THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - s4story -- New West Symphony (NWS), under the direction of GRAMMY®-winning conductor Michael Christie, announces the launch of its 2026 Masterpiece Series with a monumental celebration of the United States' Semi quincentennial. The season kicks off with "Rachmaninoff & Gershwin", a program exploring the nation's musical heritage and the European masterpieces that have graced American concert halls for generations.

Performances will take place Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks, and Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 3:00 PM at the Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center in Camarillo.

As the nation marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, New West Symphony's 2026 season examines how music has tracked alongside societal shifts—responding to, and often instigating, cultural change.

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"July 4, 1776, launched one of the greatest experiments in democratic governance the world has ever seen," says Maestro Michael Christie. "Our 2026 season is a curated journey through essential American classics and the symphonic treasures that have resonated in our concert halls for centuries. We are thrilled to begin this journey with a program that balances patriotic fervor with deep romantic expression."

Program Highlights: The concerts will open with the quintessential sounds of American patriotism, featuring The Star-Spangled Banner (Smith/Key) and John Philip Sousa's iconic march, Stars and Stripes Forever.  The program transitions to the jazz-infused streets of Charleston with George Gershwin's Suite from Porgy and Bess ("Catfish Row"). This suite captures the energy, struggle, and vibrant spirit of American opera, blending classical forms with indigenous jazz and blues idioms.

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The centerpiece of the evening is Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18. A masterpiece of late Romanticism, this concerto is one of the most beloved works in the repertoire. It will be performed by the brilliant pianist Janice Carissa, who, according to the Chicago Classical Review, "conveys a vivid story rather than a mere showpiece."

Performance Dates & Venues:

• Thousand Oaks: Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 7:00 PM | Bank of America Performing Arts Center (BAPAC), 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.
• Camarillo: Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 3:00 PM | Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center (RCPAC), 4235 Mar Vista Drive.

Tickets & Subscriptions: Tickets and subscription packages for the 2026 Masterpiece Series are available now, offering savings of up to 20% and exclusive benefits including free ticket exchanges. To purchase tickets or subscriptions, visit NewWestSymphony.org or call 866-776-8400