tickets-2002321319969

More information about NTSO and Nature:
https://www.ntso.org/concerts/a